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Compare Us With Large Multi-program International Agencies

Given the length of time it usually takes to adopt, many families need speed and expertise specifically dealing with China. Great Wall has polished their skills for over 10 years, exclusively on China Adoption.

Great Wall Advantages

Great Wall

 Large Multi-Program International Agencies
China Only Program Great Wall only works with China, and we communicate with the Chinese government daily. We are the first to receive information from China, and the first to inform our families. Our expertise is the result of years of experience with China's adoption program. Great Wall staff receive China adoption education and training continually, and have traveled to China to gain a better understanding of the adoption experience. This is why Great Wall is often modeled by our peers in international adoption. Not available; Other agencies may not have the staff or expertise to specialize in China's adoption program. Since requirements and dossiers are unique for each program/country, you cannot change programs easily. Your best bet is to choose an expert in Chinese adoption.
Structure Our organization is structured strategically, allowing us to meet challenges, and offer our families efficient and specialized services. Most important, Great Wall only places children from China. This is why we are the trusted leader and expert in Chinese adoption. Most multiple program agencies are top heavy, employing more executives and fewer staff to actually work with families. In addition, the majority of large agencies do not specialize in Chinese adoption; it is often just one program of many.
Executives Snow Wu, President of Great Wall, was born and raised in China. Snow is not only an active leader of Great Wall; she is a leader of Chinese adoption in general. Snow dedicates her time to advocacy work on behalf of families and children. She travels to Washington D.C. and China several times a year to work with both the U.S. and Chinese governments. Snow's dedication has led her to win the recognition and respect of leaders in both countries. Her constant advocacy for Chinese adoption has been of tremendous benefit to our families. Since most agencies do not specialize in Chinese adoption, their directors are not from China. This can mean that information must pass though layers of language and culture to find interpretation.
Approved by the Chinese government Since 1996, Great Wall has been approved by the Chinese government to place children from China. Great Wall has successfully placed more than 5,000 children with loving American parents. We have never "lost" a family's dossier, we have never compromised our standard of excellence, and we have always been in good standing with the CCAA. Not all multi-program agencies are approved by the Chinese government (CCAA) to facilitate adoptions. Most international agencies are actually adoption brokers, submitting dossiers to a third party in China, who then submits them to the CCAA. In addition, not all approved agencies are in good standing with the CCAA, as agencies must meet specific standards annually.
Staff Since Great Wall only works with China, our staff are experts in China's requirements and process. In addition, our staff specialize in each phase of your adoption. This allows us to focus on your particular needs, so that you have expert help when you need it. Great Wall's staff members hold bachelor and master degrees in social work, psychology, sociology, communications, library sciences and business from well-known and respected Universities. The staff at most multi-program agencies perform several functions, in addition to helping families. They must also remember the requirements of multiple countries, and work with families during different phases of the process.
Location Our International Headquarters are located in Austin, Texas and our China Headquarters are located near the CCAA in Beijing. Our China staff are employed exclusively by Great Wall, and are in daily contact with the Chinese government on behalf of our families. Most multi-program agencies don't have a physical office or permanent staff in China.
Regional Representatives Great Wall has over 50 Regional Representatives located across United States and in Europe and Asia. Our warm and experienced Regional Representatives bring Great Wall quality services to your community. Regional Representatives host monthly educational seminars near you, hold support group meetings, and are ready and willing to answer your questions about adopting from China. Use this link for a listing of the Regional Representative near you. Some multiple program International agencies have a few regional representatives. But, most do not have local contacts for adoptive families throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
Great Wall Advantages

Great Wall

 Large Multi-Program International Agencies
Service Options Great Wall offers many service plans and amenities throughout the adoption process that allow families to make choices about their own adoption. The ability to make these choices allows families to modify their adoption experience, based upon their unique needs. Most multi-program agencies offer adoptive parents only one service plan, without options or amenities.
Toll Free Phone Number Great Wall offers 1-888-GW-Family, our toll free phone number for prospective adoptive families, making it convenient for you to contact us to get your questions answered quickly. The vast majority of international agencies do not have a toll free phone number.
Dossier Service Our Dragon Plan is a full dossier preparation service, performed by specialized Great Wall staff at our headquarters. Parents who use this program benefit from having a professional Dossier Specialist complete their paperwork. This gives them more time for family, career and an active lifestyle. With the Dragon Plan, Great Wall manages the paperwork process and completes your dossier quickly and properly, so that it can be sent to China sooner. You can use the Dragon Plan prior to starting your paperwork, or later, if managing the paperwork is not your forte. Most multiple country agencies do not offer dossier (adoption paperwork) preparation service. The few that do offer it, subcontract the dossier service.
Work with American Families Living Abroad Adopting while living overseas creates difficulty for the families, our organization is known for our strength in assisting American families living overseas. No matter where you reside, we are here to help you fulfill your dream of adopting a child from China. Most multiple program agencies do not work with American families living abroad, as the paperwork can be quite complicated. Other agencies lack the expertise and staff required abroad, such as international social workers.
East Meets West - China Adoption Conference Great Wall's East Meets West is the only national conference dedicated to Chinese adoption in the U.S. It is intended for all families regardless of which adoption agency they use. The conference speakers are among the best and most influential adoption experts, including orphanage directors traveling from China. Families walk out of the conference amazed and empowered by the wealth of information they learn. East Meets West conferences take place twice a year in various locations throughout the nation. Log on www.gwca.org for next EMW near you. No other multi-program international agency hosts a national conference devoted entirely to Chinese adoption.
Referral Education Great Wall understands that awaiting a referral can be a difficult time for families. Our Referral Counselors continuously provide families with information to prepare for their child. Educational literature covering a variety of topics from Bonding & Attachment to Chinese History is distributed to families on a weekly and monthly basis. Most important, our Referral Counselors are always available to answer your questions and address your concerns. Most multi-program agencies' provide no real service to families between submitting your dossier and receiving your referral. This is because they have no specialized referral staff.
Child Care Package Service Upon receipt of the picture and medical report for your child, Great Wall offers families the option of using our child care package service. This service allows families to send a package or gift to their child to express their love while waiting to travel to China. Not available
Child Care Package Service Upon receipt of the picture and medical report for your child, Great Wall offers families the option of using our child care package service. This service allows families to send a package or gift to their child to express their love while waiting to travel to China. Not available
Prescriptions for adoptive Child Due to orphanage conditions, adoptive children often have a cold, ear infection, or other minor ailment when parents receive them in China. Unfortunately, many American doctors are unwilling to prescribe medications without seeing the child first. Great Wall is able to offer a prescription service, so you can travel to China with prescription medications for your child, if needed. Not available
National Travel Guides For a group of families, Great Wall provides a national guide who will travel with you from the moment you arrive in China to the moment you depart for the U.S. This guide works with our local guides, and provides families with continuity throughout all of their China destinations. Not available
Cultural Learning Tours We encourage families to learn about their child's culture and heritage. Therefore, we arrange Cultural Learning Tours in each city you visit while you are in China. Such tours help you learn and understand your child's heritage, and home land. Later, when your child asks you where s/he is from, you can answer the questions confidently. A few multi-program international agencies offer sightseeing tours in Beijing. However, they don't offer a specifically designed cultural learning itinerary throughout your trip.
Adoption Guides Great Wall arranges all of your travel around your adoption appointments in China. We are known for our amazingly kind, attentive and very professional Adoption Guides. Our national guides are employed exclusively by Great Wall. From the moment you arrive in China to the moment you depart, you will be accompanied by a bi-lingual guide that is highly trained in the Chinese adoption process, translating for families, and providing the utmost level of care and service. Our Adoption Guides are your best friend in China! Most multi-program international agencies have subcontracted travel guides who work for several agencies, and your trip to China is arranged by a subcontracted tourist travel agency.
Cost Great Wall's costs are not only lower than multi-program agencies, but we remain the most affordable. Our costs are consistently lower than other agencies. As an organization devoted to providing the highest level of service, most options for our families, most frequent communication, and customized travel arrangements, Great Wall offers the greatest value for families. We provide: educational workshops, Eligibility Check screening prior to sending us your application, quick application review, thorough dossier/document review, quick and accurate referral translation and processing, detailed travel itineraries, pre-arranged Cultural Learning Tours, and post-placement report services. We also provide the support of Headquarters staff and Regional Representatives throughout the process. International adoption costs range from $11,000 to $30,000 including travel expenses. This is because most multi-program agencies have several layers of management, higher overhead, and more staff associated with multiple country programs. You shouldn't pay more to adopt from China, just because other country programs increase operating expenses.
Discount for Returning families Great Wall is very grateful to the adoptive families who have opened their hearts to Chinese orphans. We extend a large discount of $1,000 off our professional fees to all families adopting from China previously. You do not have to be a previous Great Wall family to receive this discount. Small discount and only to previous clients
Support Group Great Wall organizes culture club - a well-structured support group for our adoptive families throughout the U.S. We are committed to service and support you, not only during your adoption process, but also after your adoptions are finalized. The Culture Club is a great way to bond with other families, and build lifetime friends. Use this link for a listing of the Regional Representative near you. Not available
Great Wall Advantages

Great Wall

 Large Multi-Program International Agencies
Personal Touch You will connect with our organization on your first phone call or email and continue to receive heartfelt support throughout your adoption journey. Many families write to us and send photos of their children, long after they have returned home. Many multi-country agencies have little or no personal relationship with their adoptive families.
Frequent Contact Communicating with families is a priority at Great Wall. You will receive information and updates weekly throughout your adoption. Your phone calls and emails are returned within 24 hours:it is our policy! Most multi-program international agencies do not communicate with families directly, unless there is a problem.
Updates, Updates, Updates Our goal is to keep you educated and confident throughout your adoption experience. By providing you with information and updates at each phase of the adoption process, Great Wall is able to keep each family knowledgeable on new policies, changes in procedures, agency activities and much, much more. No other agency provides the timely information and level of communication that Great Wall provides its families.
Great Wall Advantages

Great Wall

 Large Multi-Program International Agencies
Global Advocacy Great Wall is known for our advocacy work on behalf of adoptive families and abandoned children, Great Wall can be spotted on the steps of the U.S. Capital and State Department all the way to the Chinese government and the U.S. and Chinese Consulates. No active advocacy
Advocacy in China We have earned our reputation for directly advocating for our families. One huge advantage that Great Wall families have is that our China Division staff contact the Chinese government daily to advocate for families. Although Great Wall cannot control the Chinese government's decisions and policies, we are able to advocate on your behalf. Other agencies do not have the access to actively advocate directly with the Chinese government. They often lack the language, reputation, and knowledge of the process, to effectively advocate on behalf of adoptive families.
Service Standards & Practices Being Modeled Great Wall has helped raise the bar of service standards and practices. Our service standards and practices are being modeled by the peer agencies in the areas of client care; post adoption support, service amenities, and latest adoption policies update and charity missions. It is not regarded as a model agency
Charity Missions Great Wall Gifts of Love charity mission allows you to donate specific items needed by your child's orphanage. For example, our families have donated an autoclave, washing machine, air conditioner, and even a laundry room to the orphanage that cared for their child. Great Wall Libraries of Love allows you to donate to the building of libraries for the children still living in orphanages. Our families have made donations toward building funds and library supplies, such as books and computers. Great Wall has completed two libraries, and is in the process of building a third. Other agencies do not offer you the ability to donate specific items to specific orphanages.
Reference Lists We provide you with a list that spans the globe! There is no limit to the references you can contact to learn more about our organization. If you have a specific reference request please let us know; we are happy to help you gather as much information as you need during the research phase of the adoption journey. Limited to your local area