Wait Times for Russia Adoption Completion Significantly Shorter Than Anticipated

Year-to-date, 38 adoptions were completed in the Russia program!  So far, we also have 9 courts scheduled for the month of June, and 5 families are invited for their first trips.

Preparing Your Documents: Please remember that the registration package is available on our website at http://docs.childrenshope.net. The Children’s Hope Russia Team make changes and corrections on this website daily based on information received from our in-country representatives. Be sure to check this information on a regular basis. Whenever you are updating your documents, referring to this website will guide you in the latest version of necessary documents.

Russia Day: Our in-country offices were closed on June 12th due to a Russian holiday, Russia Day. Russia Day is an annual holiday of national unity. The holiday was established in 1994 and was initially named the “Day of the Adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation.” (Russia Day sounds much better.)

CHI Russia Adoption Statistics - 2008

Average Wait Times 2008 (calculated from the date the documents are submitted to CHI):

• For families requesting boys under 36 months - 12 months to referral / 15.5 months to completion (range of 6 to 26 months)
• For families requesting boys over 36 months - 7.2 months to referral / 12 months to completion (range of 7 to 20 months)
• For families requesting girls under 36 months - 12.6 months to referral / 17 months to completion (range of 6 to 31 months)
• For families requesting girls over 36 months - 6.5 months to referral / 11.8 months to completion (range of 4 to 19 months)
• For families requesting  either a boy or a girl under 36 months - 10.6 months to referral / 14 months to completion (range of 5 to 25 months)

Seventy percent of our Russia Program adopting families in 2008 received male referrals, the other 30% received female. The average wait for siblings was 12 months to referral and 16 months total for the adoption to be finalized (range of 4 to 30 months).

2008 Age Range of Adopted Children:

Of 110 children adopted through Children’s Hope International in 2008:

• 65 children were under 36 months
• 12 children were 3 years old
• 11 children were 4 years old
• 8 children were 5 years old
• 5 children were 6 years old
• 4 children were 7 years old 
• 5 children were 8-11 years old

If you have any questions and/or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact your adoption consultant, and you may also reach Andrei Skurtu, Russia Program Director, via email at Andrei.Skurtu@ChildrensHope.net.

The Israel Family

Caption: Ava, home December 2008 from Moscow City, is enjoying her family. She loves to go swimming and is loving the Florida sun! “She is just happy go lucky,” says mother April. Ava’s proud parents are April and Daniel Israel. Happy Father’s Day, Daniel!