Over the last two years, many prospective parents have experienced lengthy delays in their adoptions in Russia as a result of changing regulations there. Late last week, the National Council For Adoption posted on its Web site the text of a letter to the Russian government asking politely, but firmly, for the delays to come to an end.

For those of you not familiar with the Council, it is an Alexandria, Va.-based advocacy group for adoption initiatives and reform, both in the United States and abroad. Over the past two years, it has represented American adoptive parents and American adoption agencies in meetings with the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and with other child welfare officials in Russia.

In its letter, the NCFA commends Russia for moving toward an accreditation-based system and for its efforts to promote the adoption of Russian children by Russians and strengthen child welfare programs.

Then it gets to the point:

"We do note with concern, however, that many American adoption agencies are experiencing lengthy delays in their efforts to renew their accreditation to provide adoption services in the Russian Federation. First in May 2006 their efforts to attain re-accreditation were delayed by the new requirement to register as NGOs. Then they were required to wait for the drafting and publishing of Regulation 654. Now this new regulation requires a process for accreditation that takes at least five months, if the application is acceptable as first submitted. This lengthy process has imposed unfortunate delays for many children waiting to be adopted."

The NCFA goes on to add what many of us already know: That last year, the number of American adoptions of Russian children fell to its lowest level in 10 years. But it added another statistic that absolutely floored me: From last October 1 through February 11 of this year, these adoptions dropped to 1,001 from 1,365 for the same period in 2005-2006. Project that pace on the rest of 2007 and the outlook is grim indeed.

The letter continues:

"We appreciate the Russian Federation's right and need to adapt its intercountry adoption procedures as it sees fit. We respectfully request, however, that the Ministry of Education and Science utilize strategies to manage bureaucratic transitions in ways that are less disruptive to the adoption system. We ask on behalf of vulnerable children in need of parental supervision that you expedite the present accreditation process, so compassionate, professional adoption agencies can return to serving the children."

To which I can add only "Amen".