China Adoption Program

Intercountry adoptions started in the People Republic of China (PRC) in around 1988. The USA immigration records show that 12 adoption of children from China occured that year. Historically adoption has been somewhat of a taboo subject in China, and subsequently the fist Chinese Adoption Legislation was passed only in April 1992. Since then the intercountry adoption program has grown considerably. During the fiscal year of 2005, the US department of state reported that 7906 America Immigration Visa's were processed for orphaned children being adopted by America Families. In Australia, during the 2004/2005 finical year, a record of 434 intercountry adoptions occurred, including the adoption of the 140 children from China.

The one child poly has a direct influence on the numbers of children abandoned in the PRC. The policy varies from province to province. However, it is reasonable to say that in the major cities it is strcilty observed. In some provinces families are allowed two children and in others families may have girls until the first son is born. This results combined with a cultural preference to have a son and to maintain bloodlines means that many children are abandoned at birth-mainly girls or children with a disability. Children born out of wedlock or from parents with social/ and or mental health issues are also likely to be placed fro adoption.

There are various figures given out of the number in institutions in the PRC. The China Centre for Adoptipn Affairs (CCAA) indicate that the majority (90%) of children in children's welfare institutions have a disability and are not placed for adoption. Many families in the PRC pay for their disabled children to be cared for by the children's welfare institutions.

Some domestic adoptions are done in the PRC. Recent changes to Chinese adoption law make it easier for domestic adoptions to occur. The CCAA believe number of domestic adoptions will increase in the future. It is difficult to establish reliable statistics for domestic adoption in China, however various sources state that domestic adtopion levels are currently equal to Intercountry Adoption levels, and that the PRC aim toward undertaking 8 domestic adoption to each international adoption.

The PRC is sensitive about public criticism of their management of children's welfare institutions. The screening of a 60 minutes program in 1995 and a report on the Shanghai Children Welfare institutions being closed to foreigners. Conditions in orphanges are reported to have improved significantly over the past decade, although the standard of care across welfare institutions varies quiet badly in line with regional wealth and poverty.

According to Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) nations wide:
2000 to 20001 there were 15 children adopted from China (1 male and 14 females)
2001 to 2002 there were 39
2002 to 2003 there were 46 children
2003/2004 there were 112 children adopted from China.
2004/2005 There were 110

There have been a small number of boys placed with Australia Adoptive Parent, but the majority of children requiring adoption are girls. In 2006 CCAA advised that they have very limited need for placements for health children ageed 2-6years. Currently CCAA will only consider adoption applicants approved to provide homes for health childre aged 2 years and under,older children (+6, and special needs children.

For Australia Statistics oand Information on Intercountry adoption log onto the Australia Insitute of Health and Welfare website : http://www.aihw.gov.au/