Comments on: Paula Zahn. Again.

By: seeingred

seeingred — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 04:18:50 +0000

Boy I got crazy with the submit button….talk about repeating yourself. My comments rarely show up so I pushed the button like ten times for good measure….sorry!!! :)

By: 2qts4me

2qts4me — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:01:03 +0000

I don’t know what happened to my post from last night lol.
Anyway our agency last year, and the lady at our son’s
CWI confirmed what RQ said about the CCAA. Our agency was told directly by the CCAA that they WILL not be told what they should be doing, and that they do not want agencies pestering them all the time when it comes to timeframes for referrals and TA’s.

The CCAA could care less about what we think. Like one agency pointed out, China is doing what other countries have done with regards to keeping their children in China. Those countries that were #1 places for adoptions years ago have put such restrictions on their programs that probably only about 40% of people would qualify now. Our first adoption for our dd was not from China, within one year after bringing her home, her birth country put new adoption laws in place which included very stringent requirements for adoptive parents. We did not qualify to adopt from there again. They didn’t even grandfather people in. They changed the rules and if you were in the process it was too bad.

Our ds is from China, and that process went smoothly with quick TA. He was sn’s. However, just after we received TA our agency completely changed their WC process and TA’s slowed down incredibly. India changed their adoption regulations, along with Russia, Ukraine etc. I really do not see why China would be different. The goal of all countries is to keep their children home, and China is already making steps towards that. A very large multi program agency on their website has a very well informed update to their China program. They also included a report on their visit to the CCAA and shared their direct conversations with the
people there. Of course this is their experience and maybe different to other agencies. They mentioned that China’s domestic adoption program is growing rapidly. Our China only agency told us early last year of all the changes that were likely to come to fruition, and so far they have been right.

When my Chinese relative went to visit China, she said that she saw a play or some sorts, and one of the skits was a comedy about why girls are just as good as boys if not even better. It was based around girls being just as smart and worthy as boys. She is not sure if it might of been government funded because it was unusual to see a play about this.

By: CarolynW

CarolynW — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:18:59 +0000

I just don’t get the whole CNN thing anyways. Nothing but sensationalistic journalism (and I use the term loosely). They’re laughing all the way to the bank with all this publicity!
I’d probably pay a lot more attention if this all was being aired elsewhere… but, then, if it was, the issue might have been done justice and there wouldn’t be such an uproar.

By: RumorQueen

RumorQueen — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:54:47 +0000

Agencies who complain about the wait are also told there is no room for them in this program.

China and the CCAA are no longer interested in making it easy for families. They just are not. Once they were, once they seemed to understand that families were out here making life altering plans based on what they do. But they aren’t anymore. I do not anticipate that changing. And any pressure exerted to try to change it would most likely create the opposite situation that the pressure is trying to create.

By: gonnagetkayli

gonnagetkayli — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:42:29 +0000

But if the agencies requested specific changes in the current system, who would represent the 10,000 in line behind them? That is my point, if ALL agencies said that they stand to loose many clients and their fees, which much of that money is then used to help the children, so they only way for them to refer clients to China’s program is if they were a complete overhaul of the system. I think that would have a lot of pull. Of course our government would actually have to play a major role in this scenario.
I understand that it is wishful thinking but I also believe that there could be some success. The problem is those with the power to provoke change refuse to do so. The agencies and our government want to just go with the flow………

By: lmommy

lmommy — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:38:11 +0000

I will not tune into the Paula Zahn show again, regarless of the topic, but I do have to say that I loved seeing the the new families, especiall the footage from the US consulate.

By: RumorQueen

RumorQueen — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:22:08 +0000

The CCAA made it clear several months ago that if you do not have the patience for their program then this program is not for you and you are not welcome in the program.

So, no, banding together is not going to change anything. Those banding together will be told they are no longer welcome in the program, and there will be another 10,000 people in line behind them to take their place.

By: gonnagetkayli

gonnagetkayli — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:17:22 +0000

WOW, what an intersting thread!! I think that it pretty much boils down to this: we have a couple of different parental personality types. Some are extremely greatful to the CCAA and all that they do and believe that they could do whatever they want and set whatever rules or guidlines that they choose and we as adoptive parents will and have to accept them if we want our child in the end.
The other group is also extremely greatful to the CCAA but feels that we should have more of a say and the balance should be closer to being level rather that the drastic slope that it is currently on. Do I have that right so far?
Ok well here is my reality. Yes the CCAA’s job is to take care of the children and find families for them, not to find children for families. I don’t for a second believe that the CCAA does not do everything possible, with their current resources of course, to care for the children. However we need to be honest here. PROC, not the CCAA directly, has a very disturbing history with their children. I think everyone knows what I am speaking of without me going into detail because that is simply not a place where I want my thoughts to travel to. One major solution to help the children is the IA program. In ours and other countries there are many parents who choose to expand their families through IA. China has lots of orphanes and the world has lots of families who will love them. Makes sense to seek outside help. Up until recently it appeared as though there was a grateful to you-grateful to me attitude about it. Now for many reasons that attituude has switched to a grateful to you attitude. If at any time an adoptive family doesn’t like what is going on and seeks out adjustments or answers from the CCAA ( through our agencies who we pay thousands to ) they are considered to be “rocking the boat”. I am sorry but I do wish that we, lead by our agencies of course, could all remove ourselves from the fear and unite for change. What would happen if ever single agency all asked for the same thing? What if they all asked for a dramatic increase in their resources to help get through the backlog? What if they said that just as the CCAA has to protect their children the agencies have to protect their parents? What if the CCAA and all of the agencies actually had a conversation for once and mutually agreed upon the issues instead of the normal “don’t ask-don’t tell” standard? Everybody has a common ground, why can’t their be an open line of communication? Now before everyone jumps on me I need to state that as a veteran of our military I understand the difference in government and culture. But again if everyone stood together would they have a choice to not listen? Keep in mind that PROC has made millions off of the IA community. I also think that as a discreet country they would have a concern over the negative press. I also think that they would have a great concern over their orphanages filling up again before the olympics. Just some interesting food for thought!!!

By: TotoOz

TotoOz — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:15:13 +0000

That PZN (do you realise that’s “poison” in ’shorthand’?) woman again huh? I think we caught the short news bite last night on our SBS news – the kids were just wonderful!! So glad to have actually seen the good bit, not sad to have missed what sounds like a series of atrocities.

Oh, and RQ, Ozworld got their TAs today, 12 more families due to become forever families on 22 January 2007. Woo Hoo!

I myself have no problems with China, the USA or any other country determining the laws for their State. I like to steer very clear of criticising another country’s policies in respect of the law and the way they administer it, and this is to a large extent, based in Chinese Law. Don’t forget that! Personal opinions about whether that law or rule or regulation is ‘right’ in terms of your own values, ethics and morals are perfectly okay.

I find it odd though, when people expect others to agree with them, especially if you are expressing a very different perspective to that already out there in the main stream. Biederonka, I understand frustration, and the hopelessness of not being able to ‘fix’ things that seem broken to you. It would be nice to be able to influence CCAA. Not sure if your were just venting, or if you were totally serious. I think we’ve all had a bit of a RQ scream from time to time, its a nice place here, she’s very kind in her living room.

I realise though, that I haven’t got what it takes to make that kind of difference. No guanxi. I would need loads of high level guanxi to make a difference. I have thought about perhaps trying to do this, but I am western, so it would be difficult.

if you are serious, then go forth, build the right guanxi, and make a difference. That would be most welcome, but it wll take time…

Catch y’all later

Toto in Oz. Where it is VERY HOT today. Looking forward to Shanghai next week, where it is VERY COLD. Aaahhh.

By: seeingred

seeingred — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 06:26:42 +0000

TG
New Dads have been known to repeat themselves :)

My husband says after each baby he “Looks his worst but feels his best” Do you relate?

… we have an Autumn too!