Adoption Agencies and Information forChina

In 2006 Americans adopted more children from China than from any other country, approximately 6,500 children.  All aspects of a China adoption are regulated by the China Center for Adoption Affairs.   China adoptions historically have been safe and the process very orderly.  Over 95% of children adopted from China are girls and approximately 35% are under 1 year of age.

Chinese adoption law is very clear on which categories of children are eligible for adoption and what types of prospective adoptive parents China deems acceptable. Only adoptions fully completed in China are permitted. It is not possible under Chinese law to obtain guardianship of a Chinese child for later adoption in the United States. To be eligible for adoption, Chinese children must first be identified and approved by the China Centre of Adoption Affairs (CCAA). The CCAA matches individual children with prospective adoptive parent(s) whose completed applications have been submitted to the CCAA by a CCAA-licensed U.S. adoption agency whose credentials are on file at the CCAA.

The China Centre of Adoption Affairs (CCAA)
103 Beiheyan St.
Dongcheng District
Beijing 100006
Phone: 86-10-6522-3102
86-10-6513-0607

Embassy of the People's Republic of China
Consular Section
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202-328-2500

There are literally hundreds of U.S. based adoption agencies that help families adopt from China.  These adoption agencies conduct anywhere from a few placements to several hundred placements every year.  But bigger is not always better.  The most important factors for an adopting family to consider are not how many children the adoption agencies place, but are they a fully licensed agency, are they non-profit, and do they deliver the kind of individual attention you deserve and may desire.  Below I have listed a few adoption agencies to help you get started.  With the exception of the agency I direct, Adoption Services, Inc., the adoption agencies below were selected in a rather random fashion from the list of adoption agencies who are members of the JCICS.   While I would love to have you call and work with Adoption Services China Adoption Program, I suggest you not only call us but several other adoption agencies as well.  Make the calls, ask your questions, see if you are getting the type of attention you deserve, and then make your selection. 

For more information about adoption from this country and about adoption agencies that can assist you, please visit the websites below.  Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any of the adoption agencies they plan to use for adoption services.

Adoption Services, Inc. 
Great Wall of China
Bethany Christian Services
Gift of Love International Adoptions
Living Hope
Holt International Children's Services
The U.S. Department of State: China Adoption and Adoption Agencies
JCICS Adoption Agencies: China
The U.S. Department of State: Authentications Office
U.S. Department of State: International Adoption Information Booklet
Department of State: How can adopted children come to the U.S.?
Child Citizenship Act of 2000
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Foreign travel registration
U.S. Government Consular Information Sheets

*Footnote: The Joint Council for International Children’s Services (JCICS) is one of the oldest and largest membership associations of licensed non-profit international adoption agencies.  All of the above adoption agencies are listed as members of JCICS.