What a great way to end the week: Five more U.S. adoption agencies have been accredited by the Russian government. The July 19 round of accreditations also included one agency each in Israel, Spain and France.

The American agencies are Pittsburgh-based Adopt-A-Child, Adoption Associates in Jennison, Mich., European Adoption Consultants of Strongsville, Ohio, Rhode Island-based Gift of Life and Wyoming Children's Society, in Cheyenne, Wy.

"Our Russian coordinator is on her way to Russia right now to pick up our certificate", said an elated Carol Lindly, Russia program director at Wyoming Children's Society. This agency has been working in Russia since 2001 and has been active in Leningrad, Pskov and Krasnoyarsk Oblasts and the Republic of Karelia. Lindly says WCS is looking at the possibility of opening in other regions now.

"Today I am beside myself with excitement," said Sofiya Girel, director of Adopt-A-Child. "I called my Moscow office at 1 a.m. and again at 4 a.m." Adopt-A-Child, whose previous accreditation expired May 17, 2006, has been active in Russian adoptions for 15 years. It works in Leningrad Oblast, Moscow City, and Krasnoyarsk and Rostov Oblasts.

The non-American agencies that were accredited on July 19 are TAF in Israel, A.I.P.A.M.E. of Spain and Enfance Avenir in France

I am not quite sure what to tell you about America World Adoption, which has informed its families that its partner agency has been reaccredited. At first, I was told by America World that its partner was Adopt-A-Child. But Adopt-A-Child told me that, while it has done homestudies with America World, it does not have any partners. I called America World back, and their Russia program head, Kate Reen, told me the relationship with Adopt-A-Child is "complicated" and declined to discuss it further. Reen did tell me that her agency, which is based in McLean, Va., is seeking its own status as a non-governmental organization in Russia. NGO status is the first step to independent accreditation.

Accredited American Agencies As Of July 19, 2007
Adopt-A-Child
Adoption Associates
Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte
Children's Home Society & Family Services
Cradle of Hope Adoption Center
The Cradle Society
European Adoption Consultants
Family & Children's Agency
Frank Adoption Center*
Gift of Life
International Assistance Group.
Wyoming Children's Society

*Adoption Options and The Datz Foundation partner with the Frank Adoption Center for Russian adoptions.