Through adoption and orphan care, CCAI (Cherish Children Adoption International) exists to promote and serve the well-being of abandoned and orphaned children.
CCAI has adoption programs in Belize, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Ukraine, and here in the United States.
There are many children in need of forever families. Meet some of these precious kids currently waiting for adoption!
Have trusted CCAI to help fulfill their family dreams
Have found their forever families
Impacted by the Children Charity Fund efforts and Lily Orphan Care Centers
Have engaged in The Park’s lifelong adoptee and family support programming
CCAI has dedicated over 30 years to serving the well-being of abandoned and orphaned children, adoptive families, and adoptees.
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Read MoreCCAI (Cherish Children Adoption International) has dedicated over 30 years to promoting and serving the well-being of abandoned and orphaned children through comprehensive adoption services, hosting programs, orphan care initiatives, and family support through parent training and adoptee programming. Our mission is to find loving families for waiting children and to provide lifelong support to adoptees and adoptive families. With active adoption programs in Belize, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the United States, CCAI is recognized as one of the most passionate, comprehensive international adoption agencies in the world.
Our services include child matching, dossier completion, inter-country communications, legal documentation for both countries involved, travel coordination, finalized adoption services, home study services, and post-placement reports. Our commitment extends to helping families navigate the complex legal and logistical challenges associated with international adoption.
Currently, our active adoption programs include countries such as Belize, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Taiwan. In addition, we provide home study services for any country program or domestically in Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Our unwavering passion for finding loving families for waiting children is at the heart of everything we do.
Our active adoption programs include Belize, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Taiwan. In addition, we provide home study services for any country program or domestically in Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Our unwavering passion for finding loving families for waiting children is at the heart of everything we do.
Our hosting programs provide opportunities for children from various countries to experience life with a potential adoptive family in the United States. These programs allow families to build relationships with children and potentially decide if adoption is the right path for them. Hosting programs also give children a chance to experience life outside of orphanages, which can be a transformative experience.
CCAI offers a series of comprehensive and in-depth online and onsite courses that fully comply with Hague Requirements for international adoption. Developed by experienced social workers with extensive personal and professional backgrounds, our training is designed to provide you with the essential tools for your adoption journey. The courses are presented in an easy-to-understand and logical format to ensure you are well prepared.
CCAI's donor-driven orphan care initiatives primarily focus on China, with some projects in Ukraine and Colombia. Our China Children's Charity services include hosting summer camps for orphans living in institutions, providing life-changing surgeries, sponsoring orphans, and offering one-on-one education services to children with special needs who cannot attend regular school. These efforts have impacted over 100,000 orphans, providing them with the care and opportunities they need to thrive.
CCAI's donor-driven orphan care initiatives primarily focus on China, with some projects in Ukraine and Colombia. Our China Children's Charity services include hosting summer camps for orphans living in institutions, providing life-changing surgeries, sponsoring orphans, and offering one-on-one education services to children with special needs who cannot attend regular school. These efforts have impacted over 100,000 orphans, providing them the care and opportunities they need to thrive.
In Colombia, our projects include donating to housing for young pregnant mothers and remodeling a family reunification center in Bogotá. In Ukraine, our efforts have included donating bedding, TVs, and clothing to orphaned children hiding in underground shelters due to the ongoing war. We also provide winter and summer camp opportunities for orphans in Ukraine, allowing them to leave war-torn areas and enjoy their childhood.
Adoption is a lifelong journey, and CCAI is committed to supporting families long after the adoption process is complete. Our post-adoption services are designed to provide continuous support and resources for adoptive families and adoptees. One of our most popular services is the China Heritage Tours, which allow adoptees from China and their families to visit their birth province and orphanage and learn about China's rich history and culture.
We also offer summer camps and retreats for adult adoptees (Beyond Adopteen), teenage adoptees (Adopteen), and cultural camps for adoptees aged 5-13. These programs provide opportunities for adoptees to connect with others who share similar experiences, reinforcing their sense of identity and belonging.
The Park Adoption Community Center is a hub for proactive, relevant, and consistent connection opportunities for adoptees of all ages. Whether it's an adoptees-only service trip, a private birth province tour, or a first-time-back tour extravaganza, our trips come in all shapes and sizes to help families embark on safe, life-changing, and empowering adventures of discovery and connection.
The Park is committed to providing resources, events, and get-togethers for adoptees and their families. We believe in the importance of community and support, and we strive to create environments where adoptees can thrive and feel empowered in their individual journeys.
CCAI offers numerous volunteer opportunities for individuals who want to support our mission. Volunteers can get involved in various aspects of our work, from helping with hosting programs and orphan care initiatives to assisting with post-adoption services and events at The Park Adoption Community Center. Volunteering with CCAI is a meaningful way to make a difference in the lives of orphaned and abandoned children and their adoptive families.
Over the past three decades, CCAI has helped fulfill the dreams of over 10,190 families. More than 13,293 children have found their forever families through our adoption programs, and over 100,000 orphans have been impacted by our Children Charity Fund efforts and Lily Orphan Care Centers. Additionally, 7,300 adoptees have engaged in The Park’s lifelong adoptee and family support programming.
CCAI's co-founders, immigrants from China who were motivated by the Chinese government's one-child policy, have a personal connection to the adoption process. They adopted a 10-year-old girl from China, giving them firsthand experience of the challenges and rewards of being adoptive parents. This experience fuels their passion, humility, professionalism, and grace in serving abandoned children and supporting adoptive families.
There are many misconceptions about adoption that CCAI aims to address. One common misconception is that adoption stops once the adoption is finalized. Adoption is a lifelong journey that requires ongoing support and resources. CCAI is committed to providing comprehensive support for adoptive families, ensuring they have the assistance they need long after the adoption process is complete.
CCAI aims to address many misconceptions about adoption. One common misconception is that adoption stops once it is finalized. Adoption is a lifelong journey that requires ongoing support and resources. CCAI is committed to providing comprehensive support for adoptive families, ensuring they have the assistance they need long after the adoption process.
Another misconception is that adoption only involves healthy infants. Today, adoption often means helping vulnerable children between the ages of 4-18 who have experienced trauma and neglect. These children may have developmental, intellectual, and/or physical disabilities. Adoption is complex and comes with many challenges, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Families appreciate our life-long love and support from adoption through adulthood!
As CCAI looks to the future, we remain dedicated to our mission of finding loving families for waiting children and providing lifelong support to adoptees and adoptive families. We are constantly exploring new ways to expand our services and reach more children and families in need.
We hope to see our adoption programs in China and Ukraine reopen soon, allowing us to help even more children find their forever families. We are also committed to expanding our orphan care initiatives and post-adoption services, ensuring that all children and families have the support they need to thrive.
CCAI is more than just an adoption agency; we are a community dedicated to the well-being of orphaned and abandoned children, adoptive families, and adoptees. Through our comprehensive adoption services, hosting programs, orphan care initiatives, and post-adoption support, we strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.
Whether you are looking to adopt, support orphan care efforts, or engage in post-adoption services, CCAI is here to help. We invite you to join us in our mission to promote and serve the well-being of every abandoned and orphaned child. Together, we can make a difference and create a brighter future for children around the world.
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GiGi Pleet joined CCAI in 2014 as our China Applications Specialist. She rejoined the team in 2022 after taking a few years off to spend time with her family. GiGi and her husband have adopted three beautiful daughters from China who are the joy and purpose of their lives. GiGi is passionate about adoption and furthering CCAI’s mission to find loving parents and permanent homes for as many children as possible and to continue reaching out to children left behind. When she is not working, you can find her spending time with her girls in the beautiful mountains of Colorado or on an adventure to a new, faraway place.
Joined CCAI: Originally 2014 – 2020, rejoined 2022
Bucket List Item: To see all Seven Wonders of the World
Contact Information
gigi@ccaifamily.org
(303) 850-9998 ext. 300
Emily was adopted through CCAI in 2002! Having always admired the ways that the organization continued to support families even after adoption, she began working at The Park last year because she wanted to be more involved in the adoption community and according to her, “It’s been a blast so far!”
Emily is majoring in environmental science at MSU Denver and hopes to help mitigate the causes and effects of climate change. In her free time, she like to practice guitar, play video games, watch movies, and spend time with her friends and family.
Bucket List: Visit every province in China!
Contact Information
emily@theparkcommunity.org
(303) 221-6688 ext. 170
Ivy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Production Design for Film and Theater with a minor in Studio Art. She had the opportunity to study abroad in London, England and Florence, Italy. After graduating, while visiting an orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal she had a moment of realization and knew she wanted to work in the adoption community. After some prior experience in post-adoption and nonprofit management, she came to The Park and is really enjoying focusing on and being involved with offering lifelong support for adoptees and the adoption community.
Ivy was adopted from Kazakhstan at 18-months old and is proud of her adoptee identity and her adoptive family. She is passionate about sharing the stories of the amazing people in the adoption community and helping adoptees celebrate their identities. Her lifelong best friend was adopted from China through CCAI.
In her free time, she enjoys making art (she is working on a series of sculptural paintings of poached animal species), trying new food, catching up with friends, reading, and being with family. She loves to travel whenever possible.
Joined CCAI: 2023
Top Bucket List Items:
Contact Information
ivy@theparkcommunity.org
(303) 221-6688 ext. 205
| Expense | Amount | Pmt Method | Pay To | Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $250 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | Application submission |
| Child Abuse Record Search | $35/Family | Check | CO Dept of Human Service | Application submission |
| IAAME Monitoring & Oversight Fee | $500 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI (Sent to IAAME) | After App Approval |
| First Program Fee (Includes Home Study) | $5,700 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | After App Approval |
| CBI/FBI Fingerprint Search | $39.50 per person | Money Order | Colorado Bureau of Investigation | After App Approval |
| USCIS Filing & Fingerprinting | $775 plus $85/adult | Check/Money Order | US Dept. of Homeland Security | Upon I-800A submission |
| Dossier Preparation | Approx. $450-$900 | Check/Money Order | Secretary of State(s), Chinese Consulate(s) | As preparing Dossier |
| Second Program Fee | $5,050 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | Dossier Submission |
| CCCWA Fee | $1,270 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCCWA via CCAI | Dossier Submission |
| Third Program Fee | $5,500 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | Prior to receiving child match acceptance letter |
| CCCWA Post Adoption Translation Fee | $300 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCCWA via CCAI | Prior to receiving child match acceptance letter |
| Court Validation Deposit | $200 | Check | CCAI | Prior to receiving child match acceptance letter |
| Post Adoption Deposit (Refundable) | $450 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | Prior to receiving child match acceptance letter |
| Visa to enter China | $140 (plus courier fee) | Check/Credit Card | Chinese Consulate via a courier/travel agency | Approximately one month before travel to China |
| US Domestic & International Airfare | $1,000 – $2,000 per traveler (adopted child over 2 requires full ticket) | Credit Card | A travel agency/airline of your choice | Approximately 7-10 days prior to China departure |
| In China Travel & Accommodations | Approx. $4,000-$4,400 for two adults | ACH Withdrawal | CCAI (wired to China) | Approximately 7-10 days prior to China departure |
| Adoption Registration and Notarization | $800 – $1,000 | Cash | Local government in China | In China |
| Orphanage Donation | (Voluntary) | Cash or Wire | Orphanage | In China |
| Child’s Passport | $100-$150 | Cash | Local passport agency | In China |
| Food | $700 – $800 per couple | Cash/Credit Card | Hotel(s), restaurant(s) | In China |
| Child Physical & Photo | $130-$150 | Cash | Clinic | In Guangzhou, China |
| Child U.S. Entry Visa | $325 | Cash or Check | U.S. Consulate | In China |
| Court Validation Fee | $167 | Check | County Court | After U.S. Return |
| Child’s Colorado Birth Certificate | $37.75 | Check | Colorado Vital Statistics Office | After U.S. Return |
| Lutheran Family Services | $250 | Check | Lutheran Family Services via CCAI | When Home Study is approved by CCAI |
