Must work with BCS office
Advantages:
Bethany partners with accredited agencies who work in several regions, increasing the number of referrals for adoptive families.
Program Overview:
Bethany Christian Services can assist you with an adoption from Russia by providing home study and post-placement services. Bethany has a long relationship with two accredited agencies and will work with them to complete your adoption. These agencies have programs and staff in several Russian regions. In 2004 and 2005, Bethany Christian Services worked with 81 families adopting 107 children from Russia and in the past five years, Bethany Christian Services has completed home studies for more than 275 families adopting from Russia.
The ages of children available for adoption may change in the future but in 2004 and 2005 the age range was the following for Bethany families.
14% were infants - <1 year old children
26% were 13 – 23 months old
32% were 2-4 years old
12% were 5-6 years old
11% were 7-10 years old
5% were 11+ years old
A significant concern for adoptive parents is waiting time during the adoption process before they are able to welcome their child home into their “forever” family. For the same time frame as above these families experienced the following wait times after their dossiers were submitted in Russia.
46% waited 2-6 months
33% waited 7-12 months
17% waited 13-18 months
3% waited 19-21 months
Here are comments from several families about working with Bethany as part of their Russian adoption:
“We were very pleased and impressed with the extreme organization of their program. Everyone we dealt with in Russia was friendly and helpful. We especially liked Aleks and Yelena– wonderful people to work with.” from Tennessee
“We were very pleased as the staff in Russia helped us a lot. They took us to eat, gave us books and videos to pass the time, called and checked on us, and again went above and beyond their call of duty to help us with the court or judge.” from Wisconsin
“The Grand Rapids staff has been wonderful throughout the process–very helpful and timely … Amazing people! We thoroughly enjoyed the Russia staff!” from Michigan
“The Russian staff in Moscow and the local city were always on top of things. They were friendly, well informed and very accommodating. We felt that we were in the best of care at all times.” from Pennsylvania
Location
Several Russian regions, including St. Petersburg.
Children available
Healthy/special needs children age 12 months-15 years
Children’s situation
Orphanages
Eligibility for Families
No singles accepted in St. Petersburg region; all other regions women only,
preference given to couples.
No more that 45 years between parent and child
Waiting time for referral
Average is 6-12 months after dossier received in Russia
Waiting time after referral
Average is 2-6 months
Travel
2 trips – 1st trip is 1 week and 2nd is 3 weeks
Both parents must travel for both trips; one parent may return after court date on 2nd trip.
Country Fees
Please contact your local Bethany office for details regarding costs
Adoption finalized
Russia
Dossier required
Yes
Post-Placement Reports
Arrival, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months
Photos required with each report
Registration at Russian consulate required.
Please contact your local Bethany branch for more information.