End-February 1998

We send the application form to Terre des Hommes, Denmark.

5th March 1998

We receive a letter from the Danish authorities requesting information. This was our first correspondence with the Danish authorities; two years, to the exact day, prior to Yanmei arriving in Denmark.

22nd March 1998

We return the requested information, including copies of wedding and birth certificates.

25th March 1998

we receive a letter that the authorities had received the information and that the process will commence in about 5-7 months.

22nd October 1998

Lene and Steven participate in an orientation meeting with a Social Worker from Copenhagen County Council where the approval process was explained in detail. In addition we discussed the following topics: reason for adoption; Thomas and his position towards adoption; our wish to adopt a child from Haiti; adoption in general; friends and relatives; religion; maternity leave; financial situation; criminal history and health situation.

1st December 1998

We received a letter informing us to make appointments for a medical check-up with our respective Doctors

12th November 1998

Steven participates in a face-to-face meeting with a Social Worker from Copenhagen County Council. Here they discussed his growing up, education, work, relationships and feelings about adoption.

26th November 1998

Lene participates in a face-to-face meeting with the same Social Worker and discusses the same topics

November 1998

Medical check-ups completed (Steven 17/11, Lene 19/11). We also sent information about (no!) previous criminal records, tax and net-worth information to the authorities

14th December 1998

The Social Worker visits our home. Thomas is at home and answers questions about his expectations. Here we also talk about adoption from Haiti; maternity leave; our expectations and how we expect to bring up the child; what we will tell the child about his/her origin; financial situation; religion and the procedures moving forward.

12th January 1999

The Social Worker calls to tell us that they have discussed our journal internally and that it has been agreed that the journal should be submitted for approval.

27th January 1999

The County Council sends a request to the Gladsaxe Commune (where we live) to hear whether they can accept that we adopt a child. (Gladsaxe agree on the 10^th February 1999).

29th January 1999

We receive, from the Social Worker, the report that will be the basis for a decision by the authorities as to whether we can adopt. The conclusion to the report reads:

“The applicants are an experienced and well functioning couple, applying for a child between 2 and 4 years old. In the home there is already a 12½ year old biological son, who comes over as forward, very harmonic and social. The applicants seem to have a good understanding of what it will say to adopt an older child. All in all one gets the impression of a well functioning and open family, where there is surplus of both energy and resources, and it is expected that they will be able to give a child a safe and loving childhood. The applicants request to adopt seems both large and real.

Based on the available material can we recommend the applicants are approved for adoption as requested”.  

5th February 1999

We contact the Social Worker stating that the factual information in the document is correct.

18th February 1999

The Social Worker calls and informs that our journal was taken up at a meeting the previous day, and we have been accepted for adoption.

20th February 1999

We received the letter officially stating that we are approved; sign and return a paper stating that it is OK to inform our organisation and their foreign partners.