[ripples]

There's an article in the 13 January, 2007 New York Times online web site (A Taste of Family Life in US, but Adoption is in Limbo) about a program whereby orphans from the Ukraine come out to the USA to meet prospective adoptive parents. It sounds like the prospective parents host the orphans for a short period of time and then can proceed to adopt the kids if paperwork turns out OK.

"Adoption experts on both sides of the hosting debate agree that the children know they are auditioning for adoption, and that the families quickly grow attached." (quote from the article)

While I'm not sure of the details of the program, I'm concerned for the poor kids who end up 'auditioning' and then not getting adopted. Imagine the rejection complications they'll face!

[InionGrinn]

Thanks for posting this Ripples, I'll pick the paper up today and come back to this thread...

[lonni]

GROAN

Wonderful if adopted, but tragic if not. It seems too high a risk to take. The children rejected may never recover.
Yes,it will feel like "rejection" once again to them~~ imo.

[ElsieC]

Have read about a similar program run by a charity for older Russian orphans. I think on the whole they have a really high success rate. Some families sign up to foster-adopt and others just to host. Then these host families also work to find families. The ones I read about had, I think all but 4-5 children placed - and these were all older kids, hard to find homes for. Understand what you are saying about the expectations and devastation of not finding a home.