Currently Gladney's China adoption program is a 'Special Needs' program. All parents must have some flexibility regarding age of child and express an openness to a child with a medical condition.

Marriage:

• Couples must be married for at least two years; China will only place children with heterosexual couples or single women
• If either spouse has more than 1 previous divorce, current marriage must be approaching five years
• No more than two divorces for either spouse

Age:

• Each parent must be at least 30 years old at the time of dossier submission
• In considering the child to be adopted, there can be no more than 50 years’ age difference between the younger parent and the child

Family Makeup:

• No more than 5 children under the age of 18 living in the home
• The youngest child must be 3 years old at the time of dossier submission

Finances:

• Parents must have minimum income of $30,000 plus $10,000 per child living in home (including child to be adopted)
• Must have a $80,000 net worth (assets minus liabilities)

Health:

• Parents must be in good physical and mental condition.
• If being treated for mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression) condition must be stable and well-managed (support letter from treating provider needed)
• If one parent has (or has had) a major health condition such as lupus, deafness, seizures, multiple sclerosis, or organ transplant within last ten years, condition must be under good control and other parent must be in good health
• Parents with a history of skin, thyroid, breast or testicular cancers must be cancer-free for at least 3 years. Parents with a history of other types of cancer or malignant tumors must be cancer-free for at least 5 years.
• Must not have significant vision loss, orthopedic limitations, psychological conditions, or infectious diseases (e.g., HIV)
• Body Mass Index (BMI) must be less than 40

Education:

• Minimum of high school education or equivalent

Citizenship:

• At least one applicant must be a US citizen

History:

• No history of domestic violence, sexual or child abuse
• No significant criminal history; NOTE: a minor offense occurring more than 10 years prior will not automatically preclude a parent from adopting
• No history of drug use
• No history of alcohol misuse/abuse within past ten years

Other:

• Second time adoptive parents must wait 1 year from the previous placement date to submit a new dossier.

You will be required to complete a foreign dossier and attend Gladney's Pathways Training. The Gladney Center for Adoption will assist you with every step of this process.

To learn more about adopting from China, please request one of Gladney's free, comprehensive Adoption Information Packets. Make your request on-line or by calling 347-443-5557 or 817-922-6029.