…lighting the way for new beginnings since 1989
Beacon House Adoption Services, Inc.
International Adoption- CHINA
www.BeaconHouseAdoption.com
Founded in 1989, Beacon House Adoption Services is a licensed, Non-Profit, 501(C)
(3) Adoption Agency with a long tradition of working with adoptive families. Beacon
House is accredited under the Hague through COA, and works collaboratively with
an adoption agency accredited by The China Center for Children’s Welfare and
Adoption (CCCWA).
At Beacon House finding the right parent is as important as finding the right
child.
We offer individualized, personal service combined with the resources and
experience of a well-established, China Program, expert guidance in preparing your
dossier, as well as experienced staff working your behalf, both in the US and in
China, who understand US and International Law.
About Beacon House
o Established in 1989
o More than 5,500 adoptions completed
o Low staff turnover
o Licensed in multiple states and regional offices
o Placing children nationwide
o Competitive fees
CONTACT US
www.BeaconHouseAdoption.com
Licensed offices in:
Pensacola, FL
223 West Gregory
Pensacola, FL 32502
(850) 430-4005 (PH)
1-888-987-6300
Baton Rouge, LA
5917 Jones Creek Rd, Suite 100B
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
(225) 753-5551 (PH) (225) 753-6866 Fax
1-888-987-6300
Gulfport, MS
440 Pass Rd
Gulfport, MS
(888) 987-6300
International Case Supervisor:
Linda Shreve
linda@beaconhouseadoption.com (770) 856-3052
International Case Manager:
Denise Hoppenhauer
denise@beaconhouseadoption.com (864) 360-1523
Executive Director:
Anne Hughes
anne@beaconhouseadoption.com (850) 430-4005
INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM
China is a country that dates back thousands of years, rich in culture and history. Some
of the greatest innovations that were passed into Europe during and after the Middle Ages
came from China, such as paper making and printing. China covers approximately 9.6
million square kilometers and is the world’s second-largest country by land area.
China is party to the Hague Convention with respect to IntercountryAdoption. Therefore
all adoptions between China and the United States must meet the requirements of the
Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.
PROGRAM PARTICULARS
China has long been a participant in reliable international adoptions. Over many
years, thousands of wonderful Chinese children have joined US families. The
adoption programs from China are consistent and can be fast. Over the past few
years, the China Special Needs Adoption Program has come to the forefront. These
are children who desperately need to be nurtured in a stable and loving home. The
parents who adopt these special children often report that they rather than the
children adopted, are the ones who receive the greatest blessing. This program is fast,
affordable and predictable. Ordinarily parents will travel to bring home their new
child in less than a year from the time their dossier is submitted to China.
The words "Special Needs" sometimes bring to mind some scary thoughts. We
would like you to set aside your previous notions of what you think this term means.
Each child is unique, and each special need is unique. There are differing levels of
special needs that can include: minor special needs, fixable special needs,
manageable special needs, and older children with NO medical special needs.
Minor special needs
There are some children waiting for homes who are young, basically healthy, and
developmentally normal, but who have a minor medical or cosmetic problem that
will not limit the child or your family.
Fixable special needs
There are also many children available for adoption who are developmentally
normal, but who have a medical or orthopedic problem that is not minor, but is
fixable with surgery. Often these are children who will have no special needs at all
after the initial surgery or procedure. The most common fixable medical need is a
cleft lip or cleft lip and palate. Most of these children will develop normally in other
ways their clefts are repaired; there could be a need for dental work, orthodontics
and/or and speech therapy.
Manageable special needs
On the lists of waiting children we will frequently see a child with on orthopedic or
medical special need that is not minor, nor fixable, but is easily manageable and
which will not significantly affect the child's or your family's quality of life.
An example would be a child who is smart and delightful, but who is missing a
finger, or who has a deformed ear, or who is deaf in one ear or blind in one eye.
Some children have tested positive for Hepatitis B; others have diabetes or severe
asthma or other manageable conditions.
Older healthy children
Many perfectly healthy children have been placed on the special needs lists simply
because they are older (age 7-13.) If a couple is older than 55, often the CCAA will
allow them to adopt one or more older children.
More significant special needs
Of course there are also children on the lists who have more profound medical needs
or who have significant developmental delays. Many very special families have
chosen to adopt one or more of these very special children and have found a great
blessing in the experience.
Special Focus Children
China has also established a Special Focus (SF) category on their “List of Waiting
Children.” These children have waited on the list for several months without being
placed with a family for adoption. When children are placed on this list it means that
the China has removed some of the barriers for adopting parents to allow the
children to find their forever families. China will also allow any family to adopt two
children at the same time as long as one of the children is a SF child.
There are several practical advantages to the Special Needs and Special Focus
Adoption Program:
• It is quick (usually less than 15 months from start to finish)
• It is affordable.
• The Chinese officials are willing to consider allowing a couple to adopt who does
not meet every requirement perfectly when they are willing to adopt a child with
special needs.
Adoption Requirements:
Some of the requirements to adopt from China (that may be flexible in certain cases)
are:
• Adoptive parents must be older than 30 and younger than 55
• Married couples and single women can adopt
• Single women may adopt Special Focus children if they have experience with
special needs
• Neither parent may have an arrest record nor any record involving child
abuse or neglect
• Parents must have normal life expectancy. Any use of psychotropic
medications needs to be discussed.
• Generally speaking, there can be no more than 4 children living in the home
before the adoption
• $10,000 income per family member is required, to include the adopted child
and the family must have an $80,000 net worth is required of the family
• Each parent must be a high school graduate
• Neither parent may have a body mass index greater than 40.
An International Adoption Specialist, (a physician who works with internationally
adopted children), can assist you in the assessment of the risk factors of an individual
child. We at Beacon House can assist you in locating one near you. This step, along
with Pre-adoption education, is vital to the overall success of your adoption.
STEPS TO CHINA ADOPTION- Beacon House Adoption Services
1. Attend Introductory Webinar
2. Submit inquiry online, receive username and password.
3. Submit Application through My Adoption Portal (MAP).
4. Beacon House reviews application to assure eligibility
5. Family receives contract.
6. Family submits contract to agency with initial fees.
7. Case manager assigned to family; family provided with link to educational
pre-adoptive classes
8. Case Manager sets up appointment for family with Adoption Finance Coach.
9. Beacon House or local home study agency begins home study
process.[Residents of Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida must use BH as the
homestudy agency unless other arrangements are made in advance]
10. Home study approved by Beacon House staff [Beacon House works closely
with home study agencies]
11. Home study and pre-adoptive education completed; family files for approval
with USCIS (immigration).
12. Case manager and family works on dossier; documents authenticated.
13. Documents submitted for translation, authentication and registration.
14. Family participates in Waiting Family programs through Beacon House.
These are called Parents in Progress and address issues that may arise
throughout the process.
15. Beacon House notified that child is available.
16. Family contacts International Adoption physician, arranges to have physician
available while in country.
17. If family decides to proceed letter of intent to adopt is provided.
18. Family files I-800 to receive approval to adopt particular child.
19. “Article 5” letter received and forwarded to CCCWA.
20. CCCWA issues "Travel Approval" ("Notice of Coming to China for
Adoption") to the agency.
21. Family travels to China.
22. Ministry of Civil Affairs issues the final adoption certificate.
23. Family obtains legal custody of child
a. Apply for new birth certificate (in region)
b. Apply for child’s passport (passport)
c. Apply for child’s immigrant visa
Home with your Child!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
At Beacon House we believe that adoptive parents should make an informed decision
every step of the way. No question is too big or small. Contact us 24/7 at
information@beacohouseadoption.com for answers to all your questions. Here are a few
of the questions we are most frequently asked.
1. How old are the children available for adoption?
In China, children available for adoption range in age from under 12 months to about 10
years of age. Age range is addressed case by case when the Chinese Center for Adoption
Affairs (CCAA) provides information on a child available.
2. Are both girls and boys available for adoption?
Yes.
3. Who can adopt?
Both Single women and married couples may adopt. Adoptive Parents must be older than
30 but younger than 55.
4. What if I live out of State, can we work with Beacon House?
Absolutely, Beacon House works with adoptive families nationwide. As needed, we
assist families in locating qualified Home study providers who meets both BHAS and
China’s standards of service.
5. What is the timeframe for China adoption through Beacon House?
Ordinarily, families can bring home their new child in less than a year from the time their
dossier is submitted in China. Total process time (start to finish) is estimated at 15
months.
6. What are the costs of adoption from Bulgaria through Beacon House?
Please see the information packet on this site for a detailed breakdown of our fee
schedule. Total foreign and agency fees are $20,010 for one child if BHAS completes
your HS (A complete estimate of all costs are included in the informational packet).
7. What are the educational requirements that I have to meet?
Beacon House believes it is critical for adoptive parents to develop an understanding of
international adoption and requires families to participate in Pre-adoption education
training. The Hague compliant, ten- hour online training program, Because They Waited™
from Heart of the Matters Seminars is taken online. There is also a 1-hour webinar,
specific to the Beacon House programs which families can access throughout their
adoption process.
8. Why do I need an appointment with the Adoption Finance Coach?
We know that discussing finances can be very personal and sometimes
uncomfortable. But the cost of adoption can often be an issue that creates
stress for families. Kelly Ellison – the Adoption Finance Coach – is a part of
our organization because we have found in our many years of service to
families that having someone involved who can assist in the financial
planning for adoption eases some of the stress on families. The finance
coaching system can provide a family with a framework for planning and
spending throughout adoption.
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Beacon House’s Commitment to Excellence Includes:
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Hague Accredited
Beacon House is the Leader in Client Services. You want individualized, personal
service combined with the resources and experience of an agency with a wellestablished and proven track record.
Expert guidance in helping you prepare your dossier. Experienced staff here and in
China working on your behalf.
BHAS Established in 1989: more than 25 years of service
Low staff turnover
More than 5,500 adoptions completed
References available upon request.
The first, full-service agency offering the
Adoption Finance Coaching System
A proven, ground-breaking system helping our
families with alternative ways to finance their
dreams!
Benefits include:
• On-demand webinars, resources and
coaching
• On-line gift registry service to receive money
for your adoption expenses
• Access to a coach to help you create a
comprehensive plan for how you will pay for
your adoption!
“We were lucky to be connected to the Adoption Finance and
Coaching System. We started the adoption process thinking
that our only options were personal loans and a meager
savings. Our Coach helped us to tell our adoption story to our
community. The response was amazing! Not only did we
raise a significant amount of money towards our adoption, we
were also able to feel support from our community as well as
get our friends and family excited about our adoption plans.”
--Amie and Ryan Francois
*** Please see our Finance & Coaching Tab on our website for more information ***
China Fee Estimates- Beacon House Adoption Services 05-01-2013
Application Fee
$ 300
Due with Contract
Agency Administration fee
$ 4,550
Homestudy completed by BHAS
$1,700
(**Families residing in a state in which BHAS is licensed must use BHAS as the HS Agency – FL, MS, LA)
Home study review fee if completed by another agency
$ 750
Additional Fee for Expatriates
$ 1,000
Sibling Adopted at Same Time (for each additional child)
$ 500
2nd Child – Unrelated Adopted at Same Time
$2,000
Foreign Program Fees (one child)
(Please note these fees are paid to accredited China Agency through BHAS; they are subject to change without notice)
Due with Dossier
$3,000
Due at Child Acceptance
$3,000
2nd Child (related or not)– due with dossier
$1,150
2nd Child (related or not)– due at child acceptance
$3,000
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Additional Expenses
Orphanage Donation (Paid directly by PAP to CCAA )
$6,500*
Civil Affairs Fee (Paid directly to Civil Affairs office by PAP)
$ 960*
*This amount is paid in China PER CHILD. A second child means a total fee of $13,000 to CCAA
and $1,920.00 to Civil Affairs.
All travel related expenses for you and your child(ren) are at your expense. This includes
international airfare, in-country airfare and ground transportation, escort and translator
services, visas for you and your child(ren), hotel, food, ect. A sample cost list is available upon
request.
Notice to all families with Travel Approval (T.A.) after January 1, 2013: The Bridge of Love
translation company affiliated with the CCCWA will be doing all translations of post adopt
reports. A total of six reports are required. The Bridge of Love fee of $1,260 is to be paid
through BHAS to CCCWA upon notice of TA along with proof from your home study agency of
pre-paid post adoptive reports.
All document preparation costs (including those associated with USCIS), authentication, shipping
(accept to sending country).
Sight Seeing Excursions – Optional, paid directly to vendor(s).
ESTIMATE of Cost to adopt one child from China – $20,010 [$1,000 more for expatriates]
(excludes International Airfare and accomodations)
All fees subject to change without notice.
The orphanages in China are filled with many wonderful adoptable children and each one is
significant in the eyes of God. We encourage you to make an eternal difference in a special
child’s life through the miracle of adoption.
For information about Adoption Tax Credits and other tax planning information, see
http://taxes.about.com/od/deductionscredits/qt/adoptioncredit.htm.
NOTE: BHAS does not provide any tax-planning advice. Prospective adoptive families
should consult with their tax or financial planning professionals for additional advice on
the adoption tax credit.