The Russian Adoption Delay
There is currently a delay in adopting from Russia. The length of time this delay will occur is predicted to be two months, however this is not certain. It is, however, not the first delay to occur in the recent history of Russia’s international adoption program. In 2005 the commission responsible for accrediting adoption agencies was shut down for organization of the ministries. The advocacy of thousands of families with hopes to adopt from Russia was heard and adoptions resumed.
Currently, the adoption licenses of the 76 adoption agencies working in Russia are up for renewal. Adoption agencies are also working towards accreditation through the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. At this time there are no adoption agencies that are accredited, but many applications for accreditation have been completed.
The delay is found in this process. The Ministry of Education is responsible for reviewing the adoption agencies accreditation applications. To date they have not announced when they will have completed this review. In addition, there are four other Russian ministries that review the applications. This creates a very time consuming and intensive application process for adoption agencies to become accredited. Adoption agencies have to receive approval from all the ministries involved before they are given accreditation.
Sergei Vitelis, an official at the Education Ministry’s department in charge of adoptions, has said the delay was caused solely by technical reasons and not political motives.
During this time Russia’s 250,000 orphans, residing mostly in institutional settings, will continue to wait for a home whether that home be found with a Russian family or abroad.
