China Summer Interview Trip Begins!
Get all your hosting related questions at our “Ask the Experts” hour on Facebook on Tuesday, January 26 at noon CST or sign up for our hosting webinar Tuesday, February 2 at 4:30 PM CST.
On Friday, the children from the China and Latvia Winter Hosting programs returned safely to their countries. For many of these children, the long journey home has just begun – over half of the children in our program have found a forever family! For some, though, there is still a wait. To meet the children who are still in need of a forever family, head on over to our Advocate Page at this link. As many of you know, the work of an Orphan Warrior is never complete!
I’m still in need of a family!
And as one journey starts on a new path, we begin again down the road to hosting! Tomorrow starts the first days of interviews for the children participating in our China Summer 2016 Hosting Program! Our staff is thrilled to be back in China and ready to meet the newest group of kids for hosting. Each year, we see about 70-80% of the children who are adoptable find a forever family. These kids are often considered “difficult to place” because of their age or needs. When the children get here though, families are able to see them for the wonderful kiddos they are!
Early Applications for our China Program will start on Monday, January 25 and extend through Friday, February 5. Families who submit their application during this time will have FIRST ACCESS to our hosting photolisting with our brand new faces on it. Early Applicants will have the opportunity to get matched with their host child before the general photolisting is launched.
I’m still in need of a family!
Our Early Applications for the Latvia Program will begin the second week in February. Follow the blog to see the journey of both interview teams!
Read MoreIt’s Departure Day (but it’s not too late!)
Today the children of our China and Latvia winter programs depart to return to their home countries. It was a whirlwind experience for families and children alike, and it always feels like departure day comes too soon. Many of our families are starting their journey towards becoming a forever family, and we couldn’t be happier!
Some of our children, like Miss Pigtails pictured below, are still waiting for their forever family! Hosting was a great opportunity for us to find out more about the children, learn about their capabilities, and become stronger voices of advocacy for each and every one of them. Miss Pigtails learned so much on her trip here, and while her notes say she is delayed, her host family believes she has a strong ability to learn and grow into an amazing young girl.
Every trip teaches us something new, and this program we’ve found that it is our families dedication to finding these children a forever family that makes orphan hosting so special. Next week, our staff will depart to China to begin the process anew, with a fresh set of eyes and renewed faith in the mission of creating forever families, one orphan at a time.
To learn more about Orphan Hosting, contact the team at info@orphanhosting.com.
Read MoreA New Year for New Faces
As we look back on 2015, the hosting team is so happy to say we’ve seen many of our host children come home to stay with their forever family. It’s been a year of happiness for children, family, and our team members alike, and we wanted to take a moment first to say THANK YOU to all the amazing Orphan Warriors out there whose hearts work tirelessly to find these children a family.
Looking forward into the 2016, we know that the work of finding families for older children and children with special needs is never over. You can meet the children of the current hosting program in need of advocacy over on this page, and read below to find out more about one of our special kiddos, “J!”
J is a healthy, energetic, intelligent 10 year old boy. While he earned the nickname “The Leader” during his hosting interviews, “Mr. Mechanical,” “Mr. Dramatic,”or “Mr. Lego” might be to other appropriate nicknames. J is a master Lego builder. He absolutely loves all types of Legos. When he arrived he proudly pulled out a tiny bag of Legos from his backpack and wanted to play immediately. Ever since then he has created amazing Lego creations, which are displayed throughout his host family’s house. He was ecstatic to see the Lego collection his host family had and literally jumped for joy when he received Legos as a Christmas gift.
J is a bright child. He is great at figuring things out, despite language barriers or lack of instruction. Many of the people who have met him during the hosting program have commented on how intelligent he seems to be. He has ingenuity about him and he would flourish if he had the opportunity to participate in educational science programs or a robotics program. J also has a bit of a dramatic flair to him. He can be a little melodramatic, loves to dance around the house and acts out all sorts of scenes. He also has a knack for playing to an audience. We could see him stealing the show in any school play or theater program.
J is an energetic boy who seems to be trying to keep up the “big kids.” But, he is small for his age and has tender moments when he just wants to be nurtured. J has been spending the past few weeks with a host family in California, during which time he has flourished and overcome some fears. But, what he most wants and needs is a forever family.
This bio was written by his host family, who is advocating for his adoption. If you’re interested in learning more about “J,” contact us at meredith@gwca.org today.
Read MoreSmiles with Santa
The children of the Winter 2015-2016 Hosting Program have been here for over three weeks, and we’ve seen some amazing changes already in the kiddos. From first hugs to the first time meeting Santa – we’ve watched these children grow and change the lives of their host families, too!
Check out some of the photos of our hosting children having the time of their lives with their host families. Don’t forget – we have many amazing HOST TO ADVOCATE children looking for a forever family in our China Program. You can check out their profiles over at this page, and contact us at meredith@gwca.org to get more information about adopting a host child.
If you really need a smile, watch one of our China Host kids enjoying a game with his host family – his laugh will warm your heart!
Read More
The Latvia Winter Host Kids Have Arrived!
THEY’RE HERE! We are so happy to announce that all of the kids from our Latvia Winter Hosting program have landed safely in the United States! Each of our host families has been anxiously awaiting this moment for weeks, preparing for a holiday season of fun with their host kids.
We are so excited for all of these kiddos and their host families, and we look forward to following their journeys over the course of the next month! Follow along with us by visiting our Orphan Hosting Blog to see updates!
Read MoreThe Countdown is On…Hosting Children Arrive this Week!
We can’t believe it’s finally here – this week and next, children from two of our amazing Orphan Hosting programs will be landing here in the United States to meet with their host family. It’s a wonderful time of new beginnings and sharing for the kids. This Friday, our children from Latvia will touch down on the East Coast and then head out with their host families to spend the holidays together. Next Friday, our children from China touch down on both coasts, East and West, and spread out over the United States!
If you’ve ever wondered what arrival days are like, the chaos of the photos gives a good indication! It’s a blur of TEAM CAN t-shirts, smiles, hugs, a little bit of shyness, and a whole lot of love. For us, it’s the moment we get to see all the work that’s gone into hosting come to light. It’s the first moment it becomes real – a child steps out from the doors, and we start to see families born.
Since our hosting programs have launched, we’ve seen the change that hosting brings, in both the children and the families! The biggest surprise we love to see is that families talk about how hosting has affected their lives in little and big ways. To keep up with the journey that families are going through, continue to follow our blog for our Uplifting Moments Blog Posts. It includes some of our favorite moments from hosting – the “moment of the week” from families when there was a little bit different light in their host child’s eye, the first hug, the first bike ride…all those little moments you remember as a parent that these families now get to experience in the span of one short hosting program!
The children are here through January, and then of course, the next group of children will need advocacy. If you’re interested in learning more about either becoming a host family or becoming an advocate for these amazing children, please reach out to us! You can find out more by contacting info@orphanhosting.com or by calling (512) 323-9595 ext. 3102.
Thanks for following our families’ and children’s hosting journeys!
~ Shannon & Cayce
Read MoreVolunteers Needed – Will You Give Thanks AND Give Back?
An Open Heart and a Voice to be Heard
The Hosting Program depends on the passion and commitment of volunteers – it’s YOUR VOICE that finds a family for just one more child.
Our winter program will see 50 children from three different countries come to meet a family, and potentially find a forever family. The task of not only hosting but of finding FOREVER families for these children is significant, and there is always room for your voice to join the cause. The effort to promote and place each one of these children is in our hands – will you lend yours?
If you have a hand to lend for these children and a desire to spread the word to change the life of just one child, we would love to call you a part of the CAN Host Family. It is long work, but it is work that is worth it to see these children find their family. You can contact us at cayce@childrenofallnations.com or start your volunteer application here.
Want to Get Your Church Involved?
If you would like to have your church participate in Orphan Hosting, whether it’s through sponsoring a specific child or family through hosting, please contact our office at (512) 323-9595 ext. 3102. We’re also happy to speak with your church or group about Orphan Hosting.
Materials You Can Share
You can download and share the following resources to your friends, family, and church. This allows us to reach more families at a lower cost, thereby helping even more children along the way. We hope these materials are useful as you advocate for our amazing children!
What Do I Do?
♥ Email cards to Friends
♥ Share on Facebook
♥ Share cards at your church
♥ Repeat!
You can reach the Volunteer Coordinator Cayce Canipe for more information at (512) 323-9595 ext. 3102!
Read MoreProgram Spotlight – The Philippines
Our Philippines program is extra special. It is the first program in which the country has specifically asked Children of All Nations to run the program as a “host to adopt” program. We’re looking for permanent families for these children, and we’re very passionate about doing so!
It also means that families interested in hosting from the Philippines must have a serious intention of adopting from the Philippines. Even though hosting is designed to let you meet your host child, the Philippines likes a strong commitment to the idea of adoption.
Families should meet adoption qualifications in order to be able to host from the Philippines. They should also be prepared for lots of love – because these kiddos are amazing!
Children from the Philippines
Healthy: Almost all of the children in our Philippines hosting program will be healthy. Many of them are small for their age due to malnourishment and street life, and they will have the emotional scars that come from growing up without a family.
Older: The children in our Philippines program will typically be between ages 9-14. We do not often see children under the age of 10 who are by themselves – they are usually part of a sibling group.
Sibling Groups: Many of the children in our Philippines program will be part of a sibling group. We work hard to keep siblings together, so if you have an open heart and home for these “little families,” the Philippines program may be a great fit for you!
Currently, our Philippines program is available in the following states: Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, and New Jersey.
Read MoreChaperone Host Families Needed!
Our Winter Hosting Program is well under way, and the children will be here in less than a month!
We still need some amazing volunteers to help contribute to our Orphan Hosting Program – we are most especially looking for volunteers to serve as Chaperone Host Families.
It is completely free to be a Chaperone Host Family. All you need is a spare bedroom and an open heart! You have the option of hosting a chaperone for either two or four weeks, which is half or all of the hosting program. It’s a great opportunity for you to meet the amazing caregivers and translators who are here to support the children throughout the program. It’s also a neat opportunity for the chaperones to visit America and learn our customs around the holidays.
Our chaperone from Latvia knows English, and she needs a host family in the New York area. If you live in New York or one of the adjacent states and would like to host Laura, please email Cayce at cayce@childrenofallnations.com. We also need host families for our China chaperones in the Tennessee, Illinois, California, and New York! If you’re able to host a China chaperone in one of these areas, please email Shannon at shannon@gwca.org.
It’s through your service that we are able to help the amazing children of the Orphan Hosting Programs! If you’re ready to become a Chaperone Host Family, you can start your FREE application here!
Read More
Can I Host?
There are so many questions that revolve around hosting. Am I ready? What if I’m not interested in adopting? What if I am? What do I need to host? What do I need to provide? Question after question – and we have the answers for you!
For general eligibility, many of our programs are similar. As a general rule, families should be the following requirements:
- Citizenship: One parent must be a U.S. citizen.
- Age: Generally between 29-60 years old, depending on the country and the special needs of the child, if any.
- Marriage Status: Single women and married couples are generally eligible in both countries, and single men can be considered on a case by case basis for Latvia.
- Criminal History: Applicants with a criminal history of child abuse, violence or domestic violence are not eligible to host
- Health: Host parents must be in good health with no major medical or psychological concerns.
But there are often bigger questions that aren’t so easy to answer with a general eligibility check. What do I need to have? Do the children come with clothes? Should I take off work?
The children need to have their own bed to sleep in while with a host family. Many of the children share a room with a sibling of the same gender – this actually may be comforting to the children, as many of them will never have slept in a room alone before. If you’re hosting a child and you have no other children, consider keeping a nightlight in the room to comfort them when they sleep.
Many of the children will come with few to no possessions, so host families should be prepared to provide clothing for their host kiddo while they’re here. Gently used hand me downs and thrift store finds are a great idea – taking a host child shopping once to pick out their very own clothes is a great bonding idea.
The biggest concern we see with eligibility is work during the program. Since the children in our hosting programs are not proficient in English, they cannot be watched under day care or day camp services. They also come from institutions, either orphanages or foster homes, so going back into what they will see as another institution can feel like abandonment all over again. Host parents are asked to take the majority of the hosting program off of work in order to spend time with their host child. Host parents also can reach out to extended family (host grandma and host grandpa!) for help periodically. Every adult who is in charge of a child must have a background check on file with Children of All Nations, and host children can never be left unattended or in the supervision of a child under the age of 18.
If you have eligibility questions about hosting, we would love to help! You can get your hosting questions answered at info@orphanhosting.com or call (512) 323-9595 to ask to speak to a Hosting Coordinator today!
Read MoreWhat will your story be?
