Adoption from Russia
AF Photo Gallery	Russia Fast Facts: 2011 adoptions: 962 children Hague Accredited: No Estimated Total Cost: $40,000 to $60,000 (see sample Russia adoption budget) Profile of Children: Eight months to 16 years; in 2010, 76% were ages one year to four years. Parent Ages: No age restrictions, except that prospective single parents must be at least 16 years older than the child they are adopting. Family Status: The Russian government has no rules about marital status or number of children in the household. There is an increased focus on the mental and physical health of adopting parents. Travel: Two trips are required, although many families are now making three. Most regions require both parents to make both trips. Timeline: In a 2011 Adoptive Families survey, 83% of parents were matched in less than 12 months. Russia Adoption Directory Find an adoption agency placing children from Russia in your state:
Adoption is decentralized in Russia and may vary extensively from one region to the next. Children "without parental care" in Russia must be accounted for in the local, regional, and federal databases before they become available for intercountry adoption. In July 2011, Russia and the U.S. signed a bilateral agreement after concerns arose about the welfare of children adopted from Russia by U.S. families. The new agreement states that adoption agencies must be approved by the Russian government, that there must be more structured post-placement reporting, and that Russia will provide prospective parents with more complete information on the child's special needs. Despite the agreement, there are unofficial reports that some regions have been refusing to issue referrals to U.S. adoption agencies. Also, as of January 2012, a change to the court procedure further lengthened the adoption process. For more information, visit www.adoption.state.gov.
Personal Stories About Russian Adoption Someone to Watch Over Me A Russian toddler flourishes despite a babyhood in an orphanage abroad A Poodle for Anna Hugging our new dog, my daughter learns that no matter what the behavior, our family is forever. Helpful Books for Russia Adopters The Russian Word for Snow: An Adoption Story by Janis Cooke Newman Adopting in Russia: Your Rights and the Law by Irina Mikhailovna O'Rear, Irina M O'Rear Russian Adoption Handbook: How To Adopt A Child From Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan by John H. Maclean Best Web Resources for Russia Adopters Department of State - Adoption in Russia Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA) The Web site of the national parent support group contains useful information about Russia adoption. Eastern European Adoption Coalition, Inc. An adoptive parent support organization. Russian Embassy Email listserv: Russian Adoption

Adoption from Russia

AF Photo Gallery

Russia Fast Facts:

2011 adoptions: 962 children
Hague Accredited: No
Estimated Total Cost: $40,000 to $60,000 (see sample Russia adoption budget)
Profile of Children: Eight months to 16 years; in 2010, 76% were ages one year to four years.
Parent Ages: No age restrictions, except that prospective single parents must be at least 16 years older than the child they are adopting.
Family Status: The Russian government has no rules about marital status or number of children in the household. There is an increased focus on the mental and physical health of adopting parents.
Travel: Two trips are required, although many families are now making three. Most regions require both parents to make both trips.
Timeline: In a 2011 Adoptive Families survey, 83% of parents were matched in less than 12 months.

Russia Adoption Directory

Find an adoption agency placing children from Russia in your state:

Adoption is decentralized in Russia and may vary extensively from one region to the next. Children "without parental care" in Russia must be accounted for in the local, regional, and federal databases before they become available for intercountry adoption.

In July 2011, Russia and the U.S. signed a bilateral agreement after concerns arose about the welfare of children adopted from Russia by U.S. families. The new agreement states that adoption agencies must be approved by the Russian government, that there must be more structured post-placement reporting, and that Russia will provide prospective parents with more complete information on the child's special needs.

Despite the agreement, there are unofficial reports that some regions have been refusing to issue referrals to U.S. adoption agencies. Also, as of January 2012, a change to the court procedure further lengthened the adoption process.

For more information, visit www.adoption.state.gov.

Personal Stories About Russian Adoption

Someone to Watch Over Me
A Russian toddler flourishes despite a babyhood in an orphanage abroad
A Poodle for Anna
Hugging our new dog, my daughter learns that no matter what the behavior, our family is forever.

Helpful Books for Russia Adopters

The Russian Word for Snow: An Adoption Story
by Janis Cooke Newman
Adopting in Russia: Your Rights and the Law
by Irina Mikhailovna O'Rear, Irina M O'Rear
Russian Adoption Handbook: How To Adopt A Child From Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan
by John H. Maclean

Best Web Resources for Russia Adopters

Department of State - Adoption in Russia
Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA)
The Web site of the national parent support group contains useful information about Russia adoption.
Eastern European Adoption Coalition, Inc.
An adoptive parent support organization.
Russian Embassy
Email listserv: Russian Adoption

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