A family to follow / the process explained

With the latest batch of referrals from the CCAA arriving now, it looks like Children’s Bridge Group 249 will be included. This brings us 1 group closer.(thanks PW for the correction) PW and her family from Saint John are in Group 249 and we wish them all the best. They should be getting their referral any day now. In the early days, we all talked that we might be travelling together as the CCAA was matching more days then, but it was not meant to be.

If you want to follow the progress of another family who just got their referral, click HERE. This is the blog of Deb and Sean who are with Children’s Bridge and are from Ontario (thanks DP for the correction)

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I’ve had to explain the process to a couple people lately so I thought it would be a good time to lit the steps again. Thanks to Deb and Sean for the basic information listed below. I added to it and personalized it for our situation. So for all of you who are unsure of what’s involved, or just as a refresher, here’s the list of steps involved in adopting from China.

Step 1 - Home study and prepare all the files needed for the Dossier
We got the paperwork form the province and Children’s Bridge in April 2005. We spent many nights completing paperwork for the province and Children’s Bridge and met with a social worker over several nights so she could write up our story. We completed all of this in October 2005

Step 2 – The dossier is reviewed by the province for Ministry Approval
After we had completed all of the provincial requirements for adoption, we delivered this to the downtown office and our file was approved for adoption in October 2005

Step 3 – The dossier is sent to Children’s Bridge where everything is verified and then translated into mandarin.
Once approved for adoption within NB (which is required to adopt from China) we then sent all of our paperwork to Children’s Bridge. This was completed in late October / beginning of November 2005

Step 4 - DTC - Dossier sent to CCAA - China Centre of Adoption Affairs
In New Brunswick, instead of sending the file directly to China, Children’s Bridge must send the file back to the NB government who then sends it to China. This was done in early November 2005

Step 5 - LID (Log in date - the date the CCAA logs in our dossier)
Our file was logged in the CCAA’s system on November 29, 2005. That’s the important date.

Step 6 - Dossier is reviewed by CCAA
Once logged in the system, the CCAA works thru all the files to verify that all is OK. They look for medical issues, incomplete or contradicting paperwork, and all necessary government approvals. An update on what dates they have reviewed up to is posted once a month from the CCAA. If you do not hear anything and your date has cleared is included in this email. You have cleared another hurdle.

Step 7 - CCAA matches child with family
This is what we are waiting for now. Remember the important date in step 5? Well, this is where it is important. Once the files are reviewed by the CCAA, they make their way to the “matching room” where some not-so-well-understood process happens and our file is matched to that of a child. Nobody is 100% sure of how this process is done but everyone seems to think that the match between them and their child is perfect.

Step 8 - Referral sent out - photo and information about the child being offered
Once the CCAA announces on their website that our date has been matched (the other part of the monthly update) the impatient wait begins. Basic medical information along with a few pictures of the child is sent to Children’s Bridge who translates this to English. As a provincial requirement, they then have to send it to the Province of NB and then we go meet with a social worker where the information on the child is presented to us. We take this information to our doctor to make sure everything looks ok, we sign some forms and then we begin the preparations for the kid.

Step 9 - Travel to China for child
About 7 to 9 weeks after referral, we travel to China. We travel to our child’s province and are united with her/him on day 2 or so (thanks DP). We then spend the remainder of the first week in our child’s province, then we return with the kid to Beijing to complete paperwork, medical exams, more paperwork, and do some sightseeing as well. We then come home to begin our new life.

Step 10 – Follow up reports to CCAA
At regular intervals after we return, we must meet with our social worker again so that she can track our progress. This is a requirement of the CCAA.