With the purpose to enhance inter-country adoption and maintain a sustainable development of Sino-US cooperation, the training arranged 11 lectures for the delegation on topics such as American adoption culture, laws and regulations on domestic and inter-country adoption in the States, regulations to protect adopted children’s rights and interests, implementation of Hague Convention, assessment of adoptive families and pre-adoption training, post-placement tracking services, foster care and domestic adoption in the States, etc. The delegation also visited the Visa Section of Chinese embassy in Washington, DC to learn about legislation of adoption documents and visa process for adoptive families; they also visited the “Maternity Home” of Gladney Center for Adoption and learn about the practice of domestic adoption in the States.

Considering the new changes and practices after America implemented Hague Convention, the delegation also took this opportunity to meet with Department of State, USCIS, Council Coalition on Adoption Institute, NCFA, Joint Council on International Children’s Services, Council on Accreditation and some adoption agencies about the adjustment in practice in Hague cases, post-placement tracking service system and deepening cooperation with government and adoption agencies. They met with two Senators and a congressman and introduced to them the new changes in China’s inter-country adoption. They also attended “Beyond Borders” International Adoption Conference held by Great Wall China Adoption and had the opportunity to introduce to representatives the basic situation of China’s inter-country adoption and exchanged views with officials from central authorities of the Philippines, Haiti and Peru and experts and scholars in the field of inter-country adoption.

Due to the two tragedies of Chinese adopted children been hurt in the States, CCAA has initiated measures to enhance cooperation and supervision in order to protect the children’s rights. During the training, the delegation had seminars with adoption agencies in Washington, DC, New York and Los Angeles to discuss issues such as structures of American adoption agencies, new requirements on home study reports and post-placement reports, seeking wide opinions from different parties so as to provide basis for final decision-making.

Besides, the delegation met with about 150 adoptive families in New York, Denver and Fort Worth. They were deeply impressed and pleased to see the adopted children growing healthily and happily under the care of their adoptive parents, and felt the great responsibility on their shoulders to do inter-country adoption.

With the joint efforts of the whole delegation, this trip has completed the pre-set tasks and achieved the expected results. Through the training, the members had a deeper understanding of the new policies, practices and changes in inter-country adoption between the two countries, learnt about the expertise and skills of professionals in adoption agencies, and were inspired greatly by what they witnessed during the trip. The delegation was also able to clarify questions in daily cooperation, seek wide advice from different parties before making a final decision and enhance communication with government department and adoption agencies, which lays a solid foundation for future cooperation.