November 2020

November 30, 2020. National Adoption Month. November is National Adoption Month but this year, of course, has been different. Usually judges in family courts throughout the country sit in special adoption sessions gathering children and families for joyous finalizations. This year, it is all Zoom, all the time. But the sentiments are the same: as the State Department's Special Advisor for Children's Issues Michelle Bernier-Toth wrote: "Intercountry adoption brings families together, but it also brings countries together." To read her article, please click here.

November 23, 2020. Department of State Issues Proposed New Adoption Regulations. The State Department has published proposed revisions to 22 CFR part 96, the regulations on Intercountry Adoption Accreditation of Agencies and Approval of Persons. DOS had proposed new regulations during the waning days of the Obama administration, which were then withdrawn in November 2016. The linked page explains how to access the proposed regulations as well as comment on the regulations. All comments are due on or before January 19, 2021. These are significant changes which we urge anyone interested in international adoption to read. To access the regulation links, please click here.

November 17, 2020. Chinese Government Says Intercountry Adoptions from China Stays Closed. The Department of State has announced that "the Chinese Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA), Chinese officials indicated that CCCWA continues their current policy to not process intercountry adoptions of children from social welfare institutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic in other countries. They stated this policy is needed to ensure the health and safety of those children." The State Department added that "We realize this information and policy continues to have an impact on hundreds of families and potential adoptees in China. We will remain actively engaged with the Chinese government on this issue and provide updates as they become available." More Information.

November 3, 2020. Wonderful Adoption Story. The linked story about Kari and Byron Hall, who have adopted several children, including their youngest, Ivy, who was born with dwarfism. It is a story with a happy ending. To read the story, please click here.