On Monday the judge will hear the petition to allow the adoption of Ti by my daughter, Nicole, and son-in-law, Greg. We are praying that the judge will act quickly and in the best interest of Ti.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Chung Yi Immediate Needs
Chung Yi has added another nursery and now will be able to help more infants. Laura T. has given information on the needs for the new nursery at Chung Yi Center in Taipei Taiwan. If you would like to donate for these needs please add a note in the donation box so we can be sure the funds are used as you want.
Remember this nursery very well could be where your child spends the first few months of their lives. Lets all help to make sure their needs are met.
Small newborn beds (4 needed)- $97.00 US dollars (estimated).
Large Crib (6 needed)- $119.00 US dollars (estimated).
Double stroller (2 needed)- $116.00 Us dollars (estimated).
Single stroller (1 needed)- $74.00 US dollars (estimated)
Non-adjustable recliner/rocker (2 needed)-$34.00 US dollars(estimated)Adjustable recliner/rocker (2 needed)- $67.00 US dollars (estimated)
They are also always in need of standard size crib sheets and crib skirts.
As always all help is greatly appreciated.
Remember this nursery very well could be where your child spends the first few months of their lives. Lets all help to make sure their needs are met.
Small newborn beds (4 needed)- $97.00 US dollars (estimated).
Large Crib (6 needed)- $119.00 US dollars (estimated).
Double stroller (2 needed)- $116.00 Us dollars (estimated).
Single stroller (1 needed)- $74.00 US dollars (estimated)
Non-adjustable recliner/rocker (2 needed)-$34.00 US dollars(estimated)Adjustable recliner/rocker (2 needed)- $67.00 US dollars (estimated)
They are also always in need of standard size crib sheets and crib skirts.
As always all help is greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Taiwan Adoption Court Process
Many families email me asking about the court process for Taiwan adoption. One of the agencys sent an adoptive family this process. I am
going to post it here in the hopes of helping adoptive families understand
the court process a little better. Families need to remember that this is a
general guideline. The timeframe can be longer or shorter for each step. I also want them to remember that even if you don't hear anything...which is usually the case...that does not mean your process is stalled in any way. There is a lot going on behind the scenes in order to get the legalities handled so that the child can join their new family.
1. District Court Process-
a. The family court office reviews the case/petition and a Judge is assigned to the case.
b. Judge reviews and considers the case and schedules a "hearing". Hearings are handled differently depending on the birth family's situation, the judge's schedule, persons representing the birth family and those representing the adoptive family. The time involved in getting a hearing scheduled depends on the judge's calendar/schedule and that of everyone else required to attend. Hearings can result in--The immediate decision to finalize the adoption (though this is rarely the case) or - Result in the judge's request for more information (in one case we saw the judge request additional counseling for the birthmother and he scheduled a follow-up hearing. Again, this is rare). -Most often, the hearing just provides a judge with more information about the case and allows him/her to rule on the adoption with confidence. Most often, the judge's decision (final ruling) happens weeks or even as long as months after the hearing.
The responsibility of the District Court is to make sure that every issue related to the best interest of the child has been considered. Though lengthy & frustrating at times, the District Court process protects the child, the birth parent, the organization caring for the child, AND in the end protects us as adoptive parents. When the District Court decisions have been made, adoptive families can be confident that the process was handled with consideration and in the best interest ofthe child. 2-4 MONTHS
2. Part I of Final Decree(first decree). Once the District Court hearing has been completed and the judge has had time to make a decision to finalize the adoption, he/she issues the first part of the Final Decree. This is a short statement signed by the judge that is forwarded to the parties involved (social services organization on behalf of the adoptive family and the birth family) notifying everyone of his/her decision to finalize the adoption. This first part of the Final Decree must go to each party and there is a waiting period of 10 days before any more can happen to ensure that everyone has been notified of the judge's decision. 2-4 WEEKS.
3. Part II of Final Decree. Once the 10 day waiting period is up (and the court staff finds time!), the second part of the Final Decree is forwarded to all parties. When the second part of the decree is received by your child's social service organization, the court process is DONE!
4. Household registration change and immigration requirements. Before adoptive family travels, a lot must be accomplished by the child's social service organization. All court documents and background info on the child must be officially translated to English and submitted with certain paperwork to AIT. Also, the child must have his/her Visa medical exam which is forwarded directly (unopened) to AIT's immigrant visa office. At some point the child's guardian must file for a household registration change. The household registration is a file located at local government offices in Taiwan that contains certificates and information about each person in Taiwan. Your child's household registration is attached to his/her guardian's file until the adoption has been finalized by the Taiwan courts. Once the child has been legally adopted in Taiwan, the guardian files with the government office to remove the file from theirs and create a new file showing that the adoptive parent(s) are the new legal guardians.The household registration change takes a day or two or a week depending on the placing organization and the local government office. 2-4 WEEKS.
5. New family receives a travel date. Each organization in Taiwan is different in when and how they schedule a travel date. Some wait until all of the above paperwork is filed and then give the family notice to travel quickly. Some schedule the travel in advance, while they work at preparing the above documents, giving a couple of weeks notice before travel.
going to post it here in the hopes of helping adoptive families understand
the court process a little better. Families need to remember that this is a
general guideline. The timeframe can be longer or shorter for each step. I also want them to remember that even if you don't hear anything...which is usually the case...that does not mean your process is stalled in any way. There is a lot going on behind the scenes in order to get the legalities handled so that the child can join their new family.
1. District Court Process-
a. The family court office reviews the case/petition and a Judge is assigned to the case.
b. Judge reviews and considers the case and schedules a "hearing". Hearings are handled differently depending on the birth family's situation, the judge's schedule, persons representing the birth family and those representing the adoptive family. The time involved in getting a hearing scheduled depends on the judge's calendar/schedule and that of everyone else required to attend. Hearings can result in--The immediate decision to finalize the adoption (though this is rarely the case) or - Result in the judge's request for more information (in one case we saw the judge request additional counseling for the birthmother and he scheduled a follow-up hearing. Again, this is rare). -Most often, the hearing just provides a judge with more information about the case and allows him/her to rule on the adoption with confidence. Most often, the judge's decision (final ruling) happens weeks or even as long as months after the hearing.
The responsibility of the District Court is to make sure that every issue related to the best interest of the child has been considered. Though lengthy & frustrating at times, the District Court process protects the child, the birth parent, the organization caring for the child, AND in the end protects us as adoptive parents. When the District Court decisions have been made, adoptive families can be confident that the process was handled with consideration and in the best interest ofthe child. 2-4 MONTHS
2. Part I of Final Decree(first decree). Once the District Court hearing has been completed and the judge has had time to make a decision to finalize the adoption, he/she issues the first part of the Final Decree. This is a short statement signed by the judge that is forwarded to the parties involved (social services organization on behalf of the adoptive family and the birth family) notifying everyone of his/her decision to finalize the adoption. This first part of the Final Decree must go to each party and there is a waiting period of 10 days before any more can happen to ensure that everyone has been notified of the judge's decision. 2-4 WEEKS.
3. Part II of Final Decree. Once the 10 day waiting period is up (and the court staff finds time!), the second part of the Final Decree is forwarded to all parties. When the second part of the decree is received by your child's social service organization, the court process is DONE!
4. Household registration change and immigration requirements. Before adoptive family travels, a lot must be accomplished by the child's social service organization. All court documents and background info on the child must be officially translated to English and submitted with certain paperwork to AIT. Also, the child must have his/her Visa medical exam which is forwarded directly (unopened) to AIT's immigrant visa office. At some point the child's guardian must file for a household registration change. The household registration is a file located at local government offices in Taiwan that contains certificates and information about each person in Taiwan. Your child's household registration is attached to his/her guardian's file until the adoption has been finalized by the Taiwan courts. Once the child has been legally adopted in Taiwan, the guardian files with the government office to remove the file from theirs and create a new file showing that the adoptive parent(s) are the new legal guardians.The household registration change takes a day or two or a week depending on the placing organization and the local government office. 2-4 WEEKS.
5. New family receives a travel date. Each organization in Taiwan is different in when and how they schedule a travel date. Some wait until all of the above paperwork is filed and then give the family notice to travel quickly. Some schedule the travel in advance, while they work at preparing the above documents, giving a couple of weeks notice before travel.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Happy Birthday Landon
Today is Landon's 3rd birthday. So much has happened to him in these 3 years. It is hard to
fathom that anybody could survive emotionally going through what these children go through, but survive he has. He has grown so much since coming home, both physically and
emotionally. As I watch him day to day I assure Nicole he is just a typical 3 year old boy, testing the limits, getting into things that he never thought of getting into 6 months ago, straying a little further away from mom then he has in the past, exploring the world around him with more and more confidence....and that mischievious grin...his mind never stopping for a second. When Nicole was a child she was a child of a thousand faces....Landon is the same way...he is very expressionistic with facial expressions and body language. He talks up a storm and he has reached the point that we can actually have conversations with him, and he can converse back. Every once in a while he does come out with a bit of "Landonese" which is a combination of baby Manderin, Taiwanese, with a twist of English....at least that is what we think it is....possibly a language of his own.
fathom that anybody could survive emotionally going through what these children go through, but survive he has. He has grown so much since coming home, both physically and
emotionally. As I watch him day to day I assure Nicole he is just a typical 3 year old boy, testing the limits, getting into things that he never thought of getting into 6 months ago, straying a little further away from mom then he has in the past, exploring the world around him with more and more confidence....and that mischievious grin...his mind never stopping for a second. When Nicole was a child she was a child of a thousand faces....Landon is the same way...he is very expressionistic with facial expressions and body language. He talks up a storm and he has reached the point that we can actually have conversations with him, and he can converse back. Every once in a while he does come out with a bit of "Landonese" which is a combination of baby Manderin, Taiwanese, with a twist of English....at least that is what we think it is....possibly a language of his own.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The Reason Why
TiMay 2007 Taipei, Taiwan
Shan-Fang
April 2006 Tainan, Taiwan
These are my two beautiful grandchildren. They are the reason for my involvement not only in Taiwan adoption but for the growing love my family has for their birth country and its people.
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