Written by Maury Reising

We are thrilled to have recently received the updated list of Waiting Children!!! We have information on 31 Waiting Children from Asia and 3 children from Latin America. The children have a wide variety of special needs, from minor, correctable ones such as congenital heart defect to those that are more challenging, such as spina bifida. We have many children on this current list with congenital cleft lip and palate. The children range in age from 9 months to 6 years. We have posted the children's information, password-protected, on our website at Waiting Children List. Families are able to access brief medical information on each child and a photo of each child by completing and submitting a short questionnaire. When approved for access, you will then receive a password in a separate e-mail. If you submitted a questionnaire in the past, you do not need to do so again; your previous password will allow you to access the updated list and future Waiting Children lists. We keep a list of all questionnaires that have been submitted to date. If you are interested in a specific child, please contact me by phone at 888-797-9900 or by e-mail at mreising@ftia.org or by phone at 888-797-9900.

The Waiting Children List page also lets families know what paperwork is needed to review a child's information. At Waiting Children from China Program, you will find information about the program in general, including time frames for each step of the process. We also continue to update the China Waiting Children Approval Update page, so that families who have started the adoption process can view recent time frames between Letter of Intent, DTC, and Final Travel Approval. All families who have received a Final Approval in since October 2002 are listed.

We also continue to offer our families in the adoption process the opportunity to talk with other FTIA families who have adopted a child who has the same special need or who is the same age as their child. If you would like to serve in this capacity or if you would like to share your adoption experiences at our Informational Meetings, your participation would be greatly appreciated. It is so valuable for families to be able to talk with those who have been through the process and are parenting these special children on a daily basis.

I was so glad to meet so many of the special needs families at the reunion this year!! It was a great opportunity to talk with families face-to-face and meet the children! I hope everyone enjoyed the day; it was beautiful weather and gave families time to connect with others from their travel group or whose children are from the same orphanage and also the opportunity to meet our staff. If you were not able to make it this year, I hope to see you next year!! I enjoy working with all of you so much and continue to be so impressed by your dedication, acceptance, commitment, and patience. Thanks to all of you for all you do for these beautiful children!!

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