XN000022-1992-10-27 — Page 13

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1992

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DOWNS SYNDROME BOY OFFERED ADOPTIVE HOME IN U.S.

WHEN

MEET

LITTLE AH-CHI TURNED A NEW PAGE IN HIS LIFE HIS PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS CAME TO DISTANT HOMELAND IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS FOUND SUFFERING FROM AT BIRTH. HE WAS THEN MADE A WARD OF THE DIRECTOR OF

TODAY (TUESDAY) HIM FROM THEIR

DOWNS SYNDROME SOCIAL WELFARE.

AT A PARTY TO BID FAREWELL TO AH-CHI THIS AFTERNOON, CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER (FAMILY AND CHILD CARE SERVICES) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MRS KATHERINE SHIN YEUNG KWAN-MAN, SAID HE WOULD BENEFIT UNDER THE CONSISTENT LOVE, CARE AND NURTURE OF AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY.

"HIS PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS THE BRANDTS ARE CHILD-LOVING. BOTH BEING FAMILY PHYSICIANS, THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF A DOWNS SYNDROME CHILD," SHE SAID.

THE ADOPTIVE MOTHER SAID SHE WOULD TAKE AN EXTENDED LEAVE FROM WORK WHEN AH-CHI ARRIVED HOME, ADDING THAT SHE HAD ALSO PLANNED TO REDUCE HER WORKING HOURS TO GIVE BETTER CARE TO AH-CHI AND HER OTHER CHILDREN.

WHEN AH-CHI WAS A FEW MONTHS OLD, HIS NATURAL PARENTS RELINQUISHED THEIR RIGHTS AND HE WAS PUT UNDER THE CARE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE ADOPTION UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT LATER BEGAN LOOKING FOR PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS FOR AH-CHI BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS.

T+

AT THE AGE OF TWO, THE CHILD WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE WEE CARE CENTRE OF 'MOTHER'S CHOICE" WHERE HE WAS BROUGHT UP IN A FAMILY-LIKE SETTING.

THE VISION BEHIND THE WEE CARE CENTRE IS TO SERVE CHILDREN AWAITING REUNION WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILY OR ADOPTION PLACEMENT.

ITS MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE A HOME-LIKE GIVES EACH CHILD PERSONALISED CARE ΤΟ MEET HIS EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS. AH-CHI, FOR EXAMPLE, PROGRESS UNDER THE CENTRE'S CARE.

ENVIRONMENT THAT OR HER INDIVIDUAL MADE SIGNIFICANT

EARLY THIS YEAR THE AMERICAN COUPLE SHOWED INTEREST IN ADOPTING AH-CHI. AFTER A THOROUGH HOME STUDY INVESTIGATION, THE FAMILY HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE SUITABLE IN EVERY WAY FOR BRINGING UP THE CHILD.

THEIR APPLICATION WAS THEN RECOMMENDED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN HONG KONG THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE. PLACEMENT WAS LATER APPROVED.

/AH-CHI WOULD