[britton]

Is anyone else being 'warned' about Article 268 and its potential impact on reaccreditation?

We've been 'talked to' about the possibility of this impacting reaccreditation which may now not occur until Spring of 2007. It appears that our agency's understanding is that this has to be rewritten and approved versus just the need for signatures.

They are not posing as optimistic about this.

When does this roller coaster ride every end?!

[cathvash]

-Baby homes must be getting awfully full, and winter's on the way... I hope they work it out as quickly as possible!

I am hearing now 6 successful NGO registrations for agencies. Mine has still not filed

Again, I heard it was a matter of signatures holding up 268, and that it does not have to go to the Duma for passage. Even if they make re-writes, I am not understanding the rationale for the belief that it will not occur until the Spring. That might make sense if the Duma needed to be in session at the time, and it is "down" a bit on the agenda...

For anyone hearing about a "March" or "Spring" date for re-accreditations, please ask your folks WHY they believe that to be the case... Very curious, and still placing my hopes in October... The only thing I have heard related to this is that someone heard that their agency heard that their Moscow rep heard someone at the MOE saying that this would not happen until March. Too many "heards" in the mix! There may be truth to this, but we need more information!

[mommyto4]

Just wanted to let you guys know I am praying for you, I feel your pain. Just have some comfort in knowing God has a plan, although we don't always know or understand his plan. The wait in the end will be worth it, at least that is what I am hoping and praying for,after this seemingly endless rollercoaster ride so many of us seem to be on. We are all in this together to pray for and support each other

[jaw's mom]

My agency has been saying this all along...ever since the July meeting in D.C. They can home saying that the NGO wasn't going to be the problem. They said that reaccreditation could be. They said they didn't expect reaccreditation to happen for 6 months because of the article that had to be signed. I am sincerely hoping that they were giving the worst case scenario.

[lovestruck]

OUr agency told us that the six month time frame came from the minisity of justice (could have the title wrong but I think that's it) at the meeting in Washington. My worker was at this meeting and heard this for herself. If she had not heard it herself I would be much more skeptical. I was shell shocked, angry and depressed when first hearing the information from her, and still am!!

She also said they are trying to change which ministry handles adoptions and Russia has not been able to agree on which ministry it will be. And she said that until that is resolved most likely nothing will move forward.

But she did also say that things can always happen more quickly than being predicted and I hope for everyones sake that is does!! Please let it be Oct and not longer!!

[rodaniel]

About 3 weeks ago, our agency rep told us that, as for which group will be handling international adoption & accreditation, this was an issue that was up for discussion, but has now been decided that the Ministry of Education will retain control of accreditation.

They hope to have registration for NGO completed by mid-September since that's first step in the process of accreditation. Next is for the Duma to sign the non-expiring accreditation into law, which they say is scheduled to happen by mid-October. Then they'll register with the Ministry of Education for accreditation.

But that's all 3 week old info and we haven't heard anything more yet. I'm still holding out hope that everything will fall in place before the holidays...

[cathvash]

A worrisome point to me is that everything in Russia grinds to a halt for around a month between mid-Dec. to mid-Jan. If registrations don't start happening by mid-October or so, will anyone be traveling before next year? Of course, those registered prior to May 17th are in many cases being allowed to proceed, but I am concerned that next year could be a mess...

[his,mine&ours]

Our agency, also at the July meeting, sent out an email, here is a portion of it:

.....We were pleased to hear how reasonable and responsive Mr. Zhafyarov was to agencies about the NGO process.

He did not address accreditation matters since the control of accreditation of agencies falls under the Ministry of Education not the Ministry of Justice. ...We still do not have a clear understanding how long it will take to receive accreditation from the Ministry of Education after Buckner becomes an NGO. It will not be automatic.

We have heard that there is a law in Russia, # 268, going through the revision process which must be passed before the Ministry of Education will be able to reaccredit adoption agencies. .... Please be praying that the revisions of 268 will be completed quickly and this legislation will be pushed through in a timely manner so agencies can be reaccredited soon after receiving NGO registration. Although the timeframe is unknown, some speculate it could be completed by mid to late September

It's just shows that people can attend the same meeting and hear very different things. The consensus I am hearing/seeing from this and other boards though, is that this is not a legislative issue that has to go through the Duma. That, hopefully, will make it go more quickly than it otherwise would.