The CCAI International Program facilitates ongoing communication, adoption education, and fact-finding trips between government entities on an international scale; and is most often administered in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State. The CCAI International Program strives to increase positive dialogue with foreign officials and U.S. government officials involved in international adoption policy and practice. CCAI also assists governmental and nongovernmental organizations who are hosting foreign dignitaries in Washington, D.C. by organizing meetings on Capitol Hill on adoption-related matters.
On February 7, 2006 36 members of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption signed and sent a letter to President Basescu and Prime Minister Popescu-Tariceanu expressing disappointment with the decision to reject the remaining unresolved international adoption petitions filed between June 21, 2001 and January 1, 2005. The letter requested that the President and Prime Minister give their immediate and personal attention to ensuring that a transparent and objective account is given for the processing of these cases, with the ultimate goal of finding permanent homes for these 1,100 children.
On a regular basis, CCAI organizes an international fact-finding trip for members of Congress and their staff to increase communication and to promote sound international adoption policies and practice. Delegates are given the opportunity to meet with the foreign officials in charge of adoption, visit government-run institutions, and experience successful child welfare programs. In the past three years, CCAI has organized Congressional trips to China, Romania, Russia, Guatemala, Uganda, El Salvador, Honduras, and India.
CCAI International Trips 2002-2005
India, March 2005
In March 2005, CCAI organized a fact-finding trip to India. The delegation was led by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) and members of the CCAI Board of Directors, Barbara Walzer and Paul Singer, along with congressional staff from the offices of Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator Craig. The delegation met with government officials and non-government entities that oversee child welfare and adoption issues in Agra, Bangalore and Delhi. Click here to see photos of this trip from Senator Craig's website.
El Salvador, August 2004
In August 2004, a CCAI sponsored delegation traveled to El Salvador to meet with the president and the first lady concerning child care issues at the fore front of that nation's battle to serve and care for it's at risk children. The trip was led my Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and among other things, resulted in the El Salvadoran First lady, Ana Ligia de Saca, traveling to Washington for further meetings with CCAI and to attend the 2004 Angels in Adoption award ceremony.
Uganda, May 2004
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) organized and sponsored a congressional delegation to Uganda for members of the senate and congressional staff from May 24-28, 2004. The delegation, led by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), included congressional staff representing her office and four other offices including: Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA); Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN); Representative Robert Wexler (D- FL) and Representative Donald Payne (D- NJ). Members of the CCAI board of directors: Barbara Walzer and Paul Singer and CCAI staff: Kerry Hasenbalg, executive director of CCAI; Wendy Cosby, program director; and Katherine Pace, program manager, were also part of the delegation. This fact finding delegation to Uganda gave members of the U.S. government and staff the opportunity to visit children suffering from the loss of their parents due to war, disease, or poverty.
Uganda faces two enormous challenges in the child welfare area, and sadly, both of these challenges have contributed to the staggering numbers of orphans there. The epidemic of HIV/AIDS and the ongoing terrorism in Northern Uganda are the two major contributors to Uganda's orphan crisis. By identifying the core causes for the numbers of orphans specific to Uganda, the Unites States government can better support and encourage the ongoing work of the Ugandan government as they address these needs.
The trip was very successful in identifying key areas in which the United States can support the Ugandan government’s efforts to prevent more children from being orphaned because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and terrorism in the north; in addition, to gain a better understanding of how Ugandans are helping orphans find safe and loving homes.
Guatemala, February 2004
In response to the significant number of Guatemalan children adopted by the US citizens and changes in adoption policies and practices last year, CCAI organized a trip to Guatemala City, Guatemala on February 4-6, 2004 led by Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Congressman William Delahunt (D-MA). The delegation met with high-ranking members of the Guatemalan Government including Oscar Berger, the recently elected President of Guatemala, Members of the Guatemalan Congress and senior officials at the Foreign Ministry and central authority for Guatemalan adoptions, la Procuraduria General de la Nacion (PGN).
In addition, the delegation met extensively with John Hamilton, the U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, senior officials from the State Department and the Citizenship & Immigration Services and other US embassy officials to discuss efforts to improve processing requirements and, therefore, reduce delays faced by prospective adoptive parents from the U.S.
Romania and Russia, April 2003
In 2003, CCAI organized a trip to Romania and Russia. The delegation was led by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and members of the CCAI Board of Directors: Valdur Koha, Barbara Walzer and Paul Singer, along with congressional staff from the offices of Senator Don Nickles (R-OK); Senator James Inhofe (R-OK); Senator Craig; Senator Landrieu; Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI). The delegation met with government officials and non-government entities that oversee child welfare and adoption issues in both countries.
In Romania, the delegation had the honor to meet President Ion Iliescu, and attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Adrian Nastase. In both Romania and Russia, they met with leaders of the senate and major ministries overseeing adoption and child welfare issues. The delegation’s agenda included visits to U.S. supported child welfare centers that focus on children with special needs and medical needs such as HIV/AIDS.
People's Republic of China, January 2002
In January 2002, CCAI organized a trip to the People’s Republic of China which included a lengthy meeting with President Jiang Zemin that greatly impacted international relations in regard to adoption and child welfare issues. CCAI had the honor to receive a delegation of Chinese officials in June of that year, including the Minister of Civil Affairs, Doje Cering; the Director of the China Center of Adoption Affairs, Lu Ying; and six other delegation members. CCAI organized and facilitated meetings with high-level officials in the Department of State and the White House to discuss international adoptions and hosted a reception where they met adoptive families with children from China.
Congressional delegations continue to be an essential part of streamlining the system and improving issues related to child welfare and adoption between nations, and to thank the governments and citizens of countries for graciously allowing Americans to adopt.
