Sample letter to the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs)

Click here to download the sample documents

IMPORTANT:
This letter, and the photos you send with your dossier are your most direct contact with the person making your assignment. Therefore, be sure to take some time on this, and try to make it reflect that which makes you special.

Below is a sample of the letter you must send to the CCAA. The example is based almost entirely on a beautiful letter written by Mary Chamberlain (thanks, Mary!). You want to personalize it, adding information specific to your life, marriage, family, etc., but try to keep it to one page.

The CCAA has specifically requested the following in regards to this letter:

1. It must be written from the heart by YOU, the adoptive family vs. by your agency.   We provide this example to give you some ideas, but please make this letter clearly your own.
   
   
2. You must state a clear desire to adopt a Chinese child
   
   
3. You must specifically state that the adoptive child will be raised and educated in a "healthy way."
   
   
4. You must include the names of the adoptive applicants, the dates of birth, the places of birth, nationality, the reason for the adoption, the "definite desire and request for adoption of a Chinese child", your "statement of assurance that you will not abandon or abuse the adopted child" and your "statement of assurance that the adopted child shall be entitled to enjoy equal rights as the biological children and be educated and brought up healthy."

Those items in bold print and left in "quotes" are taken directly from the CCAA website and are probably subject to clarification.  We all had to do the same the last time the CCAA came out with new rules and documentation (i.e.,: they requested tests from a "uroscope", and no one was sure what that was). Expect a little confusion and chaos while the dust settles and we get things clarification.

Please note: families are required to state their names, dates and places of birth, and citizenship at the beginning of the letter. This can either be done as a heading to the letter, or in the body of the letter, e.g. something like "We, Jon Doe(born in --- on12/2/50), and Jane Doe (born... etc), both U.S. citizens......".  The letter below incorporates this requirement.  Of course, change the specifics to include your own information.

To the Adoption Officials
China Center for Adoption Affairs

We, John Doe (Born in ... on 12/01/1950) and Jane Doe (born in ... on 4/15/1952), both U.S. citizens, do respectfully request the honor and privilege of adopting a baby girl from China. Our adopted daughter will have everything we have to give her, all of our love, all of our care, everything we can possibly offer, as if she had been born to us. In addition to our unending love and dedication, she will have all the legal rights of a birth child, and we will never abuse or abandon her.

A baby daughter has been part of our dreams since our marriage over 12 years ago. When we learned of the many children in China in need of loving homes, we thought “perhaps we could be one of those lucky families”. To bring such a wonderful, beautiful daughter into our home is everything we could ever hope for.

My wife and I have long been interested in and fascinated by the incredibly rich and beautiful culture, traditions and heritage of China and its people.

We would like our daughter to know us as her mother and father from her earliest perception and memories, and we deeply feel it is essential for her happiness and security. We would like to bring her into our loving and caring home as early in her life as we possibly can, so we all can share in the joy of becoming a family as soon as is possible. Therefore, we are respectfully requesting a healthy infant daughter between the ages of birth and twelve months of age. We hope to adopt a child as young as possible.

Our daughter will enjoy a beautiful and loving home, and a stimulating and nurturing environment, with an extended family.

We will do everything thing we possibly can to help her build on her natural curiosity to develop her full intellectual and physical potential. My wife and I both believe strongly in the value of a college education, and we will support our daughter in every way to insure that she receive the best education possible. We will also take great care and pride in guiding our daughter to learn of the beautiful culture and heritage of China.

If we are fortunate enough to be able to share our lives with that of a daughter from China, we will devote everything we have, and everything we are, to making her life full of love, joy and happiness. It is the least we can do for all the joy she will bring to us. We thank you with all our hearts for considering us as adoptive parents, and for helping to make our dreams of a family come true.

Sincerely,