Russia Adoption

The Facts

There are many children available for a Russia adoption. Available boys and girls range in age from 10 months and up. Older children and special needs children are also available as well. Many of the children who are up for adoption are housed in orphanages. They come from a wide range of ethnicities, including the following:

• Asian
• Caucasian
• Gypsy
• Mediterranean

Basic Russia adoption information is as follows:

• At least two trips to Russia are typically required during the adoption process. The first trip may only last one week. However, the second trip could last as long as three weeks.
• Single adoptive parents are accepted.
• Post-placement adoptive follow-ups are mandatory. These follow-ups will occur for the next three years at intervals of six, 12, 24, and 36 months.
• Adoptive families outside of Russia will not be considered until a child has been on a Russian adoption agency for six months without being adopted by a Russian family.

Beginning the Process

Before you and your family begin the process of a Russia adoption, you need to do your homework. Educating yourself is the key to successfully adopting a child, and this advice holds true for international adoptions, domestic adoptions, and private adoptions as well.

Join international adoption support groups, visit your local library to read up on Russia's culture, and talk to others who have completed the adoption process.

• Research the country. Russia, like any other country, has particular regulations surrounding a Russia adoption. It pays to understand how an adoption in this country works, so become familiar with the ins and outs of adopting a Russian child.
• Decide on a child. Before you begin the adoption process, decide on what age child will fit into your family. Do you want an infant, a toddler, or an older child? You’ll notice that the adoption age of a Russian child typically begins at 10 months. Because a Russian child must remain available for adoption to a Russian family for at least six months, an international adoption of a Russian newborn just isn’t possible.
• Understand cultural differences. Consider the cultural differences that will be evident if you proceed with a Russia adoption. Can you handle a child of another race? How will you answer friends and family about your decision? Are you willing to embrace your child's culture as she grows?

Choose an Agency

You won't be able to complete a Russia adoption on your own, so you want the best professional help available. You'll need to find an international adoption agency that will do the following:

• Review your eligibility status.
• Conduct home studies.
• Help you with adoption paperwork and adoption procedures.
• Coordinate referrals for children.
• Facilitate parenting programs.
• Handle post-placement services and reports.

Look for an agency that you feel comfortable with. Be sure they are experienced in Russia adoptions. Ask for references from other adoptive parents.

Home Study

After you have signed with an international adoption agency, a licensed social worker will be assigned to begin your home study, which is required for all international adoptions. Once your home study has been approved, it will be valid for one year.

After that year, your home study will need to be updated if you are still in the adoption process. The focus of a home study is to ensure that you are suitable as a parent and that you have an appropriate home to raise your adopted child. Your home study will include the following:

• Expectation as to the type of child you want to adopt
• Written references
• Parenting and discipline beliefs
• Criminal background checks
• Family finances
• Physical exam
• Family backgrounds
• Marital relationships, including any divorces

A home study will involve several interviews over the course of the next few weeks or months, and these interviews include at least one home visit. During the home visit, the social worker will be able to assess the environment in which you would raise the child. This environment will include everyone who lives in the home as well. The adoption agency will tell you all of the documentation and paperwork you will need to have on hand for the social worker to review.

Adoption Costs

One of the factors involved in choosing an adoption agency is determining adoption costs. While some costs may be standard across the board, others will vary depending upon the agency that you select. The following is an example of approximate international adoption costs.

• Application: $175
• Home study: $1,500-$2,750
• Portfolio fee: $2,700
• Adoption program fee: $4,750-$12,250 (varies by country)
• Travel for an escorted child: $1,500-$4,000
• Post placement: $700-$1,400
• Total: $11,325-$23,275

Some countries require an additional significant donation to the orphanage where your child resides. These donations can run as much as several thousand dollars. Your adoption agency should give you any and all fees upfront before beginning the adoption process.

Russia Adoption Help

While you will certainly expect your adoption agency to educate you on the ins and outs of a Russia adoption, you’ll still need to do extensive research, check references, and seek out other forms of help. Be sure and bookmark the Website for the Embassy of the United States to stay up-to-date on Russia adoption procedures and requirements.

The following Websites will help you get started:

• Russia Adoption
• Russian Adoption
• Adoptive Families
• Adopting From Russia
• The Russian Adoption Process
• Christian World Adoption

Share Your Story

If you’ve gone through the process of a Russia adoption, we’d love to hear your story. Please consider sharing it with our readers.

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