Russia Accredits Seven Adoption Agencies

Adoption Friends:

According to the the web site of the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia, the following seven agencies have been accredited with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation as of June 27, 2007 to resume adoption services in the Russian Federation:

• Catholic Social Services/Diocese of Charlotte , NC
• Children’s Home Society & Family Services
• The Cradle
• Cradle of Hope
• Frank Adoption Center
• Family & Children’s Agency, Inc.
• International Assistance Group

This is great news for everyone who is hoping to adopt from Russia -- and most especially for the children! My sincere appreciation for everyone in Russia and the United States who has worked to make this happen.

Robin Bartko

Russia Curtails US Adoptions

Adoption Friends,

Sad news to report ...

According to an article in this morning's USA Today (4/11/07), Russia effectively curtailed US adoption by allowing the accrediations of the last two agencies to expire. According to the article by Wendy Koch, Tom DiFilipo, president of the Joint Council on International Children's Services (www.jcics.org) said, "We've never had this situation before, where we have no accredited agencies" and further says he believes the holdup could last a few months.

In my opinion how incredibly sad - most especially for the children whom I pray find forever homes and are not left in the orphanages. And, for all of those longing to bring them home to their forever family. I hope that this is resolved as soon as possible. Keep the faith.

Robin Bartko

Visit ThinkingOfAdopting.com for independent information and inspiration for your international adoption journey, including adoption telecourses and webinars that let you learn from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Russia on Adoption: All Orphans Should Get a Foster Family

Adoption Friends,

I believe you'll find the information in a 2/8/2007 article on the ITAR-TASS News Agency web site very interesting. It appears that the Russian Government is attempting to create incentives to transition Russian orphans from orphanages to foster care and to encourage adoption in Russia.

According to the article, the Russian Government is examining a program called "Russian Children" that is "aimed at creating favorable conditions for children's life and state support for children", and expects to spend 47.845 billion roubles (approximately $1.9 billion US, I believe) to implement the program from 2007-2010.

Some of the statistics in the article are very interesting. For example, according to the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development, Russia has "765,000 children left without parents' attention". Orphans, I assume. You can really appreciate the magnitude of this number when you consider that only 3,706 Russian children were adopted by families in the US in 2006 (see our International Adoption Statistics Page). It further states that 260,000 roubles (approximately $9,900 US) are annually needed for the upkeep of one child in a family with an average income."

However, most importantly, it states, "the government sets the task that all orphans should get into a foster family. This will help to reorient orphanages. [...] The family gets from the state 250,000 roubles not only for the birth of its own child, but also for adoption of the second and subsequent children."

The article closes with the following quote, "All this inspires hope that there will be no orphans in our country, while living standards of children and parents will improve substantially." What a wonderful goal. I pray it succeeds. Until then, I thank God for all that have and will take a "leap of faith" and adopt one of these children, bringing joy into their own hearts and giving one more child a forever home.

You can read the artcile by clicking on the following link:
http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11230685&PageNum=0

Robin Bartko

Visit ThinkingOfAdopting.com for independent information and inspiration for your international adoption journey.

Sad Story of Treatment of Russian Orphans with Mouths Taped Shut

Adoption Friends,

I learned of a very sad story on the treatment of Russian children - possibly orphans - that I thought you should know.

According to a United Press International (UPI) story today, babies in a hospital in Yekaterinburg were photographed with their mouths taped shut (possibly with pacifier in them) by a woman with a cell phone camera. The woman went to investigate after she heard muffled cries. When she question a nurse in the ward, she was told to mind her own business. She reported it to the authorities and a criminal investigation is now underway.

According to the UPI story, "The unidentified woman doctor said her staff was overworked and underpaid and the practice of taping the babies' mouths shut saved a great deal of time by preventing pacifiers from being spit onto the floor." The story has caused understandable outrage in Russia.

I also saw this story briefly on CNN Headline News today, where they stated that the children in question were orphans and that in a separate incident I believe a three year old child was being given sedatives so the child would sleep through nap time. I have been unable to find this story posted on the CNN.com, and have sent an email to CNN asking if they were going to post it. If I receive a response I will let you know.

I found the most detailed account of this story on Pravda.ru which states, "There were conflicting reports as to whether the infants were all orphans" and includes one image apparently from the cell phone footage. I've also found the story on the Moscow Times web site as well as on MoscowNews.com.

How very sad in so many ways. No matter if the children were orphans or not. No matter if this is an isolated incident (as I pray) or something worse. As I adopted my youngest son from Russia, I felt terrible as I watched this story on CNN. And the feeling gets worse the more I think about it. I honestly wondered if I should make this post and what good it could do.

But it also made me think of these little children. What if they were orphans? Already in the hospital alone, abandoned by their birth parents. At the time they need to be loved and nurtured they experience this. And who knows what else. So it made me think that the truth is we don't really know what our children went through before they came into our arms. It made me think of how brave and strong that they are. Survivors.

And it make me think how much more important it is for us to be prepared to help them overcome whatever they've been through. Things we'll probably never know and they'll likely never be able to tell us. To be prepared to help them heal physically, emotionally (where the scars are hidden and harder to heal) - whatever - so that they can truly find love and comfort in our arms forever.

If we do then, perhaps, something good can come of this.

What type of toys should I take to the orphanage?

Are you getting ready to make your first (or second) trip to the orphanage to visit your new child? Are you wondering what types of toys might be best for you to take to play and interact him or her? Tatyana Komarova, native speaker and Russian language instructor, recently provided some great advice on this topic I’d like to share with you during her ThinkingOfAdopting.com webinar, “Russian for the Adoption Traveler I”

Tatyana recommends you take toys that are both fun for the child and help you play and interact with them. After all, what you want more than anything at this point is to get to know him or her! One such toy is a book with big pictures and little (or few) words. “You don’t have to read any of the words,” says Tatyana, “you can just say, ‘This is a bear, this is a duck, etc.’ while you point to the pictures.” If you say “this is” in Russian (Eta bear; eta duck), you’ve created a little game in which you are starting to teach English! Of course, the game could be turned around. By pointing to the pictures and asking “What is that?” in Russian (Shto Eto?), they can help teach you Russian!

Another very nice present is a little coloring book & fun pencils. Tatyana believes they have a shortage of pencils in Russian orphanages and certainly do not have as many fancy ones as we have here in the United States -- fun ones with bright colors, designs, and/or sparkles on them. Tatyana says, “They would really be amazing for them.” You can draw pictures for them, they can draw pictures for you, and you can draw pictures together. Stickers are also a good present. Says Tatyana, “They would love them.”

Bubbles are another good toy – universally fun – and easy to carry. However, if you’re afraid that they might somehow spill or leak in your suitcase on your trip, Tatyana advises that you can probably buy your bubbles in Russia instead.

Of course, what child doesn’t like to play with what’s in a purse? Therefore, Tatyana recommends that you make sure that you have a lot of “little things” that they can play with in your purse. Like all children, they do like “real” things (they always seem to be more attractive than the toy version). “Whatever is in a woman’s purse they would like. Everything you have in there – keys, cosmetics, credit cards, they will play with them” says Tatyana.

Speaking of “real things”, cell phones make a great toy. Tatyana says, “If you don’t want them to use your phone, have another one to give them. I even bought a toy cell phone that was the same color as mine.” Tatyana also mentioned that your old cell phone could make a very good toy … “They don’t need anything else”.

When visiting the orphanage Tatyana recommend that you first allow them to play with their own toys, and try to interact with them using whatever they are playing with. Do not give them your gift right away. One game you might try is saying (in Russian) “Show me your toys”. When he or she loses interest in their toys you can say, “I have this for you!” Make it like a surprise.

While it’s so tempting for any parent, Tatyana recommends against taking stuffed animals such as teddy bears. “Yes they are cute, but there is not really anything to do with them compared to a book, pushing buttons, or coloring. [It’s better to] take something you can do with them.”

Or course, being able to communicate with your new child during your visit to the orphanage in their native language is a big help. The fourth session of Tatyana’s webinar, “Russian for the Adoption Traveler” is all about child’s talk and helps you prepare for that visit. Tatyana says, “The whole session is your scenario for your 1st and 2nd visit – the scenario for you to meet your child and interact with him or her.”

The next offering of “Russian for the Adoption Traveler I” with Tatyana Komarova will being on September 11, 2006. For more information or to register go to the Adoption Telecourses page on ThinkingOfAdopting.com.

Robin Bartko

Russian for the Adoption Traveler

Adoption Friends:

If you'll be traveling to Russia to adopt your child, I wanted to let you know that the premier offering of "Russian for the Adoption Traveler" will begin this Monday (6/5/06) and share with you a part of my adoption story.

The first time I met my youngest son ...
I remember our trips to Russia to adopt our youngest son quite vividly. What a life changing experience! The excitement of knowing we'd get to meet our new son. The wonder we felt walking the streets of Moscow and seeing a different way of life. How we traveled to his region and saw his orphanage for the first time. How our hearts raced with anticipation when we heard little footsteps coming up the stairs ... was it him? And, frozen in my mind, the moment that he came around the corner and we saw each other for the very first time!

It was a time of such great emotion, filled with so many new experiences. We wanted to absorb as much as we could of the world in which he was born. We wanted to learn as much as we could about him from those whose care had helped put him into our arms. And - leaving the orphanage feeling how fast his heart was beating as I held him tight - knowing that this moment, this opportunity, would never come again.

I wish I learned some Russian
While I wouldn't change a thing about my experience, there is something that I wished I had done prior to taking my trips - learn some Russian. Not to be fluent, but to have been better able to interact with the many people that I met. To be able to learn more about the country of my son's birth. To be better able to thank
those who had taken care of my son. And, most importantly, to have been able to better communicate with my new son in the language he was familiar with right from the start.

Russian for the Adoption Traveler
That's why I've brought "Russian for the Adoption Traveler" to ThinkingOfAdopting.com. Taught by Russian born, native speaker Tatyana Komarova, this unique course is specially designed for you, the adoption traveler. Tatyana will teach you the Russian language skills that can help your trips be less stressful, allow you to experience more in Russia, and help you better communicate with and comfort your new child. Best of all, you'll be learning from and interacting with Tatyana live from the comfort of your own home.

"Russian for the Adoption Traveler" is a four part course presented in the webinar format - you'll listen to and speak with Tatyana using your telephone while simultaneously viewing her slides (showing the worlds in both English and Cyrillic) using your computer on the internet. It's simple and easy. Have dial up internet access? You can use your cell phone to talk with Tatyana and your dial up line to access the Internet. Or you can participate using your phone and print out the slides for your reference during the session.

The four parts include:
Session 1 (6/05/06 [Mon], 9-10 PM Eastern): Russian culture,
greeting phrases & short words
Session 2 (6/12/06 [Mon], 9-10 PM Eastern): How to ask questions
Session 3 (6/19/06 [Mon], 9-10 PM Eastern): Money and numbers
Session 4 (6/26/06 [Mon], 9-10 PM Eastern): Child's talk - how to
talk with your new child

Don't worry about missing a class
The audio from each session will be available within 48 hours for you to listen to via the Internet (no phone required) or to download to your iPod or MP3 player. You'll be able to practice or catch-up on a missed class at your convenience. Take them on your trips to Russia to review on the plane or in the hotel. Tatyana's slides will also be available via the Internet for you to review or print as a reference.

Make the most of your trips to Russia
If you want to make your trips to Russia less stressful, if you want to experience more while you are in Russia, or if you want to better communicate with and comfort your new child, "Russian for the Adoption Traveler" can help. Registrtion inlcudes all four live sessions, access to the downloadable recording of each session, as well as access to the slides containing the English and Cyrillic versions of all words taught by Tatyana. Plus, if you register for this premier edition of the course, a CD containing all of the audio and slides from the course will be mailed to you at the end of the class.

To register for Russian for the Adoption Traveler, click on the
following link:
http://www.thinkingofadopting.com/html/adoption_telecourses.html
Then click on the "Register" button next to the description for "Russian for the Adoption Traveler".

Please contact me if you have any questions or need additional information. My best to you on your adoption journey.

Robin Bartko