In this issue...

New Children: Children from Ethiopia, Philippines and more
New Subsidy Programs: Children of Hope; Brittany's Hope
Online Presentations: Adopting the Older Child; Considering a Child With Special Needs
Resource Articles & Stories: Adopting Waiting Children; Family Testimonials

Contact Us

L-R: Sarah Ferguson, Mary Lou Eshelman, Amanda Halpern

Horizon Kids Coordinators: Amanda Halpern
781.419.0371
ahalpern@whfc.org; Sarah Ferguson
781.419.0369
sferguson@whfc.org
Program Manager: Mary Lou Eshelman
781.419.0313
meshelman@whfc.org

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Waiting Children Edition

April 2007

WELCOME

Welcome to Wide Horizon’s "On the Horizon" Waiting Children e-newsletter, part of WHFC's ongoing commitment to children and families. WHFC places waiting children from nearly every country we work in, ranging in age from infancy to school age. The majority have the potential for normal growth and development. Some are waiting because they are older; some are members of a sibling group; some have mild, correctable medical needs, and others have more severe needs that require special attention. These are our "Horizon Kids," children who might never have a family except for the very real miracle of adoption.

Want to Receive the Most Current News on Waiting Children?
• To view our current list of children, register on our website at www.whfc.org
• To receive updates on new postings such as this one, register today for future issues of the e-newsletter at www.whfc.org

NEW CHILDREN POSTED

Profiles of the children below have recently been added to our website. To view complete information on these children as well as all of the waiting children available, please visit www.whfc.org.

Anna (F) Eastern Europe DOB: 01/12/2004	Rustam (M) Eastern Europe DOB: 01/15/2005
Den Mark (M) Philippines DOB: 12/18/2002	Seung Hoon (M) Korea DOB: 11/09/2005

Harry came home in January 2007 through the Children of Hope Subsidy Program

New Subsidy Programs

Children of Hope

WHFC now offers families adopting specific children with significant special needs a $5,000 reduction in fees. For over a year, we have received contributions from generous donors to our appeal for the children most in need of a family. Our first Child of Hope, Harry (pictured to the right), came home in January 2007. We currently have 9 Children of Hope waiting for their forever families, including the children pictured below. All of these special children are indicated on our website as part of our Waiting Children photolisting.

Help us find them homes. For more information on financing an adoption visit www.whfc.org.

Jasmine (F)
Philippines
DOB: 10/28/2003

Mark (M)
Philippines
DOB: 12/06/1997

Anju (F)
India
DOB: 01/11/2006

Brittany's Hope

Wide Horizons is pleased to announce that we have been recently approved as an affiliate agency of Brittany's Hope, a foundation that facilitates adoption of special needs, older and sibling groups by providing financial grants to special waiting children. More information about this exciting program will be shared in the coming months.

Online Presentations

WHFC is pleased to offer our online web conferences as part of our Program Introduction Presentations. These 30 minute sessions allow you to hear more about our waiting children from regions around the world. Hear from our Horizon Kids staff and participate in a Q&A session. In addition, the following special topics will be presented during these presentations:

May 2, 12:00 PM Eastern — Adopting the Older Child
May 31, 7:00 PM Eastern — Considering a Child With Special Needs

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Resource Articles & Stories

Wide Horizons For Children is pleased to be able to resources that have been written by our staff and families. We hope that these articles, stories, and testimonials help educate and inspire you about the many facets of adopting a waiting child.

Adopting Waiting Children

by Maryanne Ludwig, MSW, LICSW & Eleanor Hartzell, BSW

Who Are the Waiting Children?

In essence, international adoption exists because children throughout the world are in need of families. Many children who are freed for adoption by their countries of birth are able to be matched immediately with a family who has been waiting for just such a child on an agency's list. Children for whom there is no current family become Waiting Children. Some wait simply because of their age. Some wait due to medical needs, though those range from mild to more severe. Some wait because they are part of a sibling group. By being designated a Waiting Child and having his or her information available to families, a child's possibilities for placement increase dramatically.

Read the full article at www.whfc.org.

Family Testimonials

"The miracle of parenthood through adoption is indescribable. Connecting with a young life whose only need is for love and nurturing is an amazing journey. Each of my adoption experiences had their own uniqueness but both have the same ending. Two incredible girls, both survivors yet different as night and day, are flourishing in their emotional and physical development and are the center of my world. One is no longer waiting."

Lauren, whose daughters Lily and Aianna came home from China in 1999 and 2003

"Our social worker wanted to know if we were interested in viewing his profile — sure, why not? I was confident this little man was destined for some other family — a stronger one — one that would accept his particular 'challenge'...We looked at Oscar's picture and knew at first sight he was our son! Those eyes! That smile! My baby — he was waiting for me!"

Mary Beth, whose son Oscar came home from Guatemala in 2005

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