How many orphanages does Mr. Li have relationships with where children could be placed with AAI families? Which provinces are they located in?

I believe hundreds since I started to work in adoption in 1991. They are located in all provinces except Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Jilin. 

Approximately how many foster homes do you have relationships with? What provinces are they located in?

Many. Most of them are in Guangdong Province. There are some in Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Beijing, Jiangxi, and Anhui, etc.

What kind of care do the orphanages have? What is the "philosophy" of Chinese orphanages Do they build relationships with one or two caregivers, or are there half a dozen to a dozen faces the kids see in their first few years?

The orphanages are usually called the Children's Welfare Institute or the Social Welfare Institute in China. They are government-funded, charitable institutions which are responsible for taking in orphan children whose relatives are unable to care for them as well as abandoned infants and children whose parents cannot be located by the police. Most of them are abandoned children with special needs. Children in the Welfare Institutes are entitled to State social benefits, and the care and protection of the Welfare Institutes.

Social Welfare Institutes focus on a combination of nurture, education, and medical treatment as guidance to provide the best care to these orphaned children and abandoned infants, which will allow them to receive the same loving care as a normal child. The care that children receive differ by orphanage, as do the philosophies of each institute. More and more orphanages have realized that it is in the best interest of the children that they grow up in a family setting, so now many divide the children to different "families" where one or two orphanage workers act as the parental figures in one "family" of 4-5 children. Some orphanages will hire outside foster families to care for the children. Because most new arrivals are children with special needs, and some of them quite serious, the orphanage ensures that they are physically stabilized before they are sent to their foster family.

Are the Chinese orphanage workers open to meeting emotional and social needs with lots of touch and facial interaction, or is it primarily basic physical caretaking like changing diapers, feeding, etc? I know some places resist making emotional connections with the children because then it is hard to say "goodbye."

The emotional and social needs are better met in family settings or foster families, but there are still some orphanages just providing basic physical care. It is not just because it is hard to say goodbye. It depends on who the director or the caregivers of the orphanage are. The emotional connection is something that just happens to the ones who do their jobs with love, and no one can stop it.

What are the transitions like once we arrive in China? Would we be able to visit the orphanage the child was in?

You will meet your child in the local adoption office the first day. You will have time to ask questions to your child's caregiver or foster parent. Some orphanages do a very good job preparing their kids for adoption, but no matter how well or how slowly, most of kids will understandably cry or scream when you take them from their former caregiver. It can last for minutes, hours, or even days. You will take your child back to hotel. You will come back to the same office for adoption registration and paperwork the next day. The adoption is final in China on that day. Some orphanages welcome you to visit while others do not.

What is the protocol for sending packages to your child during the wait to travel?

Families may send a "care package" to their child close to travel. We encourage families to prepare a welcome album which includes photos of your family, your home, pets, etc. to try and introduce the child into their new adoptive family and help with the transition while in country.