Well as most of you have seen we turned down our referral. Due to Medical issues that could not be corrected we have decided not to accept. We dont know what will happen now. We are so Distraught and very emotional right now. I never dreamed we would ever turn down a child, you dont come here and do all the paperwork not to accept. We have as many questions as everyone else does. We just want a healthy little girl.
What broke our hearts tonight and made me break down was when my son who is going to be nine said send us pictures of Ava and we told him she was sick and we couldnt bring her home and Allen said "Daddy why you can't you bring her home a fix her" I just started to loose it in tears. Dan works in the ER and Allen thinks that Dad can fix anybody but unfortunatly not in this case.
We dont know what tomorrow will bring but we have to believe God has our little girl waiting it just is taking longer to bring her too us.
I am not mad or upset with my agency at all, they are wonderful. It's not there fault they dont have the medicals.
With Love
Hoping to meet our Daughter soon
WE HAVE MADE IT HOME AND COMPLETED OUR FAMILY. Moscow City, Russia Baby Homes #21 November 19 2008
GOTCHA DAY
Court Date
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
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Foreign adoptions down in Russia as foster care grows
Foreign adoptions down in Russia as foster care grows
Fewer Russian children are being adopted abroad, although the number of total adoptions in Russia is declining, figures show. The statistics point to a complex future for the country's orphans as the government struggles to implement additional means of foster care even as it tries to encourage more Russians to adopt.
According to the U.S. State Department, which released figures for the 2008 fiscal year, the number of foreign children adopted by Americans fell by 12 percent.
In 2008, there were 17,438 adoptions for abroad, while there were 19,613 in 2007. Much of this decline is due to fewer adoptees from Russia and China. Although Russia has not yet released statistics for 2008, the numbers from previous years confirm the trend.
There were 6,689 foreign adoptions in 2006, and only 4,536 in 2007 - a decline of over 30 percent - according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Education and Science, which is responsible for developing adoption programs and legislation in the country.
The United States is the chief destination for Russia's foreign adoptees - in 2006, American parents adopted 3,468 children, making up well over half of the total number of foreign adoptions.
But these numbers do not indicate that Russians are adopting more children. Of the adoptees, the share of those who remain in Russia has increased - from 7,767 in 2006 to 9,537 in 2007. But overall adoptions decreased in 2007 by about 3 percent. Indeed, the number of adopted children peaked in 2004 at 16,434, and has been declining ever since.
This is explainable by foster care programs. While adoptions declined, there has been a rise in the number of children in new, alternative foster care initiatives. While not adoptions formally, these included various kinds of foster care in which a child lives with a guardian or a family that is paid by the government. There are at least three kinds of foster categories apart from adoption. Although the government officially considers adoptions the best option for orphans, it has opted to develop these programs to bring down the number of children without parents.
Since 2006, more stringent laws regulating foreign adoptions have gone into effect. According to Yekaterina Bridge of the World Association for Children and Parents, that has meant more paperwork.
"In 2007, adoption agencies were getting accreditation based on new rules, and that has led to fewer adoptions," she told The Moscow News.
"The first accreditations were received only in June, 2007, and this caused a delay."
Explaining the decline in the number of adoptions, Bridge cited alternative forms of foster care, but noted that these forms had their drawbacks.
"Local officials in the provinces are wary of developing foster care because of the money issue. They fear children could be taken advantage of for the government subsidies."
While she said her agency was supportive of the government efforts to develop newer forms of foster care, she cited the latest figures for children without parents as "staggering."
As of December 31, 2007, 171,044 children were listed in the official adoption data base.
Officials acknowledge the need to encourage more Russians to adopt.
"Adoption is the top priority in placing children with families," says Alexandra Ochirova, who chairs the Public Chamber's Commission on Social and Demographic Policy.
"But the statistics do not show that the problem is being solved. Since not enough children are being adopted, other forms of foster care are being offered."
Ochirova does not believe that foreign adoptions will solve the problem, however.
"There are various points of view, and the interests of the child should be put first," she told The Moscow News. "But I believe that this problem should be solved inside the country. This doesn't mean we should have a ban on international adoptions, but considering the demographic situation, it would be good to make the population better prepared to adopt Russian children."
Ochirova says that raising awareness, advertising, and easing bureaucracy would lead to more adoptions. There are many Russians willing to adopt, she says, but they are daunted by the bureaucratic process.
Fewer Russian children are being adopted abroad, although the number of total adoptions in Russia is declining, figures show. The statistics point to a complex future for the country's orphans as the government struggles to implement additional means of foster care even as it tries to encourage more Russians to adopt.
According to the U.S. State Department, which released figures for the 2008 fiscal year, the number of foreign children adopted by Americans fell by 12 percent.
In 2008, there were 17,438 adoptions for abroad, while there were 19,613 in 2007. Much of this decline is due to fewer adoptees from Russia and China. Although Russia has not yet released statistics for 2008, the numbers from previous years confirm the trend.
There were 6,689 foreign adoptions in 2006, and only 4,536 in 2007 - a decline of over 30 percent - according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Education and Science, which is responsible for developing adoption programs and legislation in the country.
The United States is the chief destination for Russia's foreign adoptees - in 2006, American parents adopted 3,468 children, making up well over half of the total number of foreign adoptions.
But these numbers do not indicate that Russians are adopting more children. Of the adoptees, the share of those who remain in Russia has increased - from 7,767 in 2006 to 9,537 in 2007. But overall adoptions decreased in 2007 by about 3 percent. Indeed, the number of adopted children peaked in 2004 at 16,434, and has been declining ever since.
This is explainable by foster care programs. While adoptions declined, there has been a rise in the number of children in new, alternative foster care initiatives. While not adoptions formally, these included various kinds of foster care in which a child lives with a guardian or a family that is paid by the government. There are at least three kinds of foster categories apart from adoption. Although the government officially considers adoptions the best option for orphans, it has opted to develop these programs to bring down the number of children without parents.
Since 2006, more stringent laws regulating foreign adoptions have gone into effect. According to Yekaterina Bridge of the World Association for Children and Parents, that has meant more paperwork.
"In 2007, adoption agencies were getting accreditation based on new rules, and that has led to fewer adoptions," she told The Moscow News.
"The first accreditations were received only in June, 2007, and this caused a delay."
Explaining the decline in the number of adoptions, Bridge cited alternative forms of foster care, but noted that these forms had their drawbacks.
"Local officials in the provinces are wary of developing foster care because of the money issue. They fear children could be taken advantage of for the government subsidies."
While she said her agency was supportive of the government efforts to develop newer forms of foster care, she cited the latest figures for children without parents as "staggering."
As of December 31, 2007, 171,044 children were listed in the official adoption data base.
Officials acknowledge the need to encourage more Russians to adopt.
"Adoption is the top priority in placing children with families," says Alexandra Ochirova, who chairs the Public Chamber's Commission on Social and Demographic Policy.
"But the statistics do not show that the problem is being solved. Since not enough children are being adopted, other forms of foster care are being offered."
Ochirova does not believe that foreign adoptions will solve the problem, however.
"There are various points of view, and the interests of the child should be put first," she told The Moscow News. "But I believe that this problem should be solved inside the country. This doesn't mean we should have a ban on international adoptions, but considering the demographic situation, it would be good to make the population better prepared to adopt Russian children."
Ochirova says that raising awareness, advertising, and easing bureaucracy would lead to more adoptions. There are many Russians willing to adopt, she says, but they are daunted by the bureaucratic process.
Blog Archive
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2008
(80)
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September
(18)
- Ava's Baby Shower
- No updates yet
- WAITING FOR COURT DATE .........
- We are Home
- We are coming home
- Our Little Angel .........AVA MCKENZIE
- GOD ANSWERED OUR PRAYER. WE MET AVA
- Why .........................We are NUMB
- Sad News
- 2 nd day in Moscow- IT'S COLD
- WE MADE IT TO MOSCOW/ Tired
- We leave tomorrow..................... YAY
- 3 Days until we go to RUSSIA. YAY !!!!
- 5 Days until we leave
- 1 Week until we travel to meet our Princess
- HURRICANE IKE/ TROPICAL STORM HANNA
- SEPTEMBER BRINGS HAPPINESS
- WE GOT OUR REFERRAL
-
▼
September
(18)
LOVE
Love... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
7 comments:
Dear April and Daniel.
We have been where you are, wondering why did this happen to us. How cruel, that a day that was suppose to be full of joy is full of such sadness. I remember sitting in a pizza place in Moscow with both of us feel like we should just go home as our hearts were broken by a blind referral.
I pray that you both find the strenghten, hope, and courage to go back to the MOE and find your daughter.
Maria
My heart aches for you right now. I know how difficult it is to make such decisions so far out of your comfort zone (both emotionally and physically). And I understand how hard it is to explain things like this to your kids. When we lost a referral, it was almost like a death in the family. Your faith will get you through and provide you with a peace that transcends all understanding. I am praying that tomorrow you meet the little girl that God has planned for your family!
Dan and April,
I'm so sorry to hear that you had to decline your referral. I know that I would also have a very difficult time if that happens to me next week. I too am praying that you will gain the strength to get through this and that tommorrow will be a new day. One in which you receive the referral for your long awaited little girl.
Take care, and know that you have friends praying for you.
Shannon
Dan & April
I have been following your blog as we are another CHI family who adopted 2 boys through them. We also had to decline a little girl last year & it was such a difficult time. I hope you are receive another referral tomorrow as we did the next day(for a little boy who is now our 2 yr old son. Do not give up! My thoughts & prayers are with you
Cathy
You don't know my family but we adopted from Baby Home #10 in August and found your blog. I cannot imagine what you are feeling but I can send you my heartfelt prayer that things will be perfect for you soon. Praying hard for you from St. Louis...
Sherri
www.journeyforjill2.blogspot.com
We are praying for you and hope that God will bring you closer to you baby girl. My heart aches knowing what you must be going through. We are here for you in thoughts snd prayers. I hope you are able to find peace in this hard time.
All our love,
Shannon, Charles, Frances
Dan & April:
We are sorry you are going through such a hard situation. Our prayers are with you. God Bless.
Yadira & Mauricio
Miami, FL
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