America World Adoption News

Russia Update

America World continues to advocate on behalf of families in the Russian adoption process in hopes that they will be able to complete their adoption throughout 2013. Russia has publically stated that the bi-lateral agreement between our two countries which was developed over the previous two years is still in effect until January 1, 2014; however, it is unclear what this means in relation to families who have been in the process to adopt. The Supreme Court in Russia has only made a decision for families who had completed court hearings in December of 2012 and is allowing them to finalize their adoptions throughout January 2013. There has been no definitive decision made regarding families who are at earlier stages in their adoption process and we continue to wait for official confirmation for these cases.

Our Russia Program is currently closed to new applicants and will remain so indefinitely. Despite this closure we will continue to submit post adoption reports for all of its adoptive families and support families who have been actively working to adopt from Russia. Please continue to pray earnestly for the children and families affected by the decisions of the Russian government. 

Update on Russia

Earlier today President Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, gave the following statement regarding the recent ban on US adoptions in relation to the Russia-US Bilateral Agreement that went into effect on November 1, 2012: “The agreement is in force at the moment” and “it will be in force over the course of the year.” This leads us to believe that they will honor the bilateral agreement which stipulates that “the agreement is valid over one year beginning from the date one party informs the other via diplomatic channels about its intention to withdraw from the present agreement.”

We do not yet know how this affects families in various stages of their adoption process. We are still awaiting clarification on which families will be permitted to finalize their adoptions throughout 2013. We continue to monitor this situation and await more news out of Russia.

Update on Russia

With the news that Russia has banned inter-country adoption to the United States, our agency is deeply saddened by the thought that many thousands of orphans in Russia may be deprived the ability to join loving families. There are still some conflicting reports for how this affects families currently in process. We are continuing to monitor this situation and are working with advocacy organizations such as the National Council For Adoption to join them in expressing our disappointment that politics can be put above children’s interests. We are continuing to pray for the children living in Russian orphanages as well as the families in process to adopt.  

Prayer for Russia

As you continue to pray with us over the political situation in Russia (read previous updates here and here), remember adoptive families such as the Fongs who were interviewed for a CBS news piece. Click here to read the article and watch the video.

America World is closely monitoring the situation and will update you with news as we know more. Thank you for joining us in prayer. 

Russia Update

America World continues to closely monitor the events occurring within the Russia Duma this week. We understand that US and Russian adoption officials are still working on this issue and that nothing is definitive. There are many adoption professionals and government officials working hard to advocate for the orphans in Russia and the families who are desiring to adopt. We know that this is very hard for families, especially at this time of year and that the uncertainties are discouraging. While we all wait for the conclusion of all these decisions let us join our hearts and our faith in prayer to our Heavenly Father who is sovereign over all, the Father to the fatherless and able to bring all things to His glory.  

Statement on Russia

Recent news has come out of Russia regarding introduced legislation that would ban international adoptions. We would like to address this political controversy to keep the families in process and prospective adoptive families informed of this situation which is certainly alarming, but not a cause for panic. The proposed legislation is in response to US sanctions against perceived human rights violations of Russian officials. At this time we can only speculate what will result, but it is not expected that President Putin will sign off on this legislation. 

Read a statement from the National Council for Adoption here. We will keep you updated as we have more information. Russia Parliament should vote on this within the next three days. 

Please join us in praying with faith for the Lord's favor upon this foreign government's decisions and the orphaned children of Russia. 

Russia Program Updates

We are praising God for the latest referrals received in the Russia program. There are going to be some cold trips coming up for our families, but we are trusting them into God’s care. For those following the international adoption process between Russia and the United States we are happy to report that families continue to move forward despite the changes that are being implemented and which increase the requirements needed to successfully adopt from Russia. America World is putting together a training seminar at the end of November for a few families to obtain the education needed for the adoption processes. This training is being conducted under the auspices of the University of Pittsburgh. Our hope and goal is to be able to repeat this training after the New Year for families throughout the mid-Atlantic region who are in need.

America World views the changes in adoption regulations between Russia and the US as positive ones that will provide better safeguards for the children being adopted and placed in homes. The Russian adoption process continues to be steady one. We hope to see this program grow in the next year and see more sweet children placed in Christ-centered families!

Russia Adoptive Parent Training

In recent months the Russian Federation increased their requirements for prospective adoptive parents regarding the training that families receive prior to their second (court) trip. This includes families having 30 face to face hours of training. America World Adoption recently had a staff member become trained and certified by a program offered through the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Child Development which is designed to comply with Russia’s new training requirements.

Please visit our website for more information pertaining to this requirement and to register for a training seminar. 

Russia Program Update

There has been a lot of news lately regarding the Russian adoption process and many additional requirements that are being added. Despite all of the changes we are pleased to announce that four families have finalized their adoption this summer and are returning home with their precious children. We praise God for His favor and blessings upon these families!

America World has been diligently working to gather information regarding the additional training requirements that the Ministry of Education in Russia has mandated for all prospective adoptive parents. The changes which were outlined in the Russia-US agreement will go into effect on September 1, 2012. We will be providing further guidelines and instructions for all of our Russia families once we are confident of what the officials will be desiring to see in the dossier.

While the changes being implemented can appear quite daunting to families, we do feel it is a positive decision made to ensure that all US families adopting children from Russia are adequately trained on the potential issues and challenges that accompany the adoption and post adoption process. We will simply continue to trust God for His providence in the Russian adoption process as He has not failed us yet.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 

Eastern Europe Waiting Children Updates

Great news! Two new referrals have been added to the Eastern Europe Waiting Children page – a precious little boy and an adorable girl. We welcome you to view their photos and some preliminary information on each child. To receive the password please submit a free pre-application to our agency and our staff will be happy to provide the information that you will need. In order to move forward with the adoption of any Waiting Child, a family must submit a full application to our agency and be approved for international adoption according to Russia and AWAA’s eligibility requirements. A completed dossier including a home study will be required to submit to the child’s region before the referral can be officially received. It is imperative that families desiring to move forward with the adoption of any Waiting Child be ready to move swiftly through the required paperwork.

We look forward to serving you!