China F.A.Q.

Why China??? The Answers To Your Questions:

China is a country whose culture dates back to the earliest records known to man. At first glance, some of China's beliefs may seem quite different than those we hold. One example of this is the culture preference for a male child. There are several reasons why Chinese families might prefer a boy over a girl. In rural provinces, a family's livelihood depends directly in the output of it's family members. Because of this, a family with sons would be at a considerable advantage than one with daughters. Historically, it is also the son's honored responsibility to take care of his parents in their old age, so they never leave their home. A daughter, however, would be expected to care for her husband's parents rather than her own. In this regard, the Chinese believe that having a son is crucial to their livelihood, as well as a form of social security for the parents when they grow older. Although in recent years, China has done much to change these belief systems, many families, especially in rural areas, still strongly favor the birth of a male child. This situation if further complicated by China's One-Child Policy, which prohibits families from having more than one child. As a result of this policy, there are thousands of abandoned children throughout China, with the vast majority of them being healthy baby girls.

Important Traditions and Terms Found In The Chinese Adoption Community:

The Red Thread- " "An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."

Ladybugs- Believed to be good luck in the adoption community. One spring while everyone waited for their referrals, there was a huge infiltration of ladybugs across the nation and immediately following these sightings a flood of referrals came. Or so the story goes....

100 Good Wishes Quilt- To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or " 100 Good Wishes Quilt." It is a custom to invite 100 people to contribute a single square of cloth. The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. Waiting families often collect the wishes along with a scrapbook for their child.

Dossier- The set of documents that represents the adopted family. It includes the medical reports, birth certificates, employment letters, police clearances, financial statements, home study, etc.

DTC- Dossier to China. This is the milestone day when the Chinese government logs in the receipt of a dossier to adopt a child. This represents the end of the "paper chase" for the adoptive parents, and the beginning of "the wait" for the referral of a child by the Chinese government.

LID- Log in date. This is the date that CCAA logs in your Dossier on arrival in China.

CCAA- China Center of Adoption Affairs. That's where the dossiers are processed and the children, who live in China's SWI's (Social Welfare Institutions) and/or foster care, are matched with families.

Referral- Notification from the CCAA that they have matched a family with a child. Referral information usually includes the child's Chinese name, date of birth, height/weight, a medical report, one or more photographs, and a few notes about the child's nature.

LOI- Letter of Intent. This is a letter that the adoptive family writes to China stating their intent to adopt a child on the Waiting Child list.

PA- Pre-Approval. This is what the family receives from China after they have reviewed the
LOI from the adoptive family. It means they give the family pre-approval to adopt the child.

TA- Travel Approval. This is received when China gives the family Travel Approval to come to China to bring home their child.

WC-Waiting Child. A child is put on a WC list because of a medical condition or age.

HS- Home Study. A home study is done by a licensed social worker who says whether a family is capable of adopting a child.