The Waiting Thread

CCAI WAITING CHILD PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2013
The Waiting Thread
Medical Needs Conference a Success!
CCAI’s first-ever Waiting Child Medical Needs Conference
on February 16, 2013, brought together top medical
specialists, experienced adoptive families, and prospective
waiting families for an afternoon of enlightening
information!
Recognizing the need for further education as the Waiting
Child Program grows by leaps and bounds, CCAI invited four
esteemed physicians, each specializing in a medical need
commonly seen in the Waiting Child Program, to come
together in this unique forum to educate and empower
adoptive families as they consider the adoption of one of
these special children. Dr. Max Mitchell spoke on the topic
of congenital heart disease, Dr. Greg Allen on cleft lip and
palate, Dr. Gregg Kobak on gastrointestinal disorders, and
Dr. Laurel Benson on limb differences. The doctors were
able to shed light on the causes, treatment, and prognoses
of these very common conditions. All four sessions also
included a question and answer portion with families who
have adopted a child with one of these medical needs.
CCAI is tremendously grateful to each of the four
physicians who donated their time and knowledge
to share with our families! We also want to thank
each and every adoptive family panelist who was
willing to share their experiences: Emily Adcox,
Jillian Pettus, Dawn Richardson, Sandy Schwedt,
Michelle Sell, Stacey Slupek, Scott & Wendi
Smith, and Kent & Sheri Yamamoto. Your
wisdom is invaluable to families just starting out!
As one participating family shared with us, “The
conference was extremely useful! I don't feel as
intimidated to adopt a special needs child. I know
what our family can handle and what we cannot.”
CCAI also extends a sincere, heartfelt thank-you to
Dr. James Campbell, CCAI board member and
adoptive father, who was instrumental in
organizing this conference. Your commitment and
tireless energy made possible the success of the
program! Much appreciation also for the
generosity of Merrill Lynch, who sponsored the
Medical Needs Conference!
Welcome New Henan Families!
From left to right: Dr. James Campbell, Dr. Gregg Kobak, Dr.
Greg Allen, Dr. Laurel Benson, Dr. Max Mitchell, and Lily Nie
Each session was well-attended in person, and CCAI was
also able to livestream the sessions online:
http://ccaifamily.org/Blog/?p=1165 to accommodate
families out of the area! All sessions were also
professionally recorded for future use on our website.
If you are waiting to bring home, or already are home
with a child from the province of Henan, then make
sure to join our Facebook group (Henan Kids
International) and stop by
www.henankids.blogspot.com This is the site for our
non-profit, Henan Kids International, which works
hard with CCAI to raise money and awareness for the
kids still waiting in orphanages in Henan. You can
follow families’ trips to China on the blog, connect
with other families, donate money to your child’s
orphanage, and find out how to contribute to our
current fundraiser, our annual HKI calendar. For
more information, please contact Emily Adcox at
emadcox@centurylink.net.
www.ccaifamily.org
CCAI WAITING CHILD PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2013
Last Month’s Statistics
In February, the CCCWA released
67 children’s files designated to
CCAI, 32 girls and 35 boys. 31 were
Special Focus and 36 were LID-only
(must be matched to a family with a
dossier already in China).
Ages of Waiting Children matched in February:
20
6
3
5
2
1
37 children were matched with their families in
February, 18 girls and 19 boys! Of those matched
children, 32 were from our agency-specific list, and 5
were from the CCCWA’s Shared List of Waiting
Children. Families matched in February who had
Medical Conditions Checklists (MCCs) on file with CCAI
(84% of the families matched this month) ranged from
August 2011 to February 2013. 7 children were
accepted as part of the Special Focus Program.
Of the 37 children matched in February, 9 have cleft lip
and palate, 9 have brain developmental
conditions/hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, 4 have
heart disease, 3 have cerebral palsy, 2 have male
genital conditions, 2 have imperforate anus, and the
remaining children have the following special needs:
limb difference, albinism, esophageal atresia/fistula,
hepatitis B, ear malformation, hemangioma, Down
Syndrome, and hydrocephalus, etc. 9 children have
multiple special needs.
Looking for financial aid for your adoption?
Learn about Gift of Adoption Fund at
www.giftofadoption.org!
Question of the Month:
Q: We hope to be matched with a young baby girl with a minor heart condition. What is the current timeline?
A: As you know, the timeline to a potential match in the Waiting Child Program depends entirely on what a family is
open to in terms of age, gender, and medical needs on their Medical Conditions Checklist (MCC), and ALSO very
much on which children’s files we receive. While we can’t predict an exact future timeline for you, we can always let
you know what families CURRENTLY being matched have been waiting.
At this time, we would prepare you for a wait time between 18 and 24 months from the time your MCC arrived,
assuming your dossier is completed during this time. This is the MOST common age/gender/medical condition
families are open to, and while it’s certainly not impossible, we see very few baby girls (under 24 months, and
especially under 12 months) with a “minor” heart condition such as VSD or ASD.
Now, if this is where your heart is set, we understand! But perhaps, if you find yourselves open to a BOY with a heart
condition, or to another more common medical need (such as cleft lip and palate), don’t hesitate to let us know, as
this may impact your wait time! 
www.ccaifamily.org
CCAI WAITING CHILD PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2013
In the Spotlight…
“Rui”
Female, DOB 11/28/2011
When Rui entered the institute, she was preliminarily
diagnosed with a vision impairment. It was
discovered that she couldn’t see out of her right eye
and her left eye was sensitive to light, but her vision
was still poor.
Possibly due to her blindness, when she had just
arrived at the institute, each time we spoke with her
she would cry. Sounds and objects all caused her to
become a bit moody and when the nannies
encountered this, they would softly comfort her.
Slowly, little Rui changed and became closer and closer
with the nannies. She can now stand when she is
supporting herself with her hands.
Her personality is quite introverted and she is also very
well-mannered. She likes to play with toys, especially
toys that can make noise. Each time she has one in
her hand, she will wave it about non-stop with an
extremely cute expression on her face! When little Rui
gets upset and she is with the rehabilitation teacher
who is making her practice standing, she will not be
very cooperative. However, if you grab a snack and
give it to her to eat, as well as put a toy in her hand,
she will finally be willing to cooperate with the
training. Due to her exceptional appetite, little Rui has
grown to be fair and chubby which is why we call her
“Little Chubby Girl.”
This sweet little princess’s file is marked “Special
Focus,” which means she can be matched to a
family at ANY stage in the adoption process, even
a family already matched to another child!! Please
help spread the word, and let’s find this little angel
a family!!
Contact:
waitingchild@ccaifamily.org
www.ccaifamily.org
Important Reminders:
Keep Your Immigration Approval Current!!
ALL families with Medical Conditions Checklists (MCCs) on file are STRONGLY encouraged to GET
and KEEP their immigration approval (I-800A approval) current with the correct age range,
gender(s), and medical conditions they are open to and approved for. If your immigration approval
is not current and inclusive of special needs at the time you are matched, it will significantly extend
your timeline between match and travel. As families who have “been there and done that” will tell
you, the wait gets much harder AFTER you are matched, and you don’t want ANY unnecessary days
spent holding that sweet little picture while you wait to travel!
Complete your Parent Training!!
Your parent training requirements must be complete before you can file your I-800 paperwork.
Your travel to China can be DELAYED if both parents have not fulfilled the training requirements by
the time your acceptance letter (LOA) arrives. If you have questions about parent training, please
contact CCAI’s Parent Training Coordinators at training@ccaifamily.org.
CCAI
6920 South Holly Circle
Centennial, CO 80112
Phone: 303-850-9998
Fax: 303-850-9997
www.ccaifamily.org
Your Waiting Child Program Staff:
Pam Rodriguez
waitingchild@ccaifamily.org
303-850-9998 x 35
Sarah Harmon
waitingchild3@ccaifamily.org
303-850-9998 x 25
Judy Winger
waitingchild5@ccaifamily.org
303-850-9998 x 38
Tony Goffredi
china3@ccaifamily.org
303-850-9998 x 19
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