[rmprhp]

I've decided to put togeher a list of threads and other resources you can use to find info on adoption from Lithuania. I've been finding it difficult to pinpoint country specific info since a group of EE countries were combined here. Hope this helps someone:

Threads on Lithuania at adoption.com and page they can be found at under "Eastern European General Support":
1. What happened to Lithuanian thread. P1
2. Accreditation. P1
3. Lithuanian Adoption Picnic P1
4. Lithuanian Adoptions (past or present) P2
5. Adopting from Lithuania P4
6. Page Edmunds facilitator P4
7. Any stories of successful adoptionfrom Lithuania P4
8. Lithuanian Adoption P5
9. Single Males Adopt from Lithuania P5
10. Agency for Estonia or Lithuania P6
11. ICAR & EEAC Agency Registry Sites P7
12. Spoke with Ivaikinimo agenctura last week P8
13.Lithuania.adoption.com P9
14. Lithuania- archive P11
15. Lithuania - archive P11 (yes there are two of them)

You can find lots of information and support at the following sites:
1. www.ivaikinimas.lt (click EN in upper right corner for english version)
2. FRUA: www.frua.org click on "chat" then search Lithuania
3. Yahoo group for information on Lithuanian adoptions: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lithua...s-GeneralInfo/
4. Yahoo group if you are currently registered with the Lith govt or have completed an adoption:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lithuanian-adoptions


Good luck, best wishes and blessings to those in process or just looking!
Gina

[rmprhp]

The following information was posted by the Adoption Service (Ivaikinimo tarnyba) at their website in response to a Canadian family's question, I think it's very important for families considering Lithuania:
<http://www.ivaikinimas.lt/index.php?p=0&l=EN&n=59>

"As you know Lithuania is a very small country (3 million inhabitants) and only 20-30 children under the age of 5 years are adopted to the foreign families per year. On the waiting list we already have more than 150 foreign families willing to adopt such children. That is why we started to limit the number of new cases with the request to adopt children under the age of 5-6 years old. The waiting period to adopt a little child is about 2-4 years and still there is no guarantee that family insered into the waiting list will get a child or children.
What we really need is families for special needs children. At the moment there are about 300 children in the special needs program. There are 4 groups of such children:
1. children older than 10 years;
2. children with serious health problems;
3. big siblings groups;
4. children that have strong conections with biological brothers and sisters, that cannot be adopted.
The adoption procedure of such children is shorter but of cause it is more difficult from the emotional side."

[rmprhp]

Two Gatherings are being planned for this summer:

1) The Third Annual Lithuanian Adoption Picnic/USA: A gathering for families in the US who have adopted or are in the process of adoptiong from Lithuania will take place on Saturday, August 5th from noon to 4 pm at the Cedar Springs Trout Hatchery in Mill Hall, PA. Overnight accomodations available at local hotel and campgrounds. Additional activities planned for Friday evening and Sunday morning. For more information, please contact Gina Pollock rmprhp@yahoo.com or James Tomalonis at cedar@suscom.net

2) The State Child's rights protection service under the Ministry of social security and labour is organizing a meeting of families who have adopted in Lithuania on August 11-13 2006 . This meeting is going to happen in Moletai region, in the resort center Dubingiaiâ by the Asveja (Dubingiai) lake. Please check the website www.litorina-dubingiai.lt for further information on resort center. For more info, or to RSVP, please contact the Head specialist of the State child's rights protection and adoption service, Ligita Patiejuniene, phone number 8-5-2310929 or email at ligita@ivaikinimas.lt

Gina

[rmprhp]

I have started a birth sibling registry intended to connect children adopted from Lithuania wih thier birth siblings. The registry is open to adoptive parents and adult adoptees ( age 18+). All infromation collected will be kept confidential until there is a match. No information will be stored on the internet. Please contact me for more information. Gina Pollock rmprhp@yahoo.com

[rmprhp]

We are currently in the process of planning the 4th annual Lithuanian Adoption Gathering for the summer of 2007. If anyone who has adopted from Lithuania or is currently in process would like input on the activities, location, scheduling of the event, etc., or would like updates on the event, please contact me here or via private message. Aciu! ~ Gina

[rmprhp]

The Fourth Annual Lithuanian Adoption Picnic will be held August 10-12, 2007 in Mill Hall PA. Events run from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, including:

FRIDAY:
Pizza and Pool Party for Dads & Kids at the Tomalonis Farm
Mom's Night Out

SATURDAY:
Family picnic, including food, fun, crafts, and photo ops galore!
Teen Evening Activity
Organizational Meeting for LAPAS (Lithuanian Adoptive Parents ASsociation)

SUNDAY:
Breakfast on the Farm
Group attendance at the Knights of Lithuania Festival in Frackville, PA

Further information is available by contacting Gina Pollock rmprhp@yahoo.com or James Tomalonis at cedar-springs@comcast.net

Detailed information will also be available beginning April 1, 2007 on the LAPAS website: http://www.orgsites.com/pa/lapas/