[jkliner]

My wife and I are making our first trip to Russia in a few days and will be meeting with the Orphanage Director. I'm looking for a list of questions to ask the Director about our daughter's health, experience in the orphanage, history, etc.

Can anyone direct me to a resource that has some sample questions?

Thanks so much!

[MamaChinch]

This is a copy of the list I had from a website, but I don't remember the link:


Birth History
Date of birth
Height/Weight
Head circ
Term birth?
Gravida/para
Type of delivery
Birth complications
Apgars
Documented maternal Alcohol or drug use?
Communicable disease history of bio mom/dad
How arrived at orphanage? With whom?
Are there any baby pictures in file?
How old when arrived at orphanage?
Why is the child a ward of the state?
Does he/she remember bio family?
What has he/she been told about adoption process & bio family
Who named the child?
Where born - name of hospital or place
Name of doctor who delivered baby

Medical Questions
What vaccinations have been administered to the child?
Polio, Diphtheria/Tetanus, Chicken Pox , Small Pox , Measles, Tuberculosis, Other

What tests have been given to the child? HIV, Hepatitis A,B,C Other

Childhood diseases to date:
Chicken pox
Whooping cough
Measles
RSV
Fifths Disease
others

Previous medical history & Diagnosis
Allergies
Heart conditions
Lung conditions
Stomach/bowel
Urinary/bedwetting
Accidents/injuries
Hospitalization/Surgery
History of blood transfusions/Repeated parenteral injections
Current Illnesses
Current Medications

Medical history of parents:
Bio mother
Physical description: height weight hair color, eye color
Known mental illness
Known congenital Diseases
Where is her family from?
Ethnic background
Schooling
Occupation

Bio father
Physical description: height weight hair color, eye color
Known mental illness
Known congenital Diseases
Where is her family from?
Ethnic background
Schooling
Occupation

Relationship between mother and father (married, still together, not married etc.)

Any other relatives who may have a special relationship to the child, ie grandparents, aunts, uncles

Siblings? their health status and locations

Developmental Delays noted / Milestones Achieved when:
Speech-Native Language
Began to speak age
Approx. word vocab
Problem areas
Growth / Mobility
Sat up age
Crawled
Walked
Problems noted

Emotional
Concerns with Autism, Tourettes, ADHD, Mental retardation
Unexplained outbursts
Difficulty keeping direct eye contact or hyper vigilant?
Overly affectionate to strangers?
Unusual attachment to something
Is child rigid
Signs of violence/ destructiveness
Strange behaviors associated with eating, sleeping, cleaning, learning or play?
Phobias, panic attacks, nightmares or terrors?
Known cases of sexual abuse?
Attachment to any caregivers? Names of caregivers
How does she/he express affection?
How does she/he deal with frustration, anger, surprise, change, learning new things?

Miscellanious Questions:
- What normally happens when he/she gets sick?
- Did any of the shots (or other treatments) leave marks on the child's skin?
- List of foods liked/disliked, allergic (generally for older kids)
- List of menus generally used
- Recipes of any favorite Russian meals
- What has been the feeding schedule?
- Were the children ever given treats? What were they? When or why were they given?


Daily Activity Questions:
- What time does the child generally get up?
- When is bathing ? (AM / PM, how frequent)
- How are the children bathed? (Tub/shower/sponge bath)
- Please describe hair washing.
- Does the child brush his/her own teeth? If so, when? (AM/PM/both) Does he/she need assistance in brushing?
- When does he/she go to the potty? (Get times, if on a regular schedule.)
- What are the child's routine responsibilities? How is the child handling these?
- If school age, when and where does the child go to school?
- What is/are play time(s)?
- What are play time activities (Toys, outside play, etc.)
- When is/are nap time(s)? (Both go to sleep and wake up)
- When is/are evening bed time(s)?

Developmental Questions
- What educational toys has the child used?
- Is the child cognizant of different shapes / colors / letters / numbers?
- What is the child's emotional development?
- Does the child prefer to have a favorite toy or security blanket with him/her?
- What are the child's favorite songs, activities, games?

School Quesions
- What is the child's reading / writing level?
- What are the child's favorite school subjects?
- Can I obtain the child's workbooks?
- Is the child generally quiet and reserved or boisterous and busy?
- Does the child have any known fears, problems, issues, concerns?
- Does he/she act differently when feeling ill, scared, etc.?
- Is there special way to comfort him/her when sick or tired or scared?
- Is there any special treatment or method to get him/her to sleep, eat, nap, wash, etc.?
- How does the child act when left alone?
- Does the child get along with:
- Other children?
- Adult females? Males?
- Animals (pets)?

Personality Traits
- Is the child a favorite of the care givers?
-Is the child ticklish?
- Does the child have any religious training/baptisms, records?
- What has been the child's travel experience?
- Are there any other extenuating circumstances in their history?
- What can you tell me about his/her parents?
- Why is he/she in this orphanage?
- How long has he/she been here?
- Are any of his/her family known and where do they live?
- Was the child ever visited by anyone?
- Do you know if the child has (other) siblings?
- Do you know any physical or artistic characteristics of other birth family members?
- Would you be willing to contact us if you became aware of additional birth family history or the existence of siblings?
- Would you be willing to include in the child's file information that we provide in case a birth family member wished information about the child?
If yes, what information from us do you suggest? To whom would you give the information?Is it possible to maintain contact with his/her best friends
from the orphanage? Get Names/Addresses/Phone numbers of Care givers, Doctors, Facilitators Other contacts you may need
- Do any of the care givers wish to write a personal letter which would be safeguarded until the child was old enough to read it? Would it be
possible to take a picture of the letter's author to accompany the letter? [If an older child is being adopted, this request could be extended to the
child's friends.]
- When we send you letters and pictures, is there anything in particular about our child's new life that we should make sure we include?
- Is there anything we can do or possibly have done by others for the Detsky Dom?

Notes:
- Try to photograph the child's file or get copies of it. Bring additional photos of your home, family, etc. to show care givers/officials. You may want to leave some with them.
- Obviously these are only suggestions and you may choose not to ask some of them. It may be wise to have your list of questions pre-approved by your
agency before travel. If any are rejected, though, make sure you get a complete explanation for why. Remember,this is your time for full disclosure.
If you don't get the answers for you and your child now, you probably never will.

[MamaChinch]

Good luck on your trip and safe travels!!!

[jkliner]

Thanks so much! This is extremely helpful!

[MamaChinch]

You're very welcome!! :-)

[GCS]

wow Cyndi! That's awesome! That should be saved on a post it at the top of the forum for sure!

[momraine]

Ask and you shall recieve!

[MamaChinch]

Good idea, Christina and Lorraine!