THANK YOU

As well as publicising the China SN petition to the UK government on the blog, I also sent out a mass email and put it on F*acebook (FB for about the 3rd time!) There are quite a few names at the bottom of the petition that I know - thank you to all who've signed!

SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTIONS FROM CHINA

(Because it's so important that it needs a post of it's own)

The petition is detailed as:
For over 10 years the government (DCSF), has supported an adoption program with the Chinese government agency (CCAA). Historically, children put forward to the UK were always from the “Non Special Needs” program, a title meaning they did not have an identified medical condition. But many children have medical conditions, from the fairly minor to the very serious, and they join the “Special Needs” (SN) program – actively supported by many other countries throughout the world but not by the UK. In the past a few UK adopters managed to purposefully adopt SN children. However, the Chinese system has recently changed and this is no longer possible. UK adopters can't adopt a SN child because DCSF don't have a system that works with CCAA's new online system to place these children. We understand that DCSF are working on this anomaly. We ask that they work swiftly to end this discrimination and develop a system that facilitates the placement of SN children in UK families.

If you are a British citizen or resident in the UK and feel you could support this option - allowing those who wish to adopt a SN child from China, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE sign the petition to 10 Downing Street here.

INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION PROCESS IN THE UK

In the UK we don't have adoption agencies.

Home studies are undertaken by our local authorities (part of local government) or by separate organisations if LAs are too busy (AKA disinterested). Domestic home studies are free but for IA there is a 4 figure charge, they're not supposed to profit from undertaking HS for IA but that's a whole 'nother story!

A SW visits (up to 10-12 times depending on the complexity of the family situation), every SW works differently, for me the visits were fortnightly and she'd tell me what we'd discuss at the next meeting and usually ask me to prepare some paperwork in advance that we'd talk through at the next meeting. After all the visits the HS took about a month to edit, then I had a chance to read through and correct any inaccuracies, about a month after that I went to Panel.

Panel is a group of interested parties - a medical representative, a SW to consider the interests of the child, a couple of local councillors, several people who've had experience of adoption (been adopted or have adopted) - usually about 8-10 people. They read the HS in advance, discuss it, interview the applicant(s) and their SW, more discussion and then decide if the applicant(s) are suitable and the chair of Panel shares their decision after you've waited nervously outside.

After Panel comes the country specific paper chase for loads of paper evidence such as detailed financial statements (having done a simpler version for Panel), birth certificates, more medicals and sometimes statements from guardians or friends in support of the application. Then all of this is sent to central government to check and when they're happy they issue a Certificate of Eligibility, the dossier goes off to a Notary Public, back to gov, off to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (another gov depm), receiving country's embassy, back to gov to send to receiving country. This stage (from sending to government to them sending them abroad) can take 6 months.

In the UK we have no agencies, no one other than government officials, to intercede on our behalf, because we have no agencies we have no access to the new Special Needs computerised system that China run, so currently no one can adopt a SN child from China into the UK. Prospective adoptive parents want to change this and are petitioning the government to show the demand for change. Don't panic at the term Special Needs - it doesn't mean the same in the context of China adoption as it does in the UK. There are children available for adoption with significant special needs such as cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, however there are many other children with medically treatable or manageable conditions such as cleft lip and palate, club feet, heart murmurs, limb differences, even birth marks.

If you are a British citizen or resident in the UK and feel you could support this option - allowing those who wish to adopt a SN child from China, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE sign the petition to 10 Downing Street here.

HOUSE GUESTS AFTER THE PARTY

M, C and L came to the party and stayed overnight. It was a lovely way to prevent the sadness of a party ending. After I put Alice to bed she was shouting over the monitor for L - so I had to remind her that she had to sleep and would see her again in the morning (in the last couple of months Alice has finally accepted me talking back through the monitor without it frightening her!)

This morning they had great fun playing together, they are getting better at sharing with less prompting and really enjoy each other's company. As always it was super to get them together.

AND NOW SHE'S 3!

By 4pm it was the 15th in China, so we started to celebrate, Alice helped me to sing 'Happy Birthday' and she even changed the lyrics to 'Happy Birthday to ME!' I put a candle on a cupcake and she blew it out several times with a large grin on her face the whole time. Then she opened a present (of my choosing), instantly she looked to see if it was a 'baby' (as the main pressie I'd left that one for tomorrow!) and she quickly and sadly decided that it wasn't, but her sadness was quickly replaced by big grins as she realised that it was a witch's costume - I was going to call it a naughty fairy, but she already knew what it was!!

In the second photo she's reading one of my favourite books - The Gruff@lo, it took a long time for her to warm to it but now she loves it as much as me.

CONTENTED WEEKEND

M, C and L came to stay.

On Friday I told Alice they were coming on Saturday, first thing Saturday morning Alice asked if they were here yet and she kept asking until they arrived at lunchtime!

We all had a super time, it was good to see them (as ever) and interesting to see that this time it was probably Alice who'd changed more than L.

DAFT PANIC

Soon we will be going to a reunion involving many children adopted from China. I'm going to try leaving Alice in the creche so that I can attend an adult only seminar.

I woke at around 2am this morning, panicking. I was panicking that the creche workers wouldn't return Alice into my custody as I'd identified her as 'the Chinese child.' I find that Alice is very noticeable and memorable in our local community as it is so racially uniform so I don't have to say any more than that for people to know who she (or we) are.

(Added after the weekend - I didn't leave Alice in the creche so the situation never arose and now I will work on a more PC description of my daughter and our family.)

CACH WEEKEND

I've just rung the hotel and they can't put 'the friends' together until they have the names from the organiser, they've advised me to ring again on Friday afternoon!

A REMINDER!

I run a Yahoo group for UK families who adopted children from China in 2007. We're planning another reunion for May - please visit the group and let us know when your family could join us (same venue as last time, hopefully!) If you are eligible to join (or know someone who is) please come and join us here.

CAN YOU HELP?

This is a plea from a fellow adoptive mum of a Chinese daughter:

My daughter Lydia was adopted from Guangdong Province China on July 5, 2004. In August 2008, she was diagnosed with AML, a very pernicious and deadly form of leukemia.

With the help of her Chinese-born doctor, we were able to locate her birthparents and some of her siblings in China that her family kept. We know she had at least two sisters older than she (born somewhere between 1993 and 2002) who were also abandoned. The birthparents have refused to assist with her bone marrow transplant, even though two of her already found siblings were a match.

We are now looking for these other potential siblings to see if they were adopted and might also be a match. Lydia is part of the Hakka ethnic group, and so a match from someone other than a relative is unlikely because of her unique, almost bi-racial typing.

Lydia has classic Hakka features: "Brooke Shields" eyebrows, and rather full
lips and a round face. I will have my husband post photos of Lydia and her birthfamily. I cannot do so at this time, because I am in the hospital with Lydia and the internet connection here is too slow and rather poor. Thank you for any assistance you may be able to lend.

Blessings,
Monica

www.caringbridge.org
enter: lydialimeieikomiyashita

BAD NEWS BUT GOOD NEWS!

Good Rock didn't win . . . but they came second and polled enough votes to get through as a runner up!

Thanks to all who voted, stayed tuned - I'll remind you when to vote again!

BAA-HUMBUG

I've had several requests to post about issues on my blog, but this blog is about our family, Chinese adoption and things that relate to these things or interest me - so if the requests don't match these things then they don't make the blog. Sounds harsh until you consider the blog as a scrapbook relating to the things listed above.

Today I posted on a very well known Chinese adoption forum about Good Rock - a charity that supports Chinese orphans. My post was deleted as the forum doesn't support this charity - despite the fact that the forum and the charity are about aspects of the same subject but it does support other charities doing similar things - helping Chinese orphans. Harsh, I think. The same forum allows people to post about voting for their children in photo competitions and such?

PLEASE HELP GOOD ROCK

The Good Rock Foundation will be one of the five featured charities
on the www.optimistworld.com website for the week of Friday 11th -
Thursday 17th July. This is for UK registered charities with incomes
below £750,000.

Site visitors can vote for their favourite charity. The two most
popular charities will go onto feature later in the Autumn with the
chance to win a cash donation.

Ultimately, if we can get enough votes, we could go on to become the
Optimist Award Charity of the Year and be awarded a further cash
donation of between £10,000 and £20,000.

For a small charity, such as The Good Rock Foundation, any additional
funds are vital and make a huge difference.

Voting is easy - go to www.optimistworld.com and register. The click
on the khaki coloured tab marked "Charities". You will find that
week's five featured charities - scroll down to see The Good Rock
Foundation feature.

On the left hand side you will see the option to vote for your
favourite charity. Each registered user has one vote per week.

Please get all your friends, family and colleagues to vote for us
too - we need as many people as possible to support us to try and win
the week's vote. So don't delay....we are only featured for one
week - 11th-17th July

With many thanks -

From all at The Good Rock Foundation

ABOUT GOOD ROCK

WHY WE ARE NEEDED
We are a humanitarian aid foundation which believes that every child is precious & deserves to have a life of hope & opportunity.

China's special situation & a cultural preference for boys leads to abandonment of girl children & those with disabilities.

Our reputation & positive relationships in China place us in an excellent position to champion these children & bring a positive change. We are working with China's social services to improve child welfare policy.

China is now experiencing a rapid economic growth however there remains a deficit in social welfare for the disadvantaged such as the children we are reaching. Xinjiang is highlighted as one of China's poverty provinces & the economic boon's of recent years are slow to reach many parts of this remote region.

We work in the belief that what is needed are tools to enhance the opportunities for the children & their carers 'Give a man a fish & you fed him for a day. Teach a man to fish & you feed him for life' (Chinese proverb).

WHAT WE DO
FOSTER CARE:
We are passionate about foster care as we see the many benefits the children enjoy. Their health & development improves, they learn to become attached to others, trust & show affection.

We are confident that foster care is the positive long term solution for China's orphaned and abandoned children. In 2002 foster care was formally endorsed by China's Ministry of Social Welfare & Civil Affairs. Our international standard foster care guideline's helps ensure quality care by well supported foster families.

SPREAD THEIR WINGS:
Is our pioneer project for the disabled children who are growing to adulthood. We are creating community centres where the young people can engage in life skills training, socialise and become connected and contributing members of community. Our research shows that we have to be realistic & creative about the future of disabled children in foster care. We are addressing the special needs of these young people with solutions in adult foster care and group homes. We believe that this issue is one of the most vital to be faced by China's orphanage's & those of us who work alongside them.

THERAPY CENTRES:
Many of our children have special needs. We equip therapy centres in small orphanages & the villages where our children are in foster care. This means that the children receive regular mobility training & their foster parents are trained and encouraged to bring the children on at home so that they learnt the skills they need for future mobility & independence.

MEDICAL ATTENTION:
A number of children in our care have been born with profound disabilities or are in need of urgent medical care.

Where possible we arrange for the children to receive medical attention locally or arrange for specialist care in one of China's specialist centre's of excellence.

NEW ORPHANAGE PROJECTS:
As resources allow, we expand our foster care & therapy projects with orphanages. Promoting our child sponsorship programme helps us help more children so please consider spreading the word about Good Rock.

COUNT ME IN:
Many orphaned or abandoned children have already reached their teens. Without our help their prospects would not reach beyond a life of drudgery in a menial job. We help fund their further education for college, university or provide opportunities for vocational skills. All of which translates to hope & opportunity. In Sept 2007 a total of 95 young people have been helped by our education programme

BLOOMING BABIES:
Good early nutrition is vital for every child's growth and development. Enriched baby and toddler milk is expensive in China and beyond the budget of many orphanages. Our support makes the difference.

IMPROVED ORPHANAGE CONDITIONS:
We provide child care training, aid for the special needs children, better nutrition & daily necessities for all. Our projects are in co-operation with local government - we don't take the responsibility from them & we require them to match funding in many of our projects.

www.goodrock.org.uk

NEW YAHOO GROUP!

UKCA07 - for adopters in the UK and Brits abroad who adopted from China in 2007.

It's intended to be a social, chatty group used for forming connections between families and organising social events.

If you fit the criteria for membership - Brit with a child adopted from China in 2007, please come on over and join - if I know you just tell me who you are, if not please add more detail!

DESPERATE SITUATION IN CHINA

The weather in China has been horrendous this week - snow, ice and stormy conditions have wreaked havoc.

This is from a charity called HALF THE SKY:

We expect to have a break in the weather tomorrow and then more storms moving in on Tuesday. We hope to use the brief window to get some direct relief to the orphanages that need it most desperately, especially in towns without power where no funds can be wire-transferred.

We will be receiving a list of orphanages with urgent needs by noon tomorrow (Monday here in China.) There are 20 in Hunan Province alone. We have made arrangements to wire funds directly wherever possible and promised anyone who's using their personal funds right now to care for the children that they will be reimbursed promptly. All institutions receiving funds will provide us with receipts and photographs of items purchased.

Here are a few updates. This list will grow substantially tomorrow. You can check our website at http://www.halfthesky.org/work/littlemouse.php for the very latest news and full details.

Changzhou, Jiangsu - UPDATE: The orphanage now reports they are running out of diapers and need 750 diapers per day for an estimated 10 days.

Chengdu, Sichuan - UPDATE: Chengdu repeats their request for a large heater and disposable diapers. They also request 80 warm quilts.

Chenzhou, Hunan - UPDATE: The largest hotel in Chenzhou is running on one emergency generator and townsfolk who've been without power for days have filled all rooms and lobbies. There are very few places in town with even emergency power now. Hopes are to get some electricity by next weekend. We are in daily touch with the orphanage. They know that everyone is thinking of them and determined to get them the help they need.

Chongqing - UPDATE: Temperatures continue to drop - request warm blankets and floor mats.

Chuzhou, Anhui - UPDATE: Reports that their industrial clothes dryer broke down two days ago. They've tried to repair but it is still not working and they have no way to dry clothes and diapers in the cold. They ask for purchase of a new dryer and for disposable diapers.

Guiyang, Guizhou - UPDATE: Power is intermittant. They repeat the request for diapers and now understand that HTS has okayed the purchase.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang - Because of snow, they've been unable to get vegetables for several days. They request a subsidy to purchase food at higher prices and also ask for disposable diapers.

Hefei, Anhui - UPDATE: The orphanage now realizes they will soon run out of disposable diapers. They ask for funds to purchase 7500 diapers.

Nanchang, Jiangxi - UPDATE: Their boiler for hot water supply has broken down. They ask for funds to purchase a new one.

Qingyuan, Guangdong - UPDATE: With HTS funds, they have purchased 110 sets of quilts and padded jackets but have been unable to find heaters anywhere in Qingyuan. They are going to try to send someone south to Guangzhou to find heaters.

Shaodian, Henan - HTS supports a Family Village here for children orphaned by AIDS. Due to the heavy snow and bitter cold, the children suffer from chilblains on their hands and feet. Water pipes have frozen and they are now able to get water only a few hours a day. Food costs are rising. Power supply is intermittant. They request heaters and cream for chilblains as well as a subsidy for food.

Xinyang, Henan - UPDATE: It seems first information on Xinyang did not come from director of institution. Today's news is not so favorable. It has been snowing since January 10 and temperatures are the lowest in history. Some heaters are broken. The institution has gathered all of the children together in the largest HTS activity room to kep them warm. Due to the weight of ice, the roof has cracked and there are leaks into some of the HTS acivity rooms as well as the nurseries. They are installing a "temporary" toilet on the same floor as the big activity room so children and caregivers don't slip on the icy corridors and stairs. They ask for disposable diapers, winter clothes, cream for chilblains for the children's hands and feet. HTS staff continues to walk to work through the snow and ice; there is no public transportation.

Yangchun, Guangdong - reports a need for space heaters and hot water bottles for 88 babies at two sites.

Please consider passing this message on to anyone you think might want to help.

To contribute to Half the Sky's Little Mouse Emergency Fund please CLICK HERE

On behalf of the many, many children whose lives you will touch, and possibly save, during this difficult time - THANK YOU!

With love,

Jenny

Jenny Bowen
Executive Director
Half the Sky Foundation
www.halfthesky.org

PLEASE HELP

This is from a fantastic charity that helps children in Chinese orphanages:

As you might know, we are in the final five days of a national competition on Facebook. We were in first place for quite some time, but now we are 45 donors behind the Free Tibet people. We have five days to find as many individual donors as possible in order to try to win the $50,000.

It is SO EASY to donate $10 and count as a unique donor. All you have to do is go here: Click "donate", and then it will ask you to register with Facebook. Once you are registered, you can donate just $10 and it counts towards our total. The donation is 100% tax deductible and is processed by I Give, a leading online charity site. Your credit card number is completely secure.

Facebook does not sell any information to third parties, and you can in fact go back and even delete your Facebook account as soon as you donate if you desire. I have really enjoyed learning how to use Facebook, however, and have found a lot of old friends on there that I have reconnected with.

I just wanted to say that this is REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, so I am asking you as a dear friend or family member to please do this for me. I have so many babies on my heart right now who will not be on this earth in the next month if we cannot raise the funds they need for medical care. It takes a piece of my soul each and every time a
little baby dies in an orphanage when it would have been so easy to save their life with surgery. I have watched far too many babies struggle and then die over the years…and it is a very heavy burden to me.

If we win the $50,000 prize…that will save the lives of ten children dying of heart disease. That is so awesome. TEN CHILDREN. I hope you will be a part of us winning and saving their lives. I once had a conversation with a mom who had adopted a little boy whose life we had helped save. She said, "do you realize that the very fabric of the world has changed since our son lived when he didn't really have a chance?" She went on to say that her family realized that he would grow up one day and have kids of his own…perhaps be a doctor or a teacher or a researcher. I started crying when she took my hand and told me that because we had stepped in to save his life, the world would be impacted in ways we would never even know. Just because one boy's life was saved. I have so many children waiting for that same chance.

Don't forget that if there are two people in the home, then both can create a Facebook account and donate $10 and it counts as two donors. Everyone 13 and up in the Eldridge home has done so here. The contest is just on how many unique donors we can get behind our cause.

THANK YOU!! I would be SO GRATEFUL for your help.
Amy Eldridge
Love Without Boundaries

ALICE HAS A NEW FRIEND!

Today the Tribe grew!

Congratulations to all the Ts, keep blogging - it's great to hear what's happening, can't wait for the homecoming photos.

xxx

PHOTOS, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Later this month our SW is coming to write the first post placement report for China. Photos will be included as part of her report - which ones would you include? Which ones would you send to China to show them this fabulous child?

Comments please!

MOTHER'S BRIDGE OF LOVE

While we were in Bath with M, C and L, we all went to a culture day and performance by the Chinese charity Mother's Bridge of Love. The performers (all children), their teachers and interpreters have all travelled from China, they are also performing in Edinburgh and London - worth a visit. It was a great performance with very talented and
courageous children and it felt very special to be part of the audience. I feel increasingly 'at home' around Chinese people while feeling less at ease around IC1 mothers and their biological children, with the intrusiv
e questions that usually follow.