Posted by
DeniseG
17 yrs ago
Hi there. My husband and I have just sent in our adoption application paperwork to Social Welfare. We live on a liveaboard boat and I'm just wondering if anyone has ever heard of a couple of being denied adoption because they live on a boat? We live in a dedicated liveaboard marina, which is very safe and has over 100 families living here already
In fact, has anyone ever heard of anyone been turned down for adoption at all?
Please support our advertisers:
aemom
17 yrs ago
DeniseG:
Sorry no one has answered your question. I guess it just shows how unique each adoption experience is.
The Adoption Unit seems to take 'unusual' circumstances in stride and deal with families on a case-by-case basis. With our first adoption,we were one of the first families where the Mom worked and the Dad was going to be the primary caregiver - without a helper or grandmother!
We know of one adoption by a local family who lived in an incredibly small flat - maybe it was 300 sq ft. Really tiny. So your liveaboard is probably quite luxurious compared to that little home.
Best wishes.
Please support our advertisers:
We just put in an application for adoption as well! Did you attend the information session that was offered in December? Please get in touch with me, I'd love to hear about your experience so far.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi Namaste
We went to the October introductory meeting and have just completed the first workshop last Monday. We had a letter back from SW asking for more info re the boat - something I was dreading as I'm not too confident that living on a boat will be acceptable. But we'll just keep plodding along and answering all the questions we can. By the way, my husband is Australian and I'm from NZ, we're in our late 40s, so we might be further down the list than most!
We originally looked at adopting from Cambodia but unfortunately the Australian govt insist on parental authorisation for adoption, which is almost impossible as 90% of the babies are abandoned.
So right now, we're just waiting to hear more from SW in Hong Kong and hopefully with a date to start our home study.
Wishing you the best of luck too.
Denise
Please support our advertisers:
aemom
17 yrs ago
cara's advice is spot on.
One of your home study interviews will be on board. You may consider writing the ideas/plans on paper to give to the social worker to add to your home study file during that interview, perhaps with drawings of modifications you will make or even make those changes before the home study begins and show what you changed.
If you're not sure what to consider, do a google search or invite someone with a toddler over to help you think of some safety precautions you could talk about with the social worker.
We found that abstract concepts did not always translate well and it was better for us to anticipate what might be asked and have a concrete way of explaining what we would do.
Perhaps also purchase a child's life jacket.
Please support our advertisers:
I know this is nothing to help with your question - but I have 2 toddlers at the moment and I have no idea how we would have survived on a boat... they manage to get into everything even in a normal flat, so I think it is very very risky... so have a good think of how you can make is safe... Very very tricky...
Please support our advertisers:
Hi Denise,
Namaste here. I have two brothers who both live on sailboats with their children. Both of them have raised their children from baby age through toddler age on their boats. One child hated living on the boat until he was about three and the other one loves it. I would think that with the number of homeschoolers and families out there traversing the world on sailboats, that there woud be resources for "baby-proofing" a boat or at least information available to families about how to live on a boat with a baby. If you could locate some of these resources and put together a nice thick packet/presentation for the Social Welfare Dept., then you could demonstrate that you are aware of the safety issues and are prepared to follow through. I suppose that if they approve you, it could be contingent on moving. Let me know how it goes. I'm waiting for our reply. The mailbox has suddenly become a very exciting thing!
Please support our advertisers:
As others have mentioned, ask other families that live near by their views on raising their children "on water". Changes that may need to be made, etc. Do alot of research and have it ready to show SW. Also, it may depend on the age of a child you plan to adopt, Newborn, toddler, 5 yr old, so on.
We adopted and brought our daughter home a year ago. She is now 2.5 yrs old. We had to "prove" ourselves as well, in a completely different aspect. I did research and had letters from family and other mother's in my situation. Our process did take ALOT longer than other families waiting, but in the end, so worth it. (It also helped that we did not prefer a newborn) Do you have any near future plans to move? We would never be able to live on a boat with our daughter, as she is VERY active and runs around
Keep strong and all will work out.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi Namaste - we have just had our initial interview with SW last Thursday. All seemed to go quite well and the social work was really lovely. She made us feel very relaxed and optimistic. She will eventually be coming to do the home study on the boat and she expressed that she was very interested as had never seen a liveaboard boat before. She didn't seem particularly negative about the boat issue, so here's hoping. I took in the boat plans and some photos and also a letter from the marina stating how safe it was to live on a boat and how the club caters for the 100 or so families that live on the marina, so that may have enlightened her a little. We will do our second workshop on Monday, 28 April and then our individual interviews after that. What stage are you up to?
Cheers
Denise
Please support our advertisers:
I really dont see the problem and how SW can deny you by any chance!! My friend has 7 dogs. She and her husband work full time and so the helper has to care everything during the day. Their adoption process was smooth. No problem for them and definitely no problem for you. It would be a great expereience for the child whoever to come n join your family. Good luck and all the best.
Please support our advertisers:
I've just sent in all our documents. Does anyone know what's the duration from sending all the documents in (they sent a letter and called to ask for more info which I've sent all that's needed by last Wed) before they call to begin the home study? We attended the final workshop just after Chinese New Year and it is taking quite some time to just to start the home study.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi,
I am moving to Hong Kong in August so am new to this site. My husband and I had started the adoption process in Australia. Being new I am trying to work out who to contact to get the paper work and process started. Can someone please help me understand what SW is and who to contact (also if I am in the wrong part of the website).
Please support our advertisers:
HI Emma
You should start by phoning the Social Welfare Department (don't have their phone number on me right now - but if you google you will find it). They are the only avenue for adoption in Hong Kong. They will tell you a few of the criteria over the phone, then invite you to come to an introductory session, which you must attend with your husband. Next they will send you paperwork to complete (which does take quite a while to complete and collate), you will be required to attend 2 adoptions workshops and then an individual interview each, and also a joint interview. They will want to interview 2 referees and also make a home visit to make sure your home is secure for a child. All in all, its a very straightforward process with not too many hurdles, just have to tick things off the list and then wait.
We have just finished our last home visit and are now waiting to hear whether we have been accepted or not, so we've got our fingers tightly crossed. We started in October last year, so its been a while, but we've been trying to get pregnant for 6 years so we are used to it waiting .
Wishing you good luck and if you need any help, you can pm me.
Please support our advertisers:
Thanks Denise. We will get in contact with SW as soon as we get there. What does pm me mean. Sorry, I am completely new to chat rooms.
Please support our advertisers:
Good luck with it all.
A beautiful little girl came in to our lives three weeks ago. The process took 9 months from the first interview with Social Welfare.
Please support our advertisers:
emma,
Just a note, I was told by the SWD that hubby and me have to be in HK for at least one year before they can start the process.
Please support our advertisers:
tommytommy,
Just being curious, how old is your little girl? We were told that the wait for a girl would be longer than for a boy. And congrats!
Please support our advertisers:
Hi SunnieFaith,
At the orientation night at SWD, they had told everyone that 80% of applicants request a girl and that is why the wait can be much longer than for a boy.
Please support our advertisers:
hello sunniefaith
Our daughter was six months old when we met her.
It is a bit of a roller coaster ride. But it does eventually happen- one day you are living in hope and the next day you meet your child. And a few days later they come home with you. Quite a journey.
Please support our advertisers:
Thanks Namaste and tommytommy,
We just left the sex open at this point of time. It's all every exciting. We told our case worker that we're only ready for the matching panel in Oct as we'll be travelling in Aug.
Please support our advertisers:
Sorry that my question is slightly off the original thread. Can anyone recommend any good book to read for talking about adoption to your child? She is 4 and a bit now and we wld like to introduce the topic to her gradually. Some said we shld hv explained when she was younger but she only started to ask questions about pregnant women lately whenever she sees one. Tks for yr input.
Please support our advertisers:
joga
17 yrs ago
I have 16 year old son who is adopted and we started telling him before he could even understand. As a small child we made up a slightly embellished bed time story of how we came to be a family and slowly added more details as he got older. Also any chance we had we would point out pregnant women to help him understand that he came from someone else's tummy. At the time we racked our brains trying to do everything text book right but with the hindsight of a mum with a healthy well adjusted teenager I can tell you they just need to know they are loved and wanted and always have been. So my advice is just introduce it to regular conversation or stories because afterall it is just one small aspect of who they are it's not something that defines them. Another line we used a lot when he was little was he was 'born from my heart not my tummy' although these days I am sure he would puke if I said that ;)
Please support our advertisers:
Mighty
Adoption Stories for Young Children (Paperback)
by Randall B. Hicks (Author)
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born (Paperback)
by Jamie Lee Curtis (Author)
The Day We Met You (Aladdin Picture Books) (Paperback)
by Phoebe Koehler
A Mother for Choco (Paperstar) (Paperback)
by Keiko Kasza (Author)
A Blessing from Above (Little Golden Book) (Hardcover)
by Patti Henderson (Author)
Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale (Hardcover)
by Karen Katz (Illustrator)
I Don't Have Your Eyes (Hardcover)
by Carrie A. Kitze (Author)
These are some of the books that I googled and found on Amazon. Not sure if they all can be found in HK.
Please support our advertisers:
aemom
17 yrs ago
There are also movies about adoption.
Two that my children have enjoyed are:
Stewart Little (the first one)
Martian Child
Please support our advertisers:
A few that we are using are:
Motherbridge of love (be warned, you will cry. It is beautiful)
I Dont have your eyes and Over the Moon.
The Adoptive Families of Hong Kong would probably have a few good suggestions also.
Please support our advertisers:
Thank you for all your input. I wrote to The Adoptive Families of Hong Kong too but no reply from them.
Please support our advertisers:
I read the Martian Child. It was such a nice book. Will have to watch the show too. And Juno is another great movie.
Please support our advertisers:
If you are interested in adopting or currently have an adopted child, you may be interested in attending one of the seminars which focus on variety of related topics. Members and non members are welcome.
Adoptive Families of Hong Kong (“AFHK”) is a non-profit organization comprised of families from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds, brought together by their common bond of adoption.
To learn more, pls visit:
http://www.afhk.org.hk/
Please support our advertisers:
Denise,
How was the final outcome? Were you approved ? I hope so.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi Miss DJ - sorry for the delay in replying. Yes, we've finally got our little girl home. We received the phone call from Social Welfare on 17 November, then met Millie at Mother's Choice on 24 November and brought her home on 27 November. All a bit of a whirlwind, but we are settling in nicely together now. Everything was very easy and professional and very emotional. She is just the sweetest little girl and we love her to bits already. Didn't know I could love someone so much. So, from our initial workshop on 22 October, relatively speaking, the whole process didn't take too long - and well worth the wait. Man, we are over the moon!
Please support our advertisers:
Wonderful news DeniseG !! How old is she? We are just finishing the process for the 2nd. adoption
Please support our advertisers:
Thanks MissDJ. Little Millie is 4.5 months old - she is absolutely gorgeous. Good luck with your 2nd adoption. What's the process there, much the same or easier? I'm already thinking of no. 2!!! My husband is not quite convinced yet, but I'm working on him.
D
Please support our advertisers:
How exciting, 4.5 months old. Enjoy the time with Millie, they grow so fast.
The process is much quicker second time around. Everything is the same, except no workshops. We should be approve by mid-January. (I hope). Everything is done, they just have the 3 month home study they do.
Please support our advertisers:
Wishing you all the best for an Easter baby maybe?
Denise
Please support our advertisers:
Hi there, I know this thread has been inactive for some time...
Please support our advertisers:
< Back to main category
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail