New Russian Adoption Agreement

Adopting from Russia has never been an easy adventure.  When I adopted Elle 12 years ago, it was still a fairly straightforward process.  An average Russian adoption in 1998 took between 9 and 11 months, if there were no major problems.  Elle’s adoption required two trips of six days apiece, one week apart.  Once the paperwork was complete, the time between my court date and coming home was less than a month.

But as the times changed, so did the process.  With the ratification of the Hague Adoption Convention, the requirements of the US changed, and as the spotlight fell on the problems with international adoption, more specifically with Russian adoptions, Russia tightened their already tight process.  More time was required in country and what used to be a time efficient process, now took longer.

So, it was good news when yesterday, July 13, the US State Department and Department of Homeland Security announced a bilateral adoption agreement between US and Russia.  The agreement will strengthen procedural safeguards in intercountry adoptions between the two countries.

The Agreement will provide additional safeguards to protect welfare interests of all parties, and only Russian approved adoption agencies will be allowed to provide adoption services, largely eliminating independent adoptions.  This will create a better-defined framework in which Russian adoption will operate.

The Agreement will provide improved post-adoption reporting, and prospective adoptive parents will receive more complete social and medical histories, allowing the parents to be more prepared to address the needs of their children.  The US State Department will provide more information on their website adoption.state.gov when the agreement will go into force.

Hopefully with the signing of this Agreement, Russian adoptions will once again become more straightforward, at the same time protecting all parties involved in the process.  I hope more families will be able to enjoy the rich experience of adopting a child from Russia.

Because, it is an adventure of a lifetime.

Photo Credit.

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