About Us
The membership is now in the region of 1000 families and is growing steadily, comparable with the number of Chinese adoption referrals. We are widely regarded as the primary support group for post-adoption of Chinese children in the UK. All members receive a quarterly newsletter, which is packed with articles and specific topics relating to intercountry adoption. Since 2001 this has included a specific section for the children. Members also receive the Members' Directory; confidential to members and therefore not widely published.
The widespread nature of the membership makes it desirable to handle quite a lot of social events on a regional basis. To this end CACH has a number
of Regional Coordinators each of whom is responsible for organising social events in his or her region. Regions may also
have local groups providing frequent casual meetings. Some regions are more active than others but all provide a focus for issues of concern to
all of us. |
Annual Reunion
An annual reunion is organised which is open to all Full members. This event is traditionally a weekend spent at a major UK hotel. Entertainments are typically with a Chinese theme, including workshops on adoption and cultural issues, activities for the children and a dinner and dance, with a live band, for everyone on the Saturday evening. A high proportion of the membership attends, typically 200+ families and it is a good way for both parents and children to meet up. Our AGM is also held during this weekend.
We also hold an annual summer picnic with BBQ, fairground rides, donkeys and lots more. Attendance at this event is growing very rapidly, currently 80+ families.
We work alongside the organisation
OASIS (Overseas Adoption Support and Information Service)
in trying to provide for those people who are in the process of adopting somewhere to turn to for information. As all our members know, through personal experience, the inevitably difficult process of intercountry adoption is even more difficult when endured in a vacuum. |
China Special Needs Adoptions: Stepping Stones Appeal
There are many children in China who have special needs of one kind or another. Some children have correctable conditions, while others have conditions that can be improved by medical intervention but who will always have a disability, such as children with cerebral palsy. All of these children will benefit greatly from the love, care and attention of an adoptive family and the chance to be adopted would be a life changing and life enhancing experience.
China (CCCWA) operates an on-line system for the placement of these special needs children. The on-line system has been successful in finding countless families for the children through CCCWA accredited adoption agencies in the USA and in countries throughout Europe.
Intercountry Adoption Centre (IAC) is aware that in the UK there are families who are interested in adopting a special needs child waiting in China. However in order to participate in the on line matching facility, IAC need to raise £50,000 to cover start-up and first year core costs to be able to offer the service to prospective adoptive families.
IAC are seeking donations towards these costs from interested parties, with the hope that the service could be launched later in 2011.
Further details of the Stepping Stones Appeal can be found on the IAC web site or the dedicated Stepping Stones Appeal facebook page.
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