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| Summer 2007 Issue |
A Quarterly Publication of Adoptions From The Heart
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Click here for class descriptions, dates, times and locations. It wasn't an ordinary morning of father/daughter time for Ken Detweiler, adoptive father and stay-at-home dad, and his daughter, Hannah. The camera crew and host of Fox's Good Day Philadelphia were also in his living room, along with Sam Wojnilower, AFTH International Social Worker. Ken and Sam were sharing their experiences as adoptive fathers with Good Day host, Loraine Ballard-Morrill, for a Father's Day segment, and Hannah was squirming and wiggling out of her dad's arms. The following Sunday, Ken celebrated his first Father's Day, a laid back but very special day. He and his wife, Amanda, spent the day recovering from Hannah's 1st birthday party which took place the day before. With Hannah's birthday being so close to Father's Day, the two holidays are specially linked. "My wife and I struggled with infertility for a long time, so I didn't know if I would ever be a dad, but with her birthday and Father's Day being days apart, it will always be a very special day," Ken said. Ken was hesitant about adoption at first, and scared he wouldn't feel a connection with the child. However, after attending an information meeting and hearing an adoptive father speak genuinely about his experience, he walked out of the meeting with a changed mind, turned to his wife and said, "We're doing this." Hannah was born pre-mature on June 22, 2006, weighing only 4 lbs. and 7 ozs. Ken and Amanda got to see her in the incubator on the 24th. "I'm a big guy, I thought she was going to break in my hand," Ken said, "But I also thought she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Looking at her was unbelievable." Now a year later, Hannah is feeding herself, crawling, and attending swimming lessons. "My proudest moment as a father so far was at her first swim lesson," Ken said, "She was the only infant that didn't cry." Ken can't even express how great his first year as a father and stay-at-home dad has been. Hannah will be going to daycare soon and Ken will be returning to work in the fall. "Everyone's been reassuring me that she'll be fine," Ken said, "I know she'll be OK- I don't know if I'll be able to handle being away from her!"
What gave MySpace its initial popularity is its ability to connect people through common interest groups. The younger generations flock to the site in huge numbers but if you thought MySpace was only for teenagers, you might want to visit the site again. It also caters to business professionals looking to network, families who want to keep in touch, and people trying to find old friends. MySpace has also become a superior source of information about restaurants, bands, comedians, and non-profits such as infertility groups, adoption groups, animal shelters, and other community groups. AFTH has recently created its own MySpace profile, to reach out to those interested in adoption. Our profile includes information for women who are pregnant and people who are interested in building their family through adoption. Embracing advancements in technology can be a positive experience; however, with the high level of inter-connectedness that the internet provides, it also poses very real dangers. As a parent, you may be wary of your child's participation in an online community like MySpace. One free new way for families to protect themselves is by using the software application called MySpace Guardian. Already in use in 12 million homes nationwide, MySpace Guardian is a toolbar on your browser screen that includes software to help parents identify and protect their children against sexual predators both online and off. The software can also be used to alert parents when children make changes to their MySpace page, such as adding a potential predator, or if they are contacted by a sexual predator. Another useful feature is the toolbar’s search engine menu. So whether you prefer Google, MSN, or Yahoo, the search bar is located on the toolbar itself eliminating the need for opening a separate window just for doing a search on the web. MySpace Guardian plans on continuing to enhance their toolbar by adding features such as a restaurant guide that would provide a menu and pricing information along with a rating system, making MySpace Guardian a multifaceted program for all of your internet safety and personal needs. Click here to download the MySpace Guardian toolbar for free.
California - Families in CA can no longer post their adoptive parent profiles on ParentProfiles.com a sister company of Adoption.com. Under the terms of a settlement announced May 22, ParentProfiles.com cannot post profiles of any California residents "unless the service is made equally available to all California residents qualified to adopt in California." Glen Lavy, an Alliance Defense Fund lawyer representing the company, said that ParentProfiles.com will no longer accept profiles from California and will phase out all profiles from California within six months. There was no monetary payout as part of the settlement. Iowa - Gov. Chet Culver signed legislation on April 16 ensuring that siblings separated in foster care will be able to visit each other. The new law (SF480) enables courts to approve a visitation order for siblings - defined in the statute as "an individual who is related to another individual by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent" - so that they can maintain contact in situations where they are separated. It also ensures that foster parents are trained on the importance of sibling relationships and in the need to accommodate such visits. Colorado - Gov. Bill Ritter signed legislation on May 15th making Colorado the 11th state to allow second parent adoptions by unmarried couples and single people (gay or straight) to adopt. North Carolina & Maine - Measures permitting adopted persons to access their original records moved to committee in the state Houses of both of these states; NC (HB445) & Maine (LD1084). Massachusetts & Connecticut - Both states’ senates approved legislation this month that would allow adopted people born in or after 2008 to obtain their original birth certificates. The legislation in both states is now pending action by their respective state Houses of Representatives; MA (SB63) & CT (HB7388) Ohio - On May 31, Governor Strickland signed Senate Bill 20 into law. This piece of legislation triples the income tax adoption credit from $500 per child to $1500 per child. It also allows the credit to be carried forward for up to two additional tax years. The Income Tax Adoption Credit will ease the burden on families willing to accept a child into their homes and relieve a small part of the financial burden that comes with adoption. This credit may encourage more Ohio families to consider adoption and ultimately result in fewer children waiting for loving homes. USCIS - The USCIS will increase filing fees for international adoption by 42%. The final fee structure was published on May 30, and new fees will take effect July 30, 2007. The new fee for filing I-600-A petitions will be $750 (filing + fingerprints for 1 person) + $80 fingerprint fee for each person 18yrs or older living with you. They have also included a waiver for families stating that families who have an approved I-600A that is about to expire, and have not yet filed the I-600 can receive one free extension of the I-600A by filing a new I-600A without the fee before the first one expires. To see the full fee schedule click here
Kenya - In February 2007, Kenya became the 71st country to become party to the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption. CDC - The CDC has reported cases of adults contracting measles after traveling to China for adoption. As a result, anyone traveling to China for adoption is advised to review measles immunization recommendations with their physicians. An estimated 1500 parents, grandparents, birth parents and children from all over gathered to celebrate adoption. International families hung flags from the various countries they adopted from in the trees and gathered with their travel groups. Some domestic families visited with birth parents. It is always great to see new families as well as families who have been coming for years. We would like to thank all of our families who came out to celebrate adoption with us for making this event successful. We hope to see you again next year. Thank you to the Raucous Brothers who provided us with a lively reggae sound, Freckles the Clown and her friends for face painting and balloon art, Jack and Jill ice cream for supplying all the children with ice cream, and to the AFTH staff who helped out at the arts and craft table and throughout the event. A special thank you to all the companies that donated food for the event: Wawa Foods AFTH-VA celebrated its annual picnic at Waller Mill Park in Williamsburg, Virginia with over 100 persons in attendance. It was a beautiful day and a great opportunity for families to get to know one another. They served hot dogs and gave away toys to all the children. A great day was had by all. They hope to see all their families return next year! Through the eyes of a Birthmother I was writing to you to let you know how happy I was that you had invited me to your picnic. My little baby girl is growing up so fast! She is so beautiful, Ray and Susanna are doing an excellent job at taking care of her! I am very thankful that I had a chance to spend a couple hours with them! I honestly saw that Hannah was being loved and cared for just like I wanted! It also put a closure on a lot of things...I saw the truth to all the wondering questions that were going on in my head. I really had a blast and Katrina had a lot of fun too. If she was old enough I am sure she would say thank you!!! But since she cant talk yet I will say thank you for her! Throughout the 06-07 fiscal year, AFTH has remained dedicated to improving the conditions for the thousands of children living in orphanages internationally in addition to offering aid to birth families here in the U.S. In Vietnam, $56,750 was split among six different orphanages to help with repairing the orphanages and daily upkeep of these facilities and $4,000 was donated for the orphanages' Tet Celebrations. And another $12,750 was used in Hanoi for various humanitarian aid projects and outreach. The orphanage in Kostanai, Kazakhstan received $3,000 to help with the general upkeep of the facility. AFTH is at work in the U.S. offering financial help to birth families in need. A total of $6,829 was used to help families with rent, utilities and additional living expenses. In addition, AFTH donated $6,750 in gift cards to several birth families during the holiday season. AFTH also sponsors events in local communities. Some of the organizations AFTH has supported are Resolve, Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth, NACAC, and Philadelphia Multi-cultural Association. There is always a greater need for humanitarian aid than AFTH alone can offer. Anyone interested in contributing to our efforts should please visit the Donate Section of our website. According to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, the disease affects more than 70,000 people nationwide - the majority of them African American. Recent research has demonstrated that there are ways to reduce pain from sickle cell, as well as prevent strokes in children with sickle cell, one of the most serious side effects of the disease, said Melissa McMillan, a spokesperson for America's Blood Centers. "Since 1997, doctors have been advised to treat high-risk kids with sickle cell disease with blood transfusions every three to four weeks," said McMillan. "This treatment has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke in children with sickle cell disease by as much as 90 percent." Blood cells carry many different proteins on their surfaces, and the types of proteins present vary between ethnic groups. When African American patients with sickle cell disease receive transfusions of blood from a donor who is non-Caucasian, a rejection reaction is less likely since donor and recipient blood proteins will be more alike. "When you try to find compatible blood for people, you must take into account the ethnic and racial background of both the donor and the recipient," Dr. Donald Siegel of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center said. "If there were more donations from minority groups, it would be easier to find matches for minority patients." Of the 5 percent of the population that donates blood, only one in 10 are African American or Hispanic, meaning that there is less blood available to treat all of the children with sickle cell disease with specially-matched transfusions. The African American and Hispanic population has grown tremendously in our country driving the increased need for African American and Hispanic donors. In Philadelphia the Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region has partnered with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program to register blood donors that closely match the blood types of sickle cell patients. Minority blood donations are needed throughout the year to meet the increasing demand for blood. In minority populations in general, there is a greater preponderance of type O and type B blood - exactly what the Red Cross is lacking year round. As long as Red Cross donor programs continue to educate, inform and successfully recruit our country's quickly growing minority populations, children can rest assured that their medical care is not in jeopardy.
Families who have already completed their adoption should please remember to submit their Commitment Reports to AFTH in a timely manner. Families are required to submit these reports every 6 months until the child is 3 years old and then yearly after that. If a family has adopted a toddler who is 3 or older, their reports are only due annually. If you need instructions on what needs to be submitted, please contact your social worker. Reminders for these reports are sent out on the listserve every month. LITHUANIA - AFTH is no longer accepting applications since the waiting time for children under 5 without special needs is so long. One of our families will be traveling in June to bring home their daughter and we have one family remaining in the program waiting for referral. Families who are interested in children from Eastern Europe are encouraged to consider Ukraine and Russia since both of those programs move much faster than Lithuania and there are younger children available. RUSSIA - Since the last edition of Adoption News, 7 more Russian children were placed in the homes of AFTH families. Additionally, 2 more families will be coming home from Russia with their children within the next month. All of this makes for a total of 16 children placed via the AFTH Russia Networking Program in the last 7 months. Of special note is that all AFTH families who have adopted children in Russia in 2007 will have completed their entire adoption process, from submission of AFTH Application through bringing their child home, within less than 1 year. The Russian government has now issued new requirements for all U.S. Adoption Agencies seeking re-accreditation in Russia. So, at present, there are no U.S. Adoption agencies with current accreditation in Russia. AFTH’s partner, Children of the World Adoption Agency, Inc. (CWAA), has submitted the required paperwork toward its re-accreditation. Once CWAA is granted its reaccreditation, it will again be able to receive referrals of children, as young as 12 - 36 months of age, for AFTH families. UKRAINE - The State Department of Adoption has begun issuing invitations and AFTH is expecting to have several families travel in the near future. There has been another change in administration at the SDA which has resulted in some delays, but a new director has been appointed and it is expected that adoptions will begin to be processed at a faster pace. The law establishing an age criteria of no more than 45 years between either parent and child and eliminating single adoption has passed its second reading and is expected to be signed by the President. Families whose dossiers are already registered are not expected to be impacted by this. Families who have adopted are reminded to file their annual reports with the Ukrainian Consulate. These are due on the 1st of the month of the anniversary of the adoption. If you have questions regarding post-placement requirements or the adoption process in Ukraine, contact Terry Petrone, the Ukraine Adoption Coordinator, via e-mail at TerryP@afth.org or by phone at the Cherry Hill office. KAZAKHSTAN - Kazakhstan continues to be moving well and we expect several more families to travel before the end of the summer. Right now the waiting list is very short and families can expect to travel very quickly after their dossiers are processed. It was a pleasure to see several Kazakhstan families at the picnic in June. The agency has continued to provide humanitarian aid to the orphanages in Kazakhstan and recently responded to a request by an orphanage director to provide musical instruments for the children. Thank you to families who contributed to the humanitarian aid fund which enables us to respond to this type of request. We continue to ask families who have completed adoptions to complete their post-placement at least one month before the due date to avoid negatively impacting families in process. Annual reports with photographs should be sent to Terry Petrone at the Cherry Hill office one month prior to the anniversary of the adoption court date. Any questions regarding post-placement reports or the Kazakhstan program can be directed to Terry Petrone via e-mail at TerryP@afth.org or by phone at the Cherry Hill office. CHINA - Things remain status quo in our China Program. For any families who adopted from China at least 12 years ago, the CCAA is hosting a summer camp in Beijing this August. It is free except for airfare which must be paid by the participating family. This was posted on our listserve. For more information you can e-mail gongzhan.wu@gladney.org. INDIA -We had 5 families return with their children in the last month. We are currently working with two orphanages: Matruchhaya in Gujarat and Bal Vikas Mahila Mandal in Maharashtra. Families of Indian descent are encouraged to apply. GUATEMALA - Guatemala adoptions are continuing at this time, amidst a state of uncertainty about the near and distant future. A number of issues have arisen in 2007 that have presented a number of challenges to the process. We are hopeful that these challenges can be overcome and that children from Guatemala will continue to find permanent loving homes with American families. The most significant challenge is posed by the U.S. imminent ratification of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, which is expected in early 2008. The U.S. Department of State, the designated Central Authority for the Hague in this country, has taken the position that adoptions from Guatemala will continue only if Guatemala passes Hague-compliant legislation. Guatemala has committed to take steps to become Hague-compliant. First, on May 22, 2007, the Congress of Guatemala passed legislation approving the Hague Adoption Convention, clarifying Guatemala’s legal status as a Hague country. Second, the legislature has developed and considered a number of proposals to adapt the current system to a system that is considered to be Hague-compliant. If Guatemala has not passed Hague-compliant legislation by U.S. ratification in early 2008, then it is possible that the United States will no longer be able to continue an adoption program with Guatemala. It is important to note, when considering timeframes, that the U.S. Inter-country Adoption Act of 2000 clearly states that any parent who has filed an I600A (application for permission to adopt a foreign orphan and bring that child to the U.S.) prior to ratification would be “grandfathered” in and their adoption would be allowed to proceed by the U.S. Adoptions From The Heart remains optimistic that Guatemala will indeed pass Hague compliant legislation and is actually very close to doing so at this time. Great strides have been made in the past year on this front. We are very proud to have watched Guatemalan attorneys work with U.S. agencies and organizations to devise a functional, workable system that is both in compliance with the Hague and focused on serving the children who need permanent families. In the short term, while the passage of new legislation continues in the legislative branch of Guatemala, cases are continuing to be processed by the Family Court and PGN, and the U.S. continues to process immigrant visa cases. However, in a statement issued on June 13, 2007, the State Department reports that each case is now subject to greater scrutiny than in the past and the process may be slower as a result. Further, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) office in Guatemala is taking up to 60 days to review initial documents and up to four business days to review final adoption documents. Please be aware that AFTH’s Pittsburgh office will now be in charge of the Guatemala program and direct your calls there. In one phone call exactly two years ago, I became a mom. And just 24 hours after receiving The Call that forever changed my life, I met my daughter, still clad in her hospital-issue pink blanket and medical bracelet. My husband and I watched as her bassinet glided toward us in the hospital nursery where we sat, bursting with nervous anticipation. It was, without doubt, one of the happiest days of my life. Despite tremendous joy in leaving the hospital that sunny afternoon as a new mom with a full heart, I was acutely aware that another mother was leaving the same hospital with empty arms. A curious juxtaposition, indeed. Maeve had been in this world a little more than two days, and had just spent the last moments with her first mother as the sole maternal force in her life. Soon after returning from Maeve's birthstate where we had hunkered down in a hotel to await the legalities of waiting periods and signatures, I recorded my recollections of the whirlwind we'd just experienced. A blur of days, with new experiences both wonderful and exhausting. Here are excerpts, as seen through my new baby girl's eyes: My name is Maeve, although my indecisive parents still don't know my middle name. I was born three minutes after midnight on Sunday, July 24. I am 7 lbs, 0 ozs. and 20 inches long. I stayed in the hospital with my first mom until Tuesday, when the two frazzled people who would become my parents met me for the first time. They have some interesting stories from that day: The nurses insisting my adoptive mom leave the hospital in a wheelchair, the well-meaning parking valet gingerly helping her to the car as if she'd just given birth, and how, when driving away, my parents couldn't believe their social workers were letting them go it alone! Our little threesome spent the next few days in a hotel, where my folks began the new-parent vigil: 1) stare in astonishment, 2) feed, 3) diaper, 4) check for breathing, 5) repeat. Mom soon memorized my every inch, including the tiny birthmark on my back that mimics her own. She says my rosy lips form a little heart when I sleep and my soft skin looks like the sweetest blend of cocoa and cream. The phone rang often as family and friends wanted details. One important call came earlier than expected, which had my parents thinking their social worker wanted to tell them to bring me back and say goodbye. Instead, they learned my first mom was signing the papers and wanted to meet them. Inside a small room with white wicker chairs and flower cushions, my new parents met my first mom. She stood, shook their hands and hugged them both. They talked and ate lunch, and watched me look beautiful - something mom says is easy for me to do. They brought her a photo album with embroidered ribbons and flowers and explained it was symbolic of their commitment to send photos and letters. They had the same one for me and promised to keep my first mom's letters and photos there - another special connection she and I share. When mom asked my first mom if she wanted to hold me, she was surprised. "You wouldn't mind?" she asked. "Of course not!" mom assured her. She touched my face and looked at me closely. I know mom and dad were watching intently too, because they understood these were extraordinary moments. In between promises to stay in touch and visit each year, and me getting a stuffed puppy with floppy ears from my first mom, my new parents learned why they were chosen as my forever family. My first mom sure thought hard about what she wanted for me. (That's what moms do, after all.) When we left, mom whispered a thank you in my first mom's ear and tried not to become a weepy mess. My first mom consoled her and soon they just held each other and cried together. Later mom said saying "thanks" felt silly when someone so strong and so brave is sharing their child. More of my new family was waiting at home: grandmas and grandpas, great-grandma, an aunt and one of my little cousins. He'd made a crayon drawing with a note saying he loves me. I know I just met him, but I think I love him, too. Gretchen Boger-O'Bryan was placed with her infant daughter in July 2005 through Adoptions From The Heart. An editor in legal publishing, she also is a freelance writer and currently writes about adoption and first-time parenthood on her blog, musings: mamahood&more, at www.mamagigi.wordpress.com. You can reach her at mamagigi@comcast.net. All reviewed books are available in our branch offices, online or you can order by calling Toni Bradley in the Wynnewood office (610) 642-7200. A Love Like No Other by Pamela Kruger, Jill Smolowe - A moving collection of stories from professional writers, such as Jacquelyn Mitchard, Emily Prager, and Dan Savage. Essays about domestic adoptions, post adoption depression, international adoption, open adoption, special needs adoption, response of family to the adoption and more are shared in an honest and touching manner. List Price: $15.00 AFTH price: $13.00 Born in Our Hearts by Filis Casey, Marisa Catalina Casey - This mother-and-daughter team who were brought together by adoption collected brief essays from adoptive parents, birth parents, and adopted children. In the spirit of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, this group of essays offers readers brief glimpses of families at different stages of their journey through the lens of adoption. List Price: $11.95 AFTH price: 11.00 As adoption becomes more and more common, television programs and movies have been using adoption as a part of the storyline. Unfortunately, an increase in publicity does not always mean an increase in awareness. Sometimes the adoption experience portrayed in the storyline is unrealistic and the attitudes surrounding adoption issues may be more harmful than beneficial to the adoption community. Some recent examples of storylines that have caused a stir in the adoption community are the King of Queens TV show finale and Meet the Robinsons and The Country Bears movies. Please be sure to alert us if you discover a movie or TV show promoting adoption in a negative light so that we can help to increase positive adoption awareness. We are hopeful that producers and writers will be driven to research as much for their adoption based storylines as they do for their storylines that include technical medical terms and scenarios. It is important for the media to show an accurate portrayal of adoption to continue to help increase its acceptance in the community.
• Always wear a helmet and other safety gear when biking, skating, skateboarding, riding scooters, all terrain vehicles and horses. Studies have shown that bicycle helmets reduce the risk of injury by 85 percent. • Prevent swimming pool tragedies by placing complete barriers around your pool to prevent access. Use door and pool alarms. Closely supervise your child when he or she is around or in your pool. • Never bring a charcoal grill indoors. Burning charcoal produces carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. • When cooking out on a gas grill, check the air tubes to ensure there are no blockages from insects, spiders or food grease. Check hoses to make sure they are in good shape. Check for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the tubes. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and do not attempt to light the grill until it has been fixed. • Make sure your playground area is safe. Most playground accidents are from falls. Make sure your surface is safe; use at least 9 inches of wood chips or mulch. Concrete, asphalt or packed dirt surfaces are too hard and can cause injury. • Allow only one person at a time on a trampoline. Do not allow somersaults. Use a shock-absorbing pad to cover the springs and place the trampoline away from structures and other play areas. Children under 6 years old should not be allowed to use a full-size trampoline. • Warn children not to allow a game of hide-n-seek to become deadly. Make sure they cannot get into any old cedar chests, latch-type freezers or refrigerators, iceboxes in campers, clothes dryers or picnic coolers or trunks of cars. Childproof all old appliances and lock your car and warn children not to play inside them. • Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of open windows. Or install window stops that permit windows to open no more than 4 inches. Keep furniture away from windows to discourage children from climbing near them. • If you’re mowing in the summer, turn the mower off if children enter the area. If your lawn slopes and you’re mowing with a push mower, mow across the slope, never up and down. If you have a riding mower, drive up and down the slope, not across. Never carry children on a riding lawn mower. • If you are using a 5 gallon bucket for cleaning purposes or to wash your car, be sure to dump out the contents immediately after use and store upside down or inside. 5 gallon buckets can become deadly if left unattended when filled with water or cleaning supplies
Try on masks and traditional clothing, take a ride on a scooter and experience the “streets” of a modern Vietnam city, or work on a houseboat! Learn how to perform a Dragon Dance, and help Please Touch Museum prepare for Tet Nguyen Dan, the Lunar New Year Festival. You can even build an altar to honor your ancestors, and learn about your personality based on the year you were born by creating Zodiac Rubbings using replicas of traditional Vietnamese wood blocks. Enjoy Special Activities Including: View five Folktale Theatres presenting several popular folktales that highlight the values and traditions of the Vietnamese people. The Kids Creations corner has daily activities that celebrate ancestry, explore art from other countries, and encourage imagination. The Please Touch Playhouse is featuring the performance of “From the Sea to the Sky”, an original interpretation of traditional Vietnamese folktales adapted for children. This performance features sequences inspired by the traditional Vietnamese art of water puppetry. For more information: Connected Hearts Adoption Triad Support (CHATS) - based in North Plainfield, NJ, will host its Fall Picnic Saturday, Sept. 29 at Watchung Reservation. CHATS, in its 10th year, has seen its newly adopted babies grow into children who are proud of their adoption story and heritage, and has warmly supported those adjusting to their unique role in the triad. From grilled burgers and hot dogs to water balloons, three-legged races, prizes and storytime, the day promises to be a treat for all. The cost is $10 per family. For further details, e-mail Gretchen at mamagigi@comcast.net. China Center of Adoption Affairs - In order to provide children who were adopted from China by American families with a better understanding of Chinese culture, the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) is sponsoring "Embracing China & Experiencing Beijing Summer Camp 2007" from August 14-23, 2007. The National Council for Adoption (NCFA) in Alexandria, Virginia is working in conjunction with CCAA to publicize this unique opportunity as well as to assist in its planning. This summer camp will be located in Beijing, the capitol of China, a city with a colorful history and culture. During their stay in China, camp participants will have the opportunity to study Chinese history, culture, and traditional art. They will also have the opportunity to visit the China Center of Adoption Affairs, social welfare institutions, and a Summer Palace. They will experience the Great Wall of China and walk through the historic hutongs (narrow streets) of Beijing. Participants will also visit with a family in Beijing for one day, allowing them to exchange experiences with Chinese students of the same age. CCAA will cover all in-country expenses, including lodging, food, and transportation. Travel expenses to and from China are the participant's responsibility. For more information: Contact the National Council for Adoption at https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/about/conf_events.html
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Copyright 2007. Adpotions From the Heart is a licensed, non-profit, nonsectarian adoption agaency. Founded in 1985.
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