New Rules For Adoptions From China Announced

UPDATE #1:  We are receiving numerous questions about "What exactly has changed?"  To clarify, at this early-stage of review, it appears that the following changes have taken place:

• Youngest child in the home must be 3-years-old before a family may log-in their dossier
• Single females may still adopt, but may have only 2 children living at home. Youngest child must be 3 years of age (formerly it was 6 years). Singles may  now be up to 50 years older than child (formerly 45)
• Married couples may have up to 5 children in the home
• Families must wait one full year after an adoption is complete before applying to adopt another child
• Only one child may be adopted at a time  (unless a twin or sibling)

Continue reading.

Wo Ai Ni Mommy Film

About the Film

From 2000-2008, China was the leading country for U.S. international adoptions. There are now approximately 70,000 Chinese children being raised in the United States. Wo Ai Ni Mommy explores what happens when an older Chinese girl is adopted into an American family. This film reveals the complicated gains and losses that are an inherent aspect of international, transracial adoption.

In 2007 Donna and Jeff Sadowsky of Long Island, New York submitted their dossier to adopt eight-year old Fang Sui Yong from Guangzhou, China. From the very first moment Sui Yong meets her new mother, Donna, we get a real sense of the emotional confusion and loss Sui Yong experiences, as adoption workers translate their first words of communication. This day will change Sui Yong’s life, forever. Language, habits, food, everything she knows will never be the same. Her new life in America is filled with happiness and confusion. As she struggles to survive in this new world, we witness her transform into a lively, outspoken American. Sui Yong has become someone neither she nor Donna could have imagined. In a sense, she’s the same girl Donna met in Guangzhou all those months ago – and yet she’s utterly different.

Read more.

Exciting News From SPOON

This spring has been an exciting season of growth for SPOON - see below for a link to SPOON's newest online nutrition resource, news of our team's recent trip to China, and diverse (and delicious) new info for families of adopted kids.

In the midst of all of this, our hearts are centered on Kazakhstan, where our work began. This month, our dream of reaching children in KZ baby houses with improved nutrition comes true - we'll be on hand for the unveiling of a new national baby house menu based on our groundbreaking study and advocacy there. And we're planning for the long-term to ensure that the new menu is effectively implemented. Read more below!

We are so grateful for the opportunity to improve nutrition for these little ones - and we couldn't do it without your support. Thank you!

Cindy and Mishelle
SPOON Co-Founders


The Latest Nutrition Profile

'From the day Zachary came home, he struggled with getting enough quality sleep...Several parents told me about the connection between low ferritin levels and sleep problems...and encouraged me to have him tested. Zachary's ferritin levels came back at an 11. They should be 30 or higher...' Read more…

Nutrition by Country: Mexico

Recently, in the Nutrition by Country section, we have added comprehensive nutritional information for children adopted from Mexico. Included in this section is a snapshot of the diverse, flavorful cuisine of Mexico, some deficiencies common among children born in Mexico, and a few delicious and nutritious recipes to try, like Mexican Brown Rice and Black Bean Tostadas. Yum!


The Orphan Nutrition Project

Kazakhstan: We began our work in Kazakhstan with the dream of creating change on a national scale. That dream is coming to fruition on May 29th and 30th, when a team of SPOON staff and advisors will be in Almaty to share in the announcement of a new nationwide diet for Kazakhstan's baby houses and to facilitate an initial training for baby house directors from across Kazakhstan and four other Central Asian countries. The new menu and feeding norms, based on SPOON's work in Kazakhstan over the past five years, have the potential to improve the lives of thousands of children without families to call their own. Stay tuned for reports from the field, later this month!

Our global reach: Springboarding from our orphan nutrition work in Kazakhstan, and as part of our "A Child's Best Start" partnership with Joint Council, SPOON staff members recently returned from their first trip to learn about child welfare institutions in China. Through initial observations and meetings, our team began to develop meaningful relationships and opportunities that will lead to improved nutrition for so many orphaned children in China.

OrphanNutrition.org goes live: SPOON is excited to announce the launch of OrphanNutrition.org – the companion website to our work with Joint Council to improve nutrition and feeding for children living without permanent parental care. At the heart of SPOON's mission is the understanding that proper nutrition is critical to every child’s growth and development, so we’re excited about the role that this new resource will play in helping caregivers meet the nutritional needs of orphaned children around the globe. Read more…


May Highlights

Join us in sending well wishes to SPOON co-founder Mishelle Rudzinski, who is leaving this week for China - she'll return in a few weeks, bringing home a sweet new addition to her family. Congratulations, Mishelle and big sister Bakha!

On May 3rd, hear from members of the SPOON team in an informative webinar: Introduction to Nutrition and Feeding for Internationally Adopted Children will take place on Thursday, May 3 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT. Register here.

Mothers' Day is May 13th! This Mothers' Day you can give a gift that supports SPOON, with a purchase of gorgeous jewelry from adoptive mom TS at Popli.