ABC’s of International Adoption

ABC’s of International Adoption

Gladney Center for Adoption

By: Katye Tankersley

For more than 120 years Gladney has been a pioneer and leading voice for improving the lives of children, adoptive families and birth parents. We recognize that adoption is a lifelong journey, so we offer programs and support that extend far beyond placement.

Since 1992, Gladney has been Creating Bright Futures Around the World through its Intercountry Adoption Programs, placing thousands of babies and young children in homes throughout the United States. As a leader in intercountry adoption, the Gladney Center became among the first accredited in the U.S. as a Hague-compliant adoption agency. The Hague Convention protects children and their families against the risk of unregulated adoption abroad and ensures that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interest of children.

We are a not-for-profit, licensed adoption agency. In all we do, Gladney is committed to creating bright futures around the world.

Gladney Center for Adoption

All of the photos you see in this book are of our wonderful Gladney Families. A big thank you to our families for contributing to show others

the joy of adoption.

*The Gladney Center has the right to use, publish and otherwise publicly display all images in this book.

* Folder image from Suat Eman and Freedigitalphotos.net. Journal image from typofi and sxc.hu

Copyright © 2011 by Katye Tankersley

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Dedicated to the men and women who work incredibly hard to help others create loving, forever families.

Aa

Adoption

Adoption is a beautiful process that creates loving forever families.

Bb

Bulgaria

Bulgaria is located in Eastern Europe. Bulgarians are proud of their education and have a 98% literacy rate.

Cc

China

China is one of the largest countries in the world. This Asian country has a very rich and diverse culture.

Costa Rica

ColombiaColombia is in South America with the third largest Spanish speaking population in the world.

Costa Rica is located in Central America. Coffee, bananas and pineapple are top exports.

Dd

Dossier

A dossier is a collection of legal documents providing information about prospective parent(s) to the foreign officials. Gladney will assist you in completing your dossier.

Ethiopia

EeEthiopia is located in Eastern Africa. It is the oldest independent country in Africa. Today, Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in the world.

Forever Families

Ff

Every adoption is a lifelong journey. Family for Life is about ensuring that our families are cared for and supported through every step of that journey.

‘Gotcha Day’

Gg‘Gotcha Day’ is the day adoptive parents bring their child home for the first time.

GFAGladney Family Associations provide support to those waiting to adopt and those parenting adopted children.

Home study

Hh

A home study is a snap shot of your family’s every day life.

Humanitarian AidGladney has a desire to balance our mission of creating families through adoption and our mission of improving the lives of those children who will never be adopted.

Ii In-countryGladney works closely with in-country teams to place children with forever families. English-speaking, in-country facilitator will be available to guide families while they are in the country.

Journal

Many families journal during their adoption journey and share the experiences and joys with their children later in life.

Jj

Kk

Knowledge

Our knowledgeable staff will be there to help you every step of the way.

Language

LlKinyarwanda (Rwanda)Muraho

HolaSpanish

Ni-haoChinese

приветRussian

NamasteSanskrit (Nepal)

ZdraveiBulgarian

TeanastellenAmharic (Ethiopia)

Embrace and celebrate your child’s culture and learn how to say Hello in his or her native language.

Mm

Multi-racial

Your child’s heritage and culture are important and we want to encourage you to attend events and celebrate different cultural holidays.

Nn

Nepal

Nepal, located in South Asia, is nestled between China and India. The country is familiar to many as the home of the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest.

Oo

Orphans

Providing assistance to orphans and vulnerable children throughout the world is an important part of Gladney’s mission.

Older children

Gladney believes every child deserves a family. Older chil-dren are less likely to be adopt-ed and are in danger of aging out of the system.

Pp Post-adoption

Our comprehensive and professional services extend far beyond the post-adoption services required by law or offered by most other agencies.

Pathways

Post-adoption

Adopting older children can bring unique challenges, and Gladney’s Pathways training helps parents be prepared to successfully meet those challenges.

Qq

Quality

At Gladney you'll find not only passion for adoption, but also an established legacy of service, professionalism and integrity.

RrRussia has always been a multicultural nation, with 160 ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages.

Russia

Rwanda

The loveliness and variety of the landscapes in this 'green country' are dominated to the north by volcanoes and bordered by Lake Kivu to the west.

Ss

Gladney adoptees get together to give back by working in orphanages and showing love and hope to orphans.

Service Trips

Taiwan

TtTaiwan boasts of a rich blend of culture and history with the influence and past rule of the Dutch, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.

Uu

Understanding

Understanding your child’s needs is very important. Gladney wants to provide you with the tools to help you prepare to face the challenges of parenting.

Vv

Visit

Heritage trips take adoptees to visit their birth country and see the orphanages and country where they once lived.

Waiting Children

Ww

Waiting children are boys and girls over the age of 6 or children with minor to moderate medical needs. Many of these conditions are routinely correctable in the United States.

Xx

XOXO

Adoption assists families in achieving their dream of parent-hood and also fulfills the dream of children in orphanages and foster homes who await the love of a family.

Yy

Your Stories

We would love to hear your adoption stories. Please share them with us by sending pictures and stories to adoption@gladney.org

Zz

Zealous

Gladney values integrity above all; is built on pillars of passion and dedication; and is driven by compassion for the vulnerable.

These values are embraced and lived out by our zealous employees.

Whether it's flying a dragon kite across the skies of China or revealing the secrets inside a Russian nesting doll, children all over the world have a special place in their hearts for toys. At Gladney, we have a special place in our hearts for children all over the world.

The Importance of Toys