GRANBY, Massachusetts — Love Without Boundaries assists Chinese orphans with special needs in acquiring proper care and finding permanent homes. Through four programs, each with their own set of significant goals, the nonprofit organization has helped thousands of babies with medical and developmental issues ranging from preemie complications to heart disease.
Many such children are initially determined to be ‘un-adoptable.’ It is only after necessary medical procedures and specialized care that they may be given the chance to be placed with an adoptive family.
Some operations, such as one to fix a cleft palate, are relatively simple and inexpensive procedures yet are too costly for orphanages that are responsible for hundreds of children at a time.
Love Without Boundaries works in partnership with orphanages in numerous provinces throughout China. Affiliated orphanages notify the organization when they have children in need of medical and/or nutritional assistance. Love Without Boundaries takes those orphans into its program, evaluates them and then provides appropriate care.
The Medical Program places children needing specialized care in one of the three Healing Homes. Each Home is operated by specially trained nannies.
The Medical Program provides medical treatment through surgeries, rehabilitation and medication. It successfully decreases the mortality rate of infants with medical needs. Once children are stabilized, they are relocated to foster homes.
Children receive proper nutrition through the Nutrition Program that supplies infant formula for babies and fortified cereal for toddlers as well as safe cribs, coats, clothing, diapers, etc. Older children in “Believe in Me” schools are schooled in adequate nutrition.
As a result, their health improves. Children have fewer skin and hair conditions and fewer infections.
Started in 2004, the Foster Care Program finds suitable local foster families to transition children from an institutional environment to one of a loving family. Managers are assigned to every child and make monthly visits to monitor progress and to offer advice and support.
This program decreases post-institutional complications and encourages acceptance within the community for children with special needs.
More than 350 orphaned Chinese children are sponsored in their education from preschool to college by the Education Program. “Believe in Me” schools established in affiliated orphanages are equipped with supplies and trained, full-time teachers. On-site managers placed at each school guarantee accountability and improvement.
Special needs children educated institutionally are often classified as “mentally retarded” and “non-verbal” and, as a result, are determined to be “un-adoptable.” The “Believe in Me” classroom transforms these children by giving them the opportunity to learn. The program enables these children to be deemed healthy and to go on to be adopted.
Founded in 2003, “Love Without Boundaries believes that ‘Every Child Counts.’ No matter where a child is born or under what circumstances, their life matters. Every child deserves love. They deserved to be nurtured and given medical attention. They deserve a chance to live.”
Love Without Boundaries began after a group of adoptive parents sponsored a young boy to receive heart surgery. Following the successful operation, the parents realized that their combined effort could make a huge difference in the lives of many orphaned children in need of medical attention and adoptive homes.
An established charity, it is based in Oklahoma but is made up of volunteers from all over the globe. There is also a team based in Spain.
As a nonprofit organization, it raises funds for its programs through single donations and a few fundraisers.
– Lillian Sickler
Sources: Adopt Special Needs, Love Without Boundaries, Volunteer Match
Photo: Joint Council on International Children’s Services