Lithuania


Process

1. PRELIMINARY/FORMAL APPLICATION
All applications must be completed before you can formally begin your Lithuania adoption. The preliminary application is available on the website. Upon approval by the Lithuania team, your local Bethany branch will contact you regarding your next steps. You will be given instructions regarding submission of the formal application and the documents that must accompany it. Bethany’s Lithuania team in Grand Rapids, MI, reviews the application, which is then forwarded back to your branch office.

2. ADOPTIVE HOME STUDY
The Home Study is completed by a social worker from your local Bethany branch. Four documented meetings are required for submission of a dossier to Lithuania.

3. DOSSIER GATHERING/AUTHENTICATION
Several documents must be gathered, notarized, apostilled, and authenticated for your Lithuania dossier. More information will be provided to you by your Bethany social worker once you formally enter the program. Once the dossier is submitted, the Lithuania team in Grand Rapids, MI will review your dossier before sending it to the Family Law Center in Vilnius, Lithuania.

4. PROCESS IN LITHUANIA
Your dossier is translated once it arrives in Lithuania. It is then submitted to Adoption Services under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (AS) for review and to be placed on the registry waiting list.

5. REFERRAL/TRAVEL
Referral and travel times are subject to change during your Lithuania adoption. The current time frames for referrals are 12-24 months for applicants with proven Lithuanian heritage, and up to 3 years for applicants without Lithuanian heritage. Travel typically occurs 2-4 months after you receive a referral.

6. POST-PLACEMENT REPORTS
Once you return from Lithuania with your new child, your social worker will contact you about setting up a post-placement meeting. Your social worker will conduct seven post-placement visits and reports after your child is at home at the following times: arrival, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 months. Pictures must accompany these reports.

For more information about Bethany's Lithuania program, please call 1.877.64.ADOPT, e-mail us at bcsinternational@bethany.org, or fill out our contact form.