Monday, February 27, 2012

Clarification About Taiwan Postplacement Reporting

Gladney submits postplacement reports on behalf of the families in our program, and all fees associated with translation and transmission are included in the Gladney postplacement administration fee that is paid when families accept their referral. We also continue to assist Commonwealth families in transmitting postadoption reports. Gladney arranges for translation of the reports before sending them to Taiwan. Please note that if you completed your adoption through Commonwealth (or if you paid Commonwealth Post Placement Fees to Gladney) we ask that you send along a check with your report to cover the translation cost. The translation fee is currently $80 per report. Please be sure to send a check, made out to Gladney, with each new Post Placement Report. All reports should also include 10+ color photos. All reports, photos and checks can be sent to:

Gladney Center for Adoption
Attn: Camille Adams, Post Adoption Department
6300 John Ryan Dr.
Fort Worth, TX 76132

Please do not hesitate to contact Camille (Camille.adams@gladney.org) if you have any questions regarding Taiwan Post Placement Reports.


Friday, February 24, 2012

Ania's Bat Mitzvah Project

Ania Lewis, adopted from China through Gladney, has been working hard to gather donations for orphanages in China. Below is a letter from Ania explaining her project. We are looking for Gladney families who are traveling to China to complete their adoptions to help Ania deliver her donations. If you are interested in assisting Ania with her project, please be in touch with her parents Bonnie and Greg at blewis@openviewpartners.com and glewis@texasmessaging.com to learn more.
Ania and Friends
Ania (white shirt) and her friends who have assisted with her project

Hi!

My name is Ania Li Xiang Lewis (Zeng Li Xiang). I was born on December 6, 1998 in Changsha and I met my family on August 16, 1999 at Changsha SW1.

I've just turned 13 and am having my Bat Mitzvah on January 7th. This is a religious service where I become a young adult in the Jewish religion. I've gone through a lot of training which results in a very meaningful religious service (and party!) on January 7th. Also, part of the Bat Mitzvah experience is doing a "Mitzvah Project". A Mitzvah is a charitable act - an act of loving-kindness, a deed of compassion. Many of my classmates are doing volunteer projects but I wanted to do something more meaningful for me so I decided to collect clothes for the little girls at the orphanages.

A few weeks ago we had a big birthday party for all the little girls in the orphanages of China. Everyone brought lots of wonderful gifts for those little girls. I'm now sending these over so that they can enjoy them!

I am very happy and grateful to everyone for my wonderful life here in the U.S. with my loving family. I am hoping to share some of that with others!

Love,
Ania

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Gladney China Heritage Tours has a New Look!

Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
We are excited to introduce our redesigned Gladney China Heritage Tours website. Enhancements include sample itinerary modules with beautiful photographs. Get inspired as you plan a customized China Heritage tour! Now is a great time to begin planning for this summer! For more information, please visit GladneyAsia.Org.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Come join us as we celebrate Gladney's 125th Anniversary!

The New York Gladney Asia Program Staff - Gongzhan Wu, Wendy Stanley, Mary Chapman and April Uduhiri - will be in Texas from April 26 - 28th. The celebration is open to all Gladney families! Join us for this amazing event. For more information about the weekend's activites and schedule click here.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Celebrating the Light Festival in Taiwan and Back Home

While in Taipei last month adopting their second son, Ian and Jill had the unique chance to celebrate Chinese New Year. Jill wrote "At times, we would be in Mr.Yeh's van and he would pull over so we could watch a parade go down the road! Many evenings we would go out for dinner and hear the firecrackers! All the public buildings were decorated for the holiday with red and gold! We were very blessed to have the opportunity to be in our sons' home country to celebrate!!"
Back home, Ian went to older son Alec's school and explained the holiday and made oolong tea and they ate homemade moon cookies!
Ian speaking to Alec's class.

Alec was excited to receive his red envelope!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Comprehensive Health Evaluation of the Newly Adopted Child


New guidelines on adoptee evaluation and treatment were recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Click here for an abstract and the full article.

Monday, February 13, 2012

NPR Interview - Chinese New Year as an Adoptive Family

NPR host Michel Martin recently spoke to David Youtz, Gladney father of four adopted daughters from China, and his oldest daughter Sophie about clebrating Chinese New Year as an adoptive family. To listen to the show click here.

The Youtz family adopted triplets from China through Gladney; pictured here with the Chinese Consul General and his wife at an International Children’s Day celebration in 2006.