[KathrynAsh]

Hi. This is my first post but I've been lurking for a while.

I'm just starting to look into the International Adoption process. I've always wanted to adopt, and I feel it's the right time in my life even though I'm single.

I'm not sure if I can say the name of the program but I found a site listing a program in the LA area that will allow parents to host an older orphan from Russia for the summer.

I just love the idea and would love to participate next year if all goes well, but I'm just wondering if the situation in Russia regarding adoptions and accreditations is changing any of this.

[Jim_in_PA]

Hosting is a very rewarding endeavor--if we were ever going to adopt again (very unlikely...two is enough), we would definitely go that route again. Adoption always carries risks, no matter how you pursue it or from where...and one of those risks is programmatic/legal change.

You can read about our hosting experience in the July 2005 entries of our BLOG.

[Pinkie]

Good Luck with your decision. I've recently adopted from Russia as a single-parent and found them to be very single-parent friendly.

I think Hosting is an excellent idea and a great experience. Keep on checking in with us and ask away if you have any questions.

[momm2be]

I am single, and hosted, and adopted.

It is definitely a great way to adopt an older child. The hosting period, alone, is an incredibly moving experience.

PM if you would like more specifics.

[beckyww]

We just came home with our six-year-old, Julia. I wish we could have hosted. Wasn't an option for us.

www.woodworthfamily.blogdrive.com

[SingleMama2B]

Hi and welcome to the Older Child adoption option!!! I too adopted my darling daughter through a summer hosting program, and as a single parent!!! It was and is truly the BEST thing I have EVER done!!!

Sure, there are risks with ANY Adoption... domestic or International!!! Russia, there will always be changes, but they do allow and approve of single women adopting. I adopted and brought my DD home January 25th, 2005. DD was alittle over 8 years old!

She has adjusted very well, and loves school, her dog and cat, me and her large extended family and her friends!! Her conversational english is wonderful, and is still catching up with school.

Feel free to personal message me with any questions......

[chucknfw]

Haven't the rules for hosting changed. Most hosting programs require that you pay for the travel of the child to the U.S. which makes alot of sense, but then you have to make two trips to Russia.
Russia used to allow the hosting to be one of the required visits. Now they aren't allowing the hosting to count as a visit. Won't that add to the time and expense of the process?

[SingleMama2B]

Yes... this will add to the total cost of the adoption! Even though, when I adopted my DD through a summer hosting program... I paid for her airline tix, and Passport, I still ended up making two trips to Russia. The best laid plans usually do change at some point!! They do not count the hosting "Summer Vacation" as Trip #1 any longer is true. I still feel that if you want to adopt an older child, that hosting is the best way.... sure, you don't get to know the child 100%, but you can watch the chemistry in your family.

I am such a supporter of Older Child adoptions.... The statistics for these children after the age of 5+ years is just Heartbreaking, on their chances of being adopted!!! For MANY reasons, I choose this path, and am soooooo glad, greatful, and blessed that I did

Back to your post..... Even though there is an additional trip, you usually have enough time to get a lower rate (14+ days in advance) that it doesn't hurt as much. Example: I only had 4 days notice to be on a plane on the 5th day - weekend before X-mas - and I paid for 1 person round trip... $2,800 ECONOMY!!! When I had to go back for trip #2 (to process my daughter out of the country to come home forever) with 14 days notice..... My roundtrip Tix was $680, and her's was $458!!! Same carrier, non-stop, etc. Also.... maybe on your 2nd trip, look into renting an apartment (which is alot cheaper then a Marriott, etc.). You will know your way alittle more, and have the privacy for your family

[mikeintexas]

Originally Posted by SingleMama2B

I am such a supporter of Older Child adoptions.... The statistics for these children after the age of 5+ years is just Heartbreaking, on their chances of being adopted!!! For MANY reasons, I choose this path, and am soooooo glad, greatful, and blessed that I did

We did the same. We had two bio kids about five years apart and wanted a child in between the two boys. So we adopted a little girl and came home just before she turned 6.

Ironically, we did not host. Our daughter was supposed to be a part of a hosting program, but she came down with a fever the day before the hosting group was due to leave for the U.S. The director of the orphanage decided to keep her home... thus making her available for us!

[SingleMama2B]

Isn't it amazing how things really DO work out

Even bein ghome 16+ months with DD, I am still amazed how she is sooooo much like me (alittle scarey too!). My sister (and her family) adopted their DD 2 weeks after I came home with my DD. My sister and I are SOOOOO different, and our "DD's" are sooo different. It is such a perfect match!!! There was NO picking or choosing... I was sent my DD and she hers!

I always knew there was a PLAN.... Now I have proof

Blessings.......................

[Jim_in_PA]

Originally Posted by chucknfw

Now they aren't allowing the hosting to count as a visit.

This is not universally true...it's a regional thing. The region we adopted from still is allowing one trip for hosted children to the best of my knowledge...as least as of about a month and a half ago when another family in our program traveled. But, of course, like anything else, it could change at any time.

[1moretime]

Just wanted to say that I,too, am single and I adopted my son from a host experience. I was not his host family though. They were unable to adopt. Which turned out great for me. My son came home almost 2 years ago at age 7. He is the light of my life (second only to his older bio brother). I can not imagine my world without him in it. His 9th birthday is tomorrow and he is bursting at the seams. He is looking forward to going to his favorite restaurant, his load of booty, and then his party. Sometimes I think about what his life would have been like if I hadn't seen him and fallen like a rock. I am so honored and glad he is MY son.

I have to laugh when the above posters spoke about how God-chosen these matches can be. My son and I are sooo alike it is amazing. However, I swear without any doubt that he is the "Mini-Me" of my mother, lol. It is truly uncanty.

Regarding host families. Be sure if you choose this option that the child you host is available for adoption. I have heard rumor, that since Putin is so against the high percentage of host children who actually get adopted he is requesting that some of the children who come over on these trips not be eligible for adoption. I find this appalling, you would think he would be happy these kids find good homes. Anyway, just be sure to check.

I am still trying to recover financially since I wasn't quite ready to adopt the last time. I was only checking things out trying to get an idea of things when I met Alex, possibly hosting the next year. But then I learned he was available and there was nothing in this world that was going to hold me back. Anyway, I am kind of checking things out so that maybe I can host next year and start this whole process over again. Who knows.

Nancy

[SingleMama2B]

I sooooo agree with Nancy!! The host program that I used, continues to help older children, and bring them here for a couple of weeks in the summer! BUT, they too, where told that "X" amount of children in the program this year, must be 'unavailable' for adoption, as the percentage of children that where hosted (and adopted) was TOOOO HIGH! It is ashame, but looking at it another way, at least the other children (that will be stuck in the system), will get a very nice change of pace for a couple of weeks. I was going to try and help this summer, and host one of these children (as I can NOT adopt again - $$), and that way, I knew in my heart that I could not fall 200% for the child, BUT, would be able to doot on her, and hopefully make her feel special for 2 weeks! As it turned out, there where NOT enough families in NJ that where hosting, to make this program run. At least, the other states that do this with this agency, have doubled and tripled in size, so the same amount of children are still coming this summer!

So, Nancy gives VERY good advice.... Make sure you check with the agency to make sure that your host child is AVAILABLE before you begin!

Blessings................