[dana_dane]

I’m trying to learn as much as I can about adoptions from Russia. Is there a resource for Russian adoptions that anyone can recommend?

I have a few questions to get me started:

1. What is the availability of older girls, say in the age range of 9-11?
2. What are the statistics of children with FAS?
3. How can I reduce my risks of adopting a child with FAS? I expect our child to have some minor learning disabilities and attachment issues but I’m concerned with a moderate to severe case of FAS. Are the older children diagnosed with FAS in the orphanages if they have it? Or is it not diagnosed until they have their adoption evaluation or when the child is brought home?
4. How does the referral process work? Is the child located and referred to you by the Russian adoption authorities or does your agency assist in the referral?
5. Do some regions have better orphanages than others? If so, which ones? Do agencies have certain regions they work in or can one receive a referral anywhere in Russia?
6. What other risks should I be aware of in adopting an older child from Russia?

Thanks in advance!
Dana

[LouLouBelle]

Hi Dana,

We just adopted a 21 month old. I do not know the numbers of older children, but assume there are many children in the age you specified. There are some users on this site that will be better able to answer this question as they have adopted older children both through the referral process as well as through hosting programs.

If you adopt through the referral process, you can have an IA (International Adoption) doctor evaluate the medical information and video or photo if you receive one. They will be able to assess the risks for FAS based on this information. These doctors will continue to work with you as you travel on your first trip to meet your referral.

As for the referral process, I think it varies slightly by agency. With our agency, once our dossier was complete we went on a waiting list for a child. Our agency works in many regions. We did not specify (I have read some agencies allow you to request while others do not). We were given a brief medical overview of DD and a short quicktime movie of her. We submitted this info to our IA doc who shared his concerns and what our risks were in accepting the referral. There are no guarantees in this process. We decided to travel and meet her and knew immediately she was meant to be our daughter. Any medical concerns were instantly gone (she is now home 2+ months and very healthy). As for who assigned our referral to us, I believe it was the agency. My understanding is they receive referrals from Russia and they are assigned to the next family on "the list".

As far as regions, I recommend that you find an agency you want to work with and then research the regions they work in. Having a reputable agency will make this process so much easier (do some research on the whold accreditation process).

There is a link I will PM you that shows which agencies work in which regions. I cannot post it here as it violates forum rules.

Good luck!

[cathvash]

Hi Dana, Welcome to this board. You will find that there are many experts here who can answer your questions about FAS/FAD. My impression is that these are easier to recognize in an older child since learning disabilities often start to show up by the time they enter school. There are many, many older girls available for adoption, and many agencies specialize in placing older children. Medical issues can run the gamit - just as they do here. Additionally, you might encounter children with attachment issues (RAD) and other behavioral issues. A high percentage of the older kids seem to have dental problems due to their poor diet and dental hygiene. At this older age, transitioning between languages and cultures is more of a challenge, as is transitioning from one "family" - the other children at their home, to a new family. I recommend that you use the Search function in this board and also read back through the archives to get more info. There is a treasure of information and advice here. We have many families here who adopted older children, and some have blogs yuo can read. It is a joy to see so many beautiful and happy families created from these older child adoptions! Good luck!

[beckyww]

I will "amen" on the dental. Julia's teeth were covered with black gunk when we came home in May. Two heavy-duty cleanings later - they're clean in front (visible) but the back baby teeth can't be cleaned any more, and they're still black. Dentist said it was from too much hot chai and too little brushing.

We do love her smile!


Becky
www.woodworthfamily.blogdrive.com

[suzynfm]

Hi LouLouBelle,

I am still in the research stage of choosing an adoption agency and would greatly appreciate if you could PM me the link that shows which agencies work in which regions.

Thanks
Susan

[kretzklan]

1. What is the availability of older girls, say in the age range of 9-11? A plethora as they say. Once a child turns five, their chances at adoption go WAY down...so children in this age range are widely available.
2. What are the statistics of children with FAS? I don't know that there is a set of known statistics on children with FAS. Yes, Russia has higher risks than some other countries due to the alcohol prevalance. Our IA doc said it would be known in an older child, although I've heard the facial issues can lessen with time and age.
3. How can I reduce my risks of adopting a child with FAS? I expect our child to have some minor learning disabilities and attachment issues but I’m concerned with a moderate to severe case of FAS. Are the older children diagnosed with FAS in the orphanages if they have it? Or is it not diagnosed until they have their adoption evaluation or when the child is brought home? Being honest with your agency about your acceptable diagnosis will help. I don't think there is any way you can ever be 100% sure that your child won't have FAS. I know there is someone on this board whose child wasn't diagnosed until they were home (for a length of time)...I believe most orphanages are as honest as they can be. But, the medical information you will get is most often times sketchy and it seems becoming more so.
4. How does the referral process work? Is the child located and referred to you by the Russian adoption authorities or does your agency assist in the referral? This could be changing due to law changes in Russia. For us, we got a referal from our agency as soon as we turned in our app - due to wanting older children and the amount waiting. We did lose that referal and at that time MOE in our region stepped in and sent the second set of referals to us (through our agency).
5. Do some regions have better orphanages than others? If so, which ones? Do agencies have certain regions they work in or can one receive a referral anywhere in Russia? Agencies are region specific (many work with numerous regions) and they will only have referals from those regions. Some regions are moving quicker than others or have different requirements than others, this will be very agency specific and a good set of questions to start out asking. As for orphanages. Some are newer and perhaps more well funded (in the bigger cities?) but overall the quality of care is based on the caregivers. All we met were such loving women with no money to help the children. It's a stark contrast to anything we are used to here - even poverty as we know it. I think the statistic was that each orphan in Russia get 1.2 cents per day!
6. What other risks should I be aware of in adopting an older child from Russia?Attachment, attachment, attachment - both the child's and your own attachment to them. Read all you can get your hands on. Be prepared for a child that does not know the basics of life (mine had never used toilet paper and were terrified of it)...be ready to deal with the child on a level far below their calendar age. They grow quickly in nearly every realm - but there are still moments that I realize how little my children "know"...

[mikeintexas]

I agree with everyone's comments above, so I won't reiterate them.

Check with agencies on how long a referral for an older child would take. My hunch is that it wouldn't be a long wait at all.

You seem concerned with the medical issues. I will tell you (and others will agree) that the Russian medical diagnoses all look really bad. As a result, many people use an IA doctor to help assess the child's health status. I think most of us would agree that, in most situations, the medicals sounded a lot worse than they were. This is probably the most difficult part.

Finally, as Kretz points out, you should be well prepared to deal with attachment issues. Stephanie (Abdulina) can tell you more. But I think attachment outweighs concerns of FAS for older kids. In my opinion, all children who come from orphanages have attachment issues... some more than others. You should read fully on this and at least be prepared for it. Our daughter is RAD though we didn't fully realize this until after being home about 9 months. Once we started full blown attachment parenting, it was crystal clear we have a little RADish. Still, I wouldn't change a thing... I love my daughter.

Hope that helps...

[Abdulina]

I will try to answer to the best of my ability. Alot is based on my personal experience so take it with a graine of salt as most will tell you on here...I don't hold back and am 100% honest. So, here goes:

1. What is the availability of older girls, say in the age range of 9-11? Plenty

2. What are the statistics of children with FAS? There is a new article out on this & it's driving me crazy that I can't find it. Urghh. The statistics are MUCH, MUCH higher than originally thought. They studied a few orphanages in Moscow and Eketrinburg, I believe. Gosh, I wish I could find that article. All I remember is the # that were alcohol effected were staggering. I know it was definitely more than 50% but honest to goodness can't remember the # exactly. They said further in the article that this will be shocking to alot of people. It was out in May, I believe. Sorry I don't have it.

3. How can I reduce my risks of adopting a child with FAS? Looking at their birth history may help but not really as alot of the medicals have false information on them. I expect our child to have some minor learning disabilities and attachment issues but I’m concerned with a moderate to severe case of FAS. Are the older children diagnosed with FAS in the orphanages if they have it? NO. Most Russians do not believe that FAS is even a real diagnosis. So you won't find it too much on there. Or is it not diagnosed until they have their adoption evaluation or when the child is brought home? An IA doc eval MAY help but probably not too much. Most will look for facial features. Some will look for mental retardation. However, only 15% of FAS kids even have MR. Majority of FASers are of normal intelligence and alot are even highly gifted. (My one FAS son is extremely gifted). I am a member of some FAS support groups. Many of us on there have children that came from Russia. I'd say almost all did not know ahead of time. ANd yes, a good chunk of these did do an IA doc eval.

4. How does the referral process work? Someone else could better answer this as I've always had hosted children or waiting children. Is the child located and referred to you by the Russian adoption authorities or does your agency assist in the referral?

5. Do some regions have better orphanages than others? Alot of this is matter of opinion. Been to a few regions and a few orphanages. All seem to be very clean. Most are lacking in supplies due to lack of funding. I've only had one orphanage so far that my kids came from that I would deem "suspicious." --Will not go into details on here. All the caretakers though I have found to be very, very loving. If so, which ones? There is good and bad everywhere so this is too hard to pinpoint. Do agencies have certain regions they work in or can one receive a referral anywhere in Russia? Most have certain regions that they stick with as to learn the process and get good at it for those particuliar regions. Makes the process more efficient for everyone involved.

6. What other risks should I be aware of in adopting an older child from Russia? Their teeth are going to be a nightmare. It will take them a much longer time to aquire english and they will struggle w/ this in school for awhile.

Once again, these are MY opinions, with MY children and MY experiences. Everyone has different opinions. Just another FYI, of my 4 current children from Russia, 3 are officially diagnosed as FAS. We had no idea ahead of time. Will this happen to you? Probably not. But please be prepared for anything.

Take care,

[his,mine&ours]

I am still in the process - and adopting a toddler - but did want to add one thing. You might check with agencies that had hosting programs over the summer. I know our agency did - and all of the "Angels from Abroad" were not adopted. By looking into adopting one of the angels, you may have the chance to speak with the host family and find out more about the child.

Good luck - you've definitely come to the right place to get info!

[ctrose]

Hi Abdulina, can you share some of the support groups for FAS. My wife and I are adopting 2 children and one of them seems to fit into the category at being a high risk for FAS. We would like to know as much about it as we can to help guide us with any issues that may come about.

Originally Posted by Abdulina

I will try to answer to the best of my ability. Alot is based on my personal experience so take it with a graine of salt as most will tell you on here...I don't hold back and am 100% honest. So, here goes:

1. What is the availability of older girls, say in the age range of 9-11? Plenty

2. What are the statistics of children with FAS? There is a new article out on this & it's driving me crazy that I can't find it. Urghh. The statistics are MUCH, MUCH higher than originally thought. They studied a few orphanages in Moscow and Eketrinburg, I believe. Gosh, I wish I could find that article. All I remember is the # that were alcohol effected were staggering. I know it was definitely more than 50% but honest to goodness can't remember the # exactly. They said further in the article that this will be shocking to alot of people. It was out in May, I believe. Sorry I don't have it.

3. How can I reduce my risks of adopting a child with FAS? Looking at their birth history may help but not really as alot of the medicals have false information on them. I expect our child to have some minor learning disabilities and attachment issues but I’m concerned with a moderate to severe case of FAS. Are the older children diagnosed with FAS in the orphanages if they have it? NO. Most Russians do not believe that FAS is even a real diagnosis. So you won't find it too much on there. Or is it not diagnosed until they have their adoption evaluation or when the child is brought home? An IA doc eval MAY help but probably not too much. Most will look for facial features. Some will look for mental retardation. However, only 15% of FAS kids even have MR. Majority of FASers are of normal intelligence and alot are even highly gifted. (My one FAS son is extremely gifted). I am a member of some FAS support groups. Many of us on there have children that came from Russia. I'd say almost all did not know ahead of time. ANd yes, a good chunk of these did do an IA doc eval.

4. How does the referral process work? Someone else could better answer this as I've always had hosted children or waiting children. Is the child located and referred to you by the Russian adoption authorities or does your agency assist in the referral?

5. Do some regions have better orphanages than others? Alot of this is matter of opinion. Been to a few regions and a few orphanages. All seem to be very clean. Most are lacking in supplies due to lack of funding. I've only had one orphanage so far that my kids came from that I would deem "suspicious." --Will not go into details on here. All the caretakers though I have found to be very, very loving. If so, which ones? There is good and bad everywhere so this is too hard to pinpoint. Do agencies have certain regions they work in or can one receive a referral anywhere in Russia? Most have certain regions that they stick with as to learn the process and get good at it for those particuliar regions. Makes the process more efficient for everyone involved.

6. What other risks should I be aware of in adopting an older child from Russia? Their teeth are going to be a nightmare. It will take them a much longer time to aquire english and they will struggle w/ this in school for awhile.

Once again, these are MY opinions, with MY children and MY experiences. Everyone has different opinions. Just another FYI, of my 4 current children from Russia, 3 are officially diagnosed as FAS. We had no idea ahead of time. Will this happen to you? Probably not. But please be prepared for anything.

Take care,

[Abdulina]

CTRose or anyone else who wants some FAS sites, just email me privately and I'll give them to you. I'm not sure the rules to posting them on here. I don't think there is any that ask for donations so I think it would be okay to post. But to avoid the headache, just email me and I'll give them to you.

Best wishes,

[nancyral]

We are home with our five year old daughter and couldn't be happier. The attachment parenting techniques really do work. We paid about $750 for an in-country doctor to examine her in Russia and it was worth every penny. Our daughter's orphanage wasn't well-equipped but the staff was great. We had to travel three times which added greatly to our expenses - just set aside more than you think you'll need and you'll use it up. But I wouldn't change a thing. Also, read Alison and Jim's blog - they really prep you and show you how to keep a sense of humor.