We have immediate openings to file new dossiers in Moscow City, Krasnoyarsk, Izhevsk and Vladivostok.
The average wait time for a referral is only 3-8 months and varies by region. Most children placed are under age 3, but school age children are also available.
Applicants may be married couples or single women.
|
HAPS began to work with the Republic of Karelia in 1993. Since that time, we have placed children from Perm, Kirov, Izhevsk, Nitzy Novgorod, Vologda, Volgograd, Vladivostok, Tula and Krasnoyarsk with American families.
The people of Russia love their children and accordingly, have implemented laws and amendments along the way placing the interests of children first. The most recent changes require adoption agencies to first register as not-for-profit businesses. HAPS was granted this registration on August 18, 2006. A separate application was submitted to obtain licensing which was granted on December 28, 2007. Previous to this, HAPS maintained annual accreditation which was necessary to complete adoptions.
We currently have the privilege of working in four separate regions; Moscow, Vladivostok, Izhevsk, and Krasnoyarsk. 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.
|
Meet our Program Director: Our Russian Program Director, Kathy Burul, has a Bachelors Degree in International Studies. She is an adoptive parent of children from Russia and Romania. She works closely with our families through all stages of the adoption: in preparing the dossiers, referral of a child, preparing for travel and follow-up upon returning home.
Orphanages: All children who are available for adoption by foreigners are residing in 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.
About the Children: The children are Caucasian, mainly of Russian descent ranging in age from 8 months to 10 years. Some Gypsy children are also available, as well as some children of mixed Asian descent. 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 available, but generally are older children. 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 will probably be smaller than most American children.
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 birthmother has given a written consent. If the birthmother is not available to give a written consent the child must remain in the registry for a period of 8 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 14 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. Currently, the youngest age at which a child can be referred for international adoption is 8 months. From time of referral, it is generally 3 months before the child arrives home.
Birthparents: In your initial medical report, there will be little more than a name and possibly age on the birthmother. There will be no information on the birthfather 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 birthparents, their backgrounds may or may not be considered confidential. Most birthparents 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, the parents have given written relinquishment of their rights, or there is a 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. Birthparents relinquish their rights or allow the government to deprive them of their rights because they cannot afford to care for their children. Children with disabilities, 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: Families seeking a boy or a girl can expect a referral within 4 to 8 months, and can vary somewhat from region to region. Domestic adoptions have recently increased in Russia causing greater wait time for all females and infant males. Flexibility regarding age and sex of the child can decrease your waiting period. Please keep in mind that 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 focus is to find families for children rather than children for families.
Medical Information: A law is in effect requiring that all adoptive parents travel to Russia to meet and obtain medical information on a child prior to finalizing the adoption. 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. That is, 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 require all parents to seek the advice of one of the many medical adoption specialists in this country. We 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. HAPS’ policy prohibits the placement of an infant with an applicant over 49. There can be no more than 50 years difference between the age of the child and applicant. 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. The Russian Federation has restrictions regarding health conditions with adoptive parents. Among other conditions, depression and neurological disorders are listed. Please discuss any concerns of this nature with the Program Director. Each family presents themselves to the Department of Education, via a dossier, and a final decision will be made once all of the information on the family is reviewed.
Travel: Two or three trips are now required. The first trip is 6-7 days. The second trip can be one trip of almost 4 weeks or it can be split into two shorter trips of 7 and 10 days. Both parents must make the second trip for the Court hearing which is at the beginning of the second trip. After the Court hearing, one spouse may return home if desired. Parents may be asked to travel with very short notice. Although these are fairly reliable time estimates, unforeseen delays can extend your stay. Flexibility with traveling is a must. The average wait time in between the first and second trip is 6-8 weeks.
All airline reservations to Russia are the responsibility of the parent(s). Our General Representative in Moscow will arrange all hotels, transportation within Russia, drivers and translators. The cost of these travel arrangements 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 are hopeful all families will 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 of new shoes, new clothing and/or medical supplies.
|
For New Jersey residents who DO NOT have a homestudy completed or in progress, you will need to:
- Complete the website Contact Form or call the HAPS Teaneck office to obtain a Homestudy Packet.
| For New Jersey residents who DO HAVE a homestudy completed by another licensed NJ adoption agency or one is in progress, you will need to:
- Complete the website Contact Form or call the HAPS Teaneck office to obtain a Homestudy Review Packet and begin a homestudy in your state of residence.
- Complete our Data Sheet and send it to HAPS, along with the homestudy review fee to begin your Homestudy Review. Our homestudy review packet will guide you on the additional documentation needed to complete your homestudy review.
| For out-of-state residents, you will need to:
- Complete the website Contact Form or call the HAPS Teaneck office to obtain a Homestudy Review Packet and begin a homestudy in your state of residence.
- Complete our Data Sheet and send it to HAPS, along with the homestudy review fee to begin your Homestudy Review. Our homestudy review packet will guide you on the additional documentation needed to complete your homestudy review.
|
|
