1. PAPs that would like a “ruling” on the topic of interim adoptions. This would include those that are considering an interim adoption but don’t want to take the risk until they have CCAA endorsement, and those that are being told they can’t do an interim adoption (by their agency) but would do one if their agency allowed it.

2. PAPs that do not want to push the issue - those that currently have an interim adoption underway and their agency is aware and supportive of it.

What might we stand to gain and what might we stand to lose if we petition for an answer?

On the Gain side: If CCAA were to answer definitively that they allow concurrent adoptions(with whatever conditions like 1 year between placement), then everyone would win… people in process would have peace of mind. Those currently on the fence could move confidently forward with starting an interim adoption. Agencies that aren’t letting their families pursue an interim adoption would likely have to change their policy. More babies might find more families since people that might not have otherwise adopted from a country other than China might then choose to do so… people would be a little more in control of their families and how and when they choose to grow them.

On the lose side: there is the real risk of great loss to those currently in process as well as those considering an interim adoption if CCAA says this is not allowed. The best scenario in this case would be that CCAA might say “No more interim adoptions, starting now, but families in process are exempt this one time.” Families in process would be OK in this case, but those that were on the fence would then not have that option going forward. Worse yet, what if the answer is no, and CCAA *doesn’t* grandfather in those that already have in-process adoptions? That would be heartbreaking for families that have invested their hearts, minds (and money) on finalizing both adoptions.

My personal opinion on the topic of interim adoptions is that China should allow them, as long as the current guidelines for timeframe between placements, etc. are met. I don’t think the fact of adopting from another country (taken on it’s own) is a valid reason for forcing a family to pull their China dossier - it’s tantamount to inflicting China’s own family-planning policies on the international community and it conflicts with the fact that they currently allow people with other children in the family to adopt. With the current wait times it is entirely possible that someone with a mid-2007 log in might have 4-5 years to wait. That is plenty of time to complete an adoption from another country and still have anywhere from 2-4 years until the China adoption is finalized.

Was the family denined a child already have a large family ?. I could see (dont agree) a personal bias on a part of the eualuator if they were a large family already.

If we proceed, we’ll spend thousands of dollars towards what we assume are adoption costs of one of the two children we believe we are adding to our family and would be doing so with the complete support fo our social worker and China agency and agency for the country we are considering. Adoption costs are not easy for us (or most) to come up with. We will do so at the expense of other life needs. We also limit our agency choices drastically to ones who allow interim adoptions.

If it isn’t really “allowed”, and that information doesn’t trickle down to us for another 6 months or 12 months or even 3-4 years, then we’d have done both for no reason at all. I’d much rather know this now than after I’ve paid the fees and done the work.

If the adoption community in general thinks this is a good idea then I can get us organized to do that. But, if not, then I don’t want to do that.