It is estimated that over 700,000 children are sitting in Russian orphanages, waiting for a home and family to call their own.  If no home can be found for these children within Russia, they process through a database system handled by the government to make them available for international adoption. 

Eastern Europe Program Director is Patricia Beristain, located in the Tucson office of Hand In Hand.

Regions in Russia Where Hand In Hand Works:   

• Tula
• St. Petersburg
• Moscow Region
• Moscow City
• Ivanovo
• Bryansk
• Kemerevo
• Buryatia

 
Types of Children Available:           

• Children 8 ½ months to 15 years old are available.
• Adoption of two or more unrelated children is permitted in some regions.  Applicants wishing to adopt two unrelated children, if requesting one infant, must be open to the second child being up to four years old.
• Sibling groups are available.
• Healthy children and children with mild to moderate medical conditions as well as children with special needs are available.

Types of Families Accepted:            

• Minimum age required by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service is 25 years old.  Russia’s requirement for minimum age is 18 years old.     
• There is no maximum age; however, a judge may use his discretion to determine if he feels the prospective parents are too old for the child they wish to adopt.  Many judges want the age difference between the adoptive parents and the child to be no more than 45 years.  Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 16 years older than the child they adopt. 
• Couples where one has been proven to be physically incapable or limited may not adopt.
• Parents with poor health may not adopt (It is the judge’s decision whether or not he sees a person fit for parenting.)
• There are no restrictions with regard to number of years a couple is married.
• Single, heterosexual women are accepted.
• Having existing children in the family is acceptable in most regions but approval also depends upon the age and number of children the parents wish to adopt.
• Applicants may not have been previously convicted of a felony.  Previous traffic violations and some misdemeanors may be acceptable.
• United States Citizenship and Immigration Service requires that a family’s adjusted gross income be 125% of the U.S. poverty line.

Travel Requirements:                                  

• Two to three trips are required, depending upon the region.
• First trip:  Involves meeting and accepting the referral and is 3 to 7 business days, depending upon region. 
• Second trip: Involves the court hearing.  Both parents must attend the court hearing.  The second trip is 3 to 10 business days if the 10-day waiting period is waived.
• Third trip:  If the 10-day waiting period is not waived, the parents may stay in Russia and wait, or go home to wait, then return for a third time to complete the paperwork and pick up the child.

Time Frames:                                    

• Dossier completion to First trip (Match):  1 - 12 months (varies by region and gender of child – infant girls require a longer wait)
• Match to Placement:  2 - 16 weeks (varies by region)