INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS
Russian Federation
During the past 10 years unprecedented political and economic reforms have swept the country formerly known as the Soviet Union, then the Commonwealth of Independent States and finally the Russian Federation. Increased energy has been directed toward social reforms and the implementation of laws governing the adoption of Russian children by foreigners. Russia loves its’ children and accordingly has implemented laws, and amendments along the way, which place the interests of the children first. Most of the time, changes in the Russian adoption law have not caused significant delays. The most recent change to the law occurred this past year wherein every agency working in Russia must be accredited. This was a long and arduous process and in January 2000, HAPS received the official Certificate of Accreditation. Although this process is complete, there will be new changes in each region. Each and every prospective parent should understand that revisions to the adoption law are ongoing, necessary and usually benefit both the prospective adoptive parents and the children. Although we did not experience any unusual overall delay in 2000 and have the same expectations for 2001, each adoption case is individual.
In 1993 HOMESTUDIES AND ADOPTION PLACEMENT SERVICES, INC. began to work with the Republic of Karelia. Since that time we have placed Russian children from Perm, Nitzy Novgorod, Volgograd and Vladivostok with American families. Currently we are working in the Region of Primorsky krai and in particular its capital city Vladivostok. Vladivostok is located off the Sea Japan and is nine hours by plane east of Moscow. We began our work in Primorsky krai in April 1998. Still working with the same leading representative in Vladivostok now, and with a few revisions, we have a program that will benefit both the children of Primorsky krai and the prospective adoptive families.
Since Moscow is the immigration point for the entire Russian Federation as well as the location of the Russian Ministry of Education’s National Registry bank for adoptable children, HAPS employs foreign representatives there. Although your child’s visa will be issued through the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, adoptive parents do not need to travel to Moscow as the visa is coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Vladivostok and picked up in Moscow by our representatives for you. Therefore, the bulk of our foreign staff is based in Vladivostok, traveling to Moscow as needed. The husband and wife team managing our staff has been involved in foreign adoption for many years offering us knowledge of Russian Adoption Law as well as insight into Russian culture. At this time, there are many children of all ages available for adoption.
In Addition to the Primorsky Krai region we have now been fully registered in the Krasnayarsky Krai region. We will be primarily working in the cities of Krasnayarsk and Tula.
Krasnayarsk is a 4-hour flight east of Moscow. Tula is approximately a 3-hour drive south of Moscow. There are many children of varying ages available in both of these cities also. As with Vladivostok, the visa issued for your child must be picked up in Moscow. Since you must travel through Moscow first, before entering any city, you will be completing this process with the aide of our foreign representative on your return trip to Moscow before coming home. Our foreign staff will assist you throughout your stay in Russia in either of the two regions.
ORPHANAGES: The orphanage system in the Russian Federation is divided into 3 phases. Babies who are abandoned or relinquished by their parents are usually transferred from the hospital to the Baby Home at around 3-6 months of age. These children reside at the Baby Home until they are placed for adoption or turn 4 years of age whichever comes first. At the age of 4, children are transferred to a Children’s Home where they will reside until they reach the age of 8 years unless they are adopted. At the age of 8 children are transferred to an orphanage for children 8 years and older. All children who are available for adoption by foreigners are residing in orphanages.
CHILDREN: The children are Caucasian, mainly of Russian decent ranging in age from 6 months to 10 years. Some Gypsy children are also available as well as some children of mixed oriental decent. Children 4 years and older are in as much need of homes as are children under 4 years, but are much less likely to be “chosen” by adoptive parents. Sibling groups are also available and can be older children or quite young. We are placing healthy as well as special needs children, however ALL children available for adoption currently reside in institutions within a third world country so most will have temporary developmental delays and probably be smaller than most American children. HAPS will provide all adoptive parent(s) with photographs and/or videos and as much medical information as is available.
AS YOUNG AS POSSIBLE: This is a phrase that is frequently used by adoptive parents to describe the child that they are seeking to adopt. It has become a common phrase because the age at which a child becomes available for foreign adoption varies from case to case and depends upon the current law. Current Russian law requires that children be listed in the National Registry for a period of 3 months if the birth mother has given a written consent. If the birth mother is not available to give a written consent the child must remain in the registry for a period of 6 months. All too often the child’s journey toward legal availability does not begin at birth, as it theoretically could, but at some time after - 2 months, 5 months or even later. Therefore, we feel that it is appropriate to cite an average “young as possible” age of 10-12 months. If you would find it very difficult to accept a child of this age, please discuss your feelings with either your social worker or the program director.
BIRTH PARENTS: In your initial medical report there will be little more than a name and possibly age on the birth mother. There will be no information on the birth father unless the child is born to a married couple. However, adoptive parents can receive additional information upon completion of their adoption if this information is part of the court record. HAPS does not have access to court records prior to finalization of the adoption. If there is written relinquishment by the birth parents, their backgrounds may or may not be considered confidential. Many birth parents are of low socioeconomic status.
REASONS CHILDREN ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION: Children are available for adoption by foreigners for one of three reasons: the parents are deceased, parents have given written relinquishment of their rights, or court decision depriving parental rights. In most cases parental rights are deprived due to non-visitation (at the orphanage) for 6 months. Some children are removed from the home due to neglect. Birth parents relinquish their rights or allow the government to deprive them of their rights because they cannot afford to care for their children. Children with handicaps, which are easily and completely correctable in the US, are an impossible burden in the Russian Federation where medical care is not readily available, nor is it free.
WAITING TIME: We expect to assign children to waiting families within 6 months of submission of the required documentation. However at this time, and until the new laws are fully implemented the waiting time may vary considerably between the two regions. We do not foresee significant changes, and as there are many children available the waiting time may even be less. While we will make our best effort to place a child with each waiting family, we cannot guarantee that a child will be placed or that the placement will take place within a specific time frame. We are working with a third world country where conditions are difficult at best and where the laws can change causing delays or moratoriums. Additionally, our job is to find families for children rather than children for families. For parent(s) requesting an infant under 10 months the wait may be longer. Parents requesting girls may also wait slightly longer. Flexibility regarding age and sex of the child can decrease your waiting period substantially.
MEDICAL INFORMATION: Although meticulous medical records are kept on each child by the orphanage, it is a common practice in the Russian Federation for doctors to note all observations as well as assign a diagnosis without regard for the Western definition for that diagnosis. Most of the time there is no supporting data, reducing the diagnosis to an “observation”. We, however, do NOT feel that these diagnoses can be completely disregarded. In an effort to provide parents with a clear picture of their child we advise all parents to seek the advise of one of the many adoption specialists in this country. We can provide a list of physicians who routinely review video and medical records in order to give adoptive parents an educated recommendation about the child.
ELIGIBILITY: Applications are being accepted from married couples and single women. The minimum age requirement is 25 years of age. Adoptive parent(s) age must be appropriate to the age of the child. In general adoptive parents who are under 40 can adopt a child of any age. Those under 45 can be considered for children under 18 months and sometimes even younger. Parents older than 45 should consider a child 24 months or older. Although, at this time, the age requirements have not been fully stated. Each family will present themselves to the Dept. of Education of the city, and a final decision will be made once all of the information on the family is reviewed.
TRAVEL: Both parents must travel to the Russian Federation and be present at the court hearing to complete the adoption. One spouse may return home after the court hearing. Parents may be asked to travel with very short notice and although we expect your total trip time to be approximately 14 days, unforeseen delays can extend your stay. Flexibility with traveling is a must. HAPS will make arrangements for your drivers and translators and will make referrals for travel agents and hotels. All air and hotel reservations and changes are the responsibility of the parent(s).
DONATIONS: For every child who is adopted, many more will remain behind in the hospitals or orphanage systems in the Russian Federation. HAPS is committed to helping these children who must remain. We expect all families to help to gather donations. It is not too early to begin thinking of the resources that are available within your community or workplace to gather the items which are needed. We will be making humanitarian aid shipments of all types as well as asking each family to travel with an additional suitcase.
GETTING STARTED: If you are a New Jersey resident and do NOT have a completed home study you will need to do the following:
- Obtain a Homestudy package from the HAPS main office.
- Fill out the Data sheet and submit to HAPS along with all required documents to begin your home study.
- File an I600A with U.S. Immigration.
- Fill out and submit to HAPS the Russian Federation Program Registration , Financial Agreement and initial payment.
If you are a New Jersey or out of state resident and you already have a completed home study you will need to do the following:
- Obtain a Homestudy Review package from the HAPS main office and follow the instructions for the home study review and approval.
- File and I600A with U.S. Immigration.
- Fill out and submit to HAPS the Russian Federation Program Registration , Financial Agreement and initial payment.
WAITING FAMILIES: Your name will be added to our list of Waiting Families as soon as you have registered for the program. As children become available for adoption, they will be assigned to the next waiting family PROVIDED YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR HOMESTUDY AND IMMIGRATION APPROVAL (Cable 37). Although we will not assign a child until you have received the above approvals you WILL retain your priority on our waiting list and be assigned the first available child. At this time our waiting list is very short.
Your dream of bringing a child into your family can become a reality and we at HAPS look forward to assisting you.
