Gladney Blog

Preparing to adopt internationally is exciting, but it’s also complex. Thoughtful, intentional training isn’t just a box to check; it’s one of the most important investments you can make in your future child and your family. International adoption involves layers of culture, trauma, attachment, medical considerations, and transition. The training process is designed to help you enter this journey informed, prepared, and confident — not just for travel day, but for the lifelong parenting ahead.

 

If sunshine could giggle, it might sound a lot like Millie.

Lunar New Year is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, observed by millions of people across Asia and in global communities. More than a single day, it is a season of renewal, reflection, and connection, centered on welcoming a new year with hope, gratitude, and intention.

Diana DeGroot, our Vice President of International Adoption, is a licensed social worker as well as an adoptive, biological and step-mom. Allie (18) and Chase (15) joined her family in 2011 and 2012 as waiting children from China. We asked Diana what she would want to share with those considering adoption. She shared the following:

People often tell me how lucky my adopted child is and I know they mean well. It’s usually their way of saying they see love, stability, and joy in our family. But the truth is far more complicated. 

No child is “lucky” to experience abandonment, loss, or the trauma of being orphaned.

No child chooses that. No child wishes for their first story to begin with grief. So when someone says they’re lucky, I sometimes wish they understood the full picture: adoption starts where something painful has already happened.

What is true, and what still surprises me, is how deeply we, as parents, feel lucky. Lucky that we get to be the safe place. Lucky that we get to help rewrite the story. Lucky that we get to walk beside a child who has already survived more than most adults ever will, and still finds ways to laugh, play, trust, and love.
 
And yes, it’s not always rainbows and unicorns. Adoption brings layers of questions, challenges, identity exploration, and emotional complexity. But facing those things together doesn’t weaken the bond. It strengthens it. The hard moments deepen the love in ways I never could have imagined. They make the connection more intentional, more resilient, more earned.

Being an adoptive parent is the most meaningful thing I’ve ever done.

It shapes everything. It shapes how I see the world, how I show up as a parent, and even how the people around us grow and evolve. The journey may not always be simple, but it is profoundly beautiful.

So when people say my child is lucky, if I don’t feel like wearing my social worker hat that day, I will just smile. The real truth is that we are the lucky ones. We get to be their family. We get to witness their strength, their humor, their healing, their becoming.  We’re the ones who hit the jackpot.

At Gladney, we know that the experience of returning to China does not end when the trip concludes. For adoptees and their families, coming home is often the beginning of another important chapter. The memories, emotions, and questions that surface during a homeland journey can continue to shape identity and family connection long after the suitcases are unpacked. 

At Gladney, we believe that adoption is a lifelong journey. For many international adoptees, traveling back to China is one of the most profound steps in that journey. These trips offer the opportunity to experience the culture and heritage of their birth country in a way that is deeply personal and often transformative. 

The Gladney Center for Adoption is honored to announce a remarkable   
opportunity — the very first International Hosting Program ever approved by the   
country of Ecuador. For the first time, Ecuador’s central adoption authority has   
entrusted Gladney to bring a group of waiting children to the United States,   
allowing them to experience life with loving American families. This milestone   
marks an incredible moment in international child advocacy — and you can be a   
part of it.  
For 2–4 weeks this summer, children from Ecuador who are waiting for adoption   
will travel to the U.S. to stay with carefully screened and qualified host families.   
During their time here, the children will experience the warmth of family life,   
participate in fun cultural and community activities, and form meaningful   
connections that may change the course of their lives.  
Hosting is a powerful way to make a tangible impact. For many children, this   
experience becomes the bridge to finding their forever family — whether through   
adoption or by opening new doors for advocacy. Gladney’s team will provide full   
support and guidance every step of the way, ensuring that both children and   
families are well-prepared and supported throughout the journey.  
By welcoming a child into your home, you are not only offering love and stability   
for a few weeks — you are helping to shape their future. Ecuador’s decision to   
launch this historic partnership with Gladney speaks volumes about the trust   
placed in our organization’s experience, compassion, and commitment to ethical   
adoption practices.  
We invite you to join us in making history. Step forward, open your home, and   
become a host family for a child from Ecuador. Together, we can help these   
children experience belonging, hope, and the joy of family.  

Building Partnerships, Creating Futures: Gladney’s Work in Thailand  
At Gladney, we believe every child deserves a loving and caring family. This   
belief has guided our international work for decades — and it continues to inspire   
new partnerships around the world. We are thrilled to share an update on two   
incredible collaborations in Thailand that are helping make this vision a reality.  

A return trip to China is an extraordinary opportunity for adoptees and their families. It’s a chance to connect with culture and heritage in a personal and powerful way—but like any meaningful journey, it requires thoughtful preparation. At Gladney, we want families to feel equipped not only with the right travel essentials but also with the emotional tools to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

At Gladney, we are proud to work alongside exceptional organizations that share   
our commitment to finding loving, permanent families for children. Two such   
partners, Cathwel Service and Chung Yi Social Welfare Foundation, have been   
pillars of our international adoption work in Taiwan for 17 years, and their   
dedication has helped bring hope and stability to hundreds of children.