Adoption from Russia

Russia sent 2,310 children to the United States in 2007, making it the third largest sending country. Despite economic reforms that have taken place since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, many families in former Soviet nations struggle to survive. An estimated 600,000 children live “without parental care” in Russia. About one-third live in institutions; the rest typically live with guardians, or under police jurisdiction. Poverty is a factor in most relinquishments. Two groups of children are typically available: babies relinquished in the hospital at birth to orphanages, and older children who were removed from their families because of neglect. Sibling groups are available.

Two trips to Russia are required to adopt from most regions there, although one in three families who adopted in 2006 and 2007 report having to make three or more trips since most courts weren’t waiving the 10-day waiting period after the court date. For a list of U.S. adoption agencies accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science in Russia, see the website of the Russian embassy: www.russianembassy.org.

Russia, known for somewhat strict health requirements for potential adoptive parents, has recently begun to enforce those rules more stringently. Some regions require that parents have eight medical specialists sign off on their medical forms. This can often be completed at a one-day appointment in Russia, at clinics that are familiar with the process, though some regions require that the forms are completed in the U.S. prior to the trip. Parents considering adopting from Russia should speak to their adoption service provider about any past or present health concerns that may disqualify them, and about the specific requirements for the region.