This morning, Lisa Prather distributed the message below. Note that only families who are currently home-study approved should contact us. For more information, email lisa@nightlight.org.

Good Morning Everyone! I’m writing to let you know that we have learned of an infant boy waiting for adoption from China on the special needs list. He is 10 months old and has cleft lip and palate. Interested families should contact me immediately. An adoption from the China special needs program can be completed within a year. In order to be considered for this child families must meet the criteria below which are China program requirements. There are some exceptions that can be made for the special needs program. Please contact me if you have a question regarding these requirements.

At the end of 2006, the China Center of Adoption Affairs revised their criteria for prospective adoptive family applications, and these changes took effect in August, 2007.

• Married couples only
• Both husband and wife between ages of 30 and 50 at time dossier goes to China
• Physically and mentally healthy; interpreted by the CCAA as…
• Neither applicant is currently taking psychotropic drugs (including mild anti-anxiety medications)
• Neither applicant has a Body Mass Index of 40 or above
• Neither applicant has a history of cancer
• Net assets over $80,000
• Minimum salary of $10,000 per family member (including child to be adopted)
• At least a high school diploma for both applicants
• Married to each other at least 2 years (if either husband or wife is previously divorced, the current marriage must be at least 5 years old)
• No more than 4 children in home before adoption (for a total of 5 children after adoption)
• Youngest child in home must be over age 1
• No serious criminal record

(Read more here about our China Adoption Program.)