What Is The Shared List

The shared list is an online database of all the special needs children that are available to be matched with families. The CCAA adds new children to this list every month. This is sometimes referred to as the CCAA releasing a 'new list'. It's not really a new list, it's just additions to the main base list.

There are approximately 1700-2000 children on the shared list at any given time. Children that are *waiting* for families. Some have been waiting for months or even years on the shared list.

Accessing The Shared List

Only licensed adoption agencies and social workers can access this list. With rare exceptions, private individuals and adoptive parents can not access this list. The CCAA maintains this policy so as to protect the privacy of China's Waiting Children.

However, there are a few agencies that advocate for children through their Yahoo Groups. Usually you don't have to be signed on with the agency in order to view their Yahoo Group. This is a great way to learn about the children available! Use the following groups to get started:

Advocate for Waiting Children Yahoo Group

Run by a private individual, this Yahoo Group is a great resource for waiting parents. View the photos of hundreds of waiting children. We found our little boy Joshua on this Yahoo Group!!!

Madison Adoption Associated Waiting Children

Madison posts the files of many waiting children on their Yahoo Group! Both children from the shared list as well as their individual agency camps. Lots of grants available! Madison advocates heavily for older children and boys.

Remember that qualified single female applicants may now adopt from the Special Focus program! Special Focus children are those who have been on the shared list for over two months or those who are classified as special focus outright by the CCAA.

Children On The Shared List

How It Works

When your agency has identified a file that might be a good match for you, they will contact you with this information and send you the file to review. If you decide this is your child, your agency will 'lock' the child's file so that no one else can adopt him/her. You will then submit the necessary paperwork (Letter of Intent) to the CCAA in order to proceed with the adoption.

***Note: Some agencies lock the file at the beginning before they let you review the information. In this case, you would have 72 hours in which to make a decision about the child. If you decide not to proceed, the file will be unlocked and the child will be made available to other interested families.

A Word About The Shared List

However, if you wish to adopt a slightly older girl, a girl with more severe needs, or a boy, you will have no trouble finding a match. Even though there are more boys than girls on the shared list, very few families wish to adopt a boy.

The CCAA's New Policy

Also, the CCAA has now classified children that have been on the shared list over 2 months as Special Focus children. A family who is matched to a Special Focus child will have 6 months to compile their dossier and submit it to China rather than the current 3 months. Those who adopt a Special Focus child will be permitted to adopt TWO children (both special focus or just one special focus) at the same time or as two separate adoptions. The adoptions just need to be within 12 months of one another.

Also, if you have adopted a child from China within the past year, you can adopt a second child (Special Focus) using the same dossier that you used for your last adoption.

Adoption Statistics (United States)

Common Questions

Home Page

The CCAA

Copyright 2010-2011
www.China-Adoption-Online.com
All Rights Reserved

SBI!