Taiwan Dossier

Today we FINALLY recieved the requirements for the Taiwan dossier. There isn't much paperwork needed so we probably won't start on it until early September. We did learn a bit more about Taiwan and there program though. We are allowed to pick either gender(however, we are open to either)and the child could be anywhere between 6-18 months in age at time of referral. They are estimating the time frame at this point to be 10-24 months for a healthy infant. It varies in lenght since the birthmothers participate in the selection of a family. If adopting an older child, waiting child, or child with special needs it will be less than 10-24 months. We should expect to travel 4-6 months after referral and will be in country for 4-7 days. If we are able to, we will stay in Taiwan for a few extra days (depending when we will be placed the the child) so that we can attach to the child as much as possible before returning home.

If we recieve the referral of a healthy infant, Cathwel will send us the child's medical and social history and a document entitled Adoption Placement Agreement. One thing that I found odd was that they don't send a picture of the child until after you have accepted the referral. I believe any child that is matched with us was meant to be our child, but not seeing there precious face before we agree to adopt could be hard. If a family is matched with a child with a special need however, a picture will be sent with the medical information. Once we arrive in Taiwan, we will be taken to the Jonah House Orphanage to pick up our child. Oh, what a day that will be.