Beacon House Adoption

The Children of Russia

Children who are available for international adoption are those who classified as "orphans" by virtue of abandonment, voluntary relinquishment, termination of parental rights, or death of parents. Children adopted from Russia reside in orphanages, which have limited resources. Orphanages provide good care but can not replace a childs basic need for a permanent home. International adoption provides opportunities for children that would not be available without a loving family of their own.

Children must be on the Russian Database for app. 8 months before they can be adopted internationally. Children are aged 9 months to 15 years are available for adoption. Many children are healthy, some have minor correctable health issues and some have special needs. All children are routinely tested for HIV and Hepatitis. There are more boys* than girls. Russia has a diverse culture. While the majority of children are Caucasian, there are a number of Eurasian children available for adoption in Russia.

*Families are always needed for children over the age of 2 and for boys of all ages.

Choice of Gender/Age
You can specify the age range and gender of the child you want to adopt. The ability to make this choice is believed to assist in the bonding process.

Referrals
After your paperwork has been registered in Russia; referrals are officially made by the Ministry of Education in Russia, as soon as a child is available that matches your criteria.

Health
Low caregiver to child ratio and cultural differences can attribute to developmental delays. Closely monitoring your childs developmental milestones will assist you in meeting your childs needs. We except the vast majority of children adopted from Russia will grow and thrive in their new homes.

An International Adoption Specialist, (a physician who works with internationally adopted children), can assist you in the assessment of the risk factors of an individual child. We at Beacon House can assist you in locating one near you. This step, along with Pre-adoption education, is vital to the overall success of your adoption.

Program Requirements

Eligibility
Married couples and single women can adopt. Singles must be at least 25 years old, and in general (with some exceptions), the parent must be no more than 45 years older than the child adopted. Neither an existing medical condition such as generalized anxiety, previous cancer diagnosis, or arrest will automatically disqualify a family from adopting from Russia. There can be regional differences pertaining to length of marriage, age of parents, health and history that are reviewed on a case by case basis. The pre-application process is the time to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have.

Pre-Adoption Education
It is important for parents to develop an understanding of international adoption and waiting children. Beacon House requires that adoptive parents participate in pre-adoption education because it significantly increases the transition of the child into the family. Hague compliant training from Heart of the Matter Seminars is taken online, in the convenience of your own home. Help we are Adopting is a monthly webinar exclusively for our Russian parents in progress. These services are provided at no additional cost to families.

Timeframe
Generally, most adoptions can be completed in 9-15 months. However, to some extent this depends on how quickly you provide necessary paperwork, which region the child is in and how fast Immigration approval is received.

Other Children
There is no limitation as to other children in the home.

Travel
All regions in Russia require two trips - the first to receive your referral from the Russian authorities and meet your child, and a second trip to complete your adoption. The time spent in Russia is truly a trip of a lifetime and provides a wonderful opportunity to get to know your child and experience Russian culture that is rich with history and the arts. Our traveling families receive: detailed travel itineraries, travel assistance, full access to drivers and translators, 24/7 on call staff in the US, and a fully staffed office in Moscow, who will meet and greet you at the airport when you arrive.

For more information and answers to the most frequently asked questions contact us at information@beaconhouseadopt.com

For More Info:

Beacon House Adoption Services

Program Requirements

The Children of Russia

Program Requirements