Eastern Europe Blog

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The Convention on the Rights of the Child Celebrates 20 Years!

On November 20, 2009 the Convention on the Rights of the Child will celebrate its 20^th anniversary advocating for children everywhere. While for some a child having the right to an education and the simplicity of childhood is normal, others still view children as property. This is seen on a wide scale around the world where child labor laws are in place, but not enforced; where children are coerced and manipulated into being agents of war; and where children are tried and convicted as adults. The CRC called upon the human race to step up and take action against the injustices children face. The CRC is a voice for the abused and neglected children around the world. To read further about this, please visit www.unicef.org.

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 03:35:26 PM Location Europe, Albania, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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A long awaited study on adoption identity formation was recently published by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute.  A New York Times article about the study can be found here. A full study summary can be found on the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute website by clicking here.  We encourage every adoptive parent to check out this excellent study.  Also, adoption workers are encouraged to study the findings and consider how best to prepare families for the unique issues of identity formation their adopted child will face.  We greatly appreciate the time and effort spent on this wonderful resource.

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 04:18:44 PM Location Albania, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Yesterday we learned that Ukraine has temporarily suspended the visits of prospective adoptive parents with children in Ukraine in an attempt to control the spread of H1N1.  As you've certainly heard on television, in school newsletters, and perhaps even from your employers, H1N1 is quite contagious and can pose certain health risks. We urge everyone to take extra precautions to remain healthy.

 You can read the Ukraine announcements on the JCICS website, and also on the State Department website.  

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 03:24:09 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Media coverage of stories about adoption can often be negative, highlighting failures in adoptive placements, issues of corruption, and even questioning adoptive parents' motivation to adopt.  Today, however, we are pleased to share a recently published article portraying Russian adoption in a very positive and uplifting light.  The article was published by America.gov and was made available in both the Russian and English languages.  You can link to the article here.

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 03:09:17 PM Location Albania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Did you know that NOVEMBER is "National Adoption Month" in the United States?

The History of Adoption Month (taken from "NACAC:" North American Council on Adoptable Children) Formalized, time-specific adoption awareness campaigns originated more than 20 years ago. In May 1976, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis issued the first state Adoption Week proclamation, and President Ford then officially proclaimed the week in a letter to the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) conference held later that year. As years went on, Adoption Week came to be observed during the week of Thanksgiving in November.

In 1986, NACAC helped coordinate a national "Calling Out" event based on an idea from Larry Gellerstein, then president of the Adoptive Parent Committee of New York. That year groups across North America braved late November weather and simultaneously assembled on state and provincial capitol steps to read statements about waiting children, and call out the names of waiting children in their state or province.

In 1990, NACAC decided to expand opportunities for raising awareness, and began advertising Adoption Week as National Adoption Awareness Month (November). The idea has quickly caught on, and Adoption Month has celebrated ever since.

In 2005, a Presidential Proclamation of November 19 marked "National Adoption Day" where thousands of children across the United States have their adoption finalized in court!  

CELEBRATE ADOPTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As an adoptive family, what can you do to celebrate National Adoption Month?  

-contact your local schools and help them celebrate too!  
-contact your local child care facilities and ask them to celebrate adoption too!
-connect with your employer/HR and start an adoption benefit!
 -start an adoptive family support group in your area!
-plan a community gathering with your local adoptive families support groups!
-write a letter (and send a photo) to your congress person to help encourage their support!
-write a letter to your child's birth/first parents, expressing your emotions!
-write a letter to your child telling them how much you love them!
-work on or look at your child's  Lifebook!
-plan a family outing!
-sponsor an orphan in your child's birth-country
-start an adoption ministry at your church
-have a fundraiser/garage sale/bake-off/silent auction at church... to benefit your child's orphanage/adoption expenses!
-have siblings in the home write about "what adoption means to them"!
-look into culture camps and homeland tours for your family!
-learn something fun about your child's birth-country or birth-culture!
-go out to eat or cook ethnic food!
-make a tradition of having a family photo taken every November... then send it out with Christmas cards!
-write a letter/story to your local newspaper educating about adoption!
-pray for birth/first families, foster families, orphanage caretakers, adoptive families, and orphaned children around the world... that they may celebrate the Blessings of adoption too!

CELEBRATE ADOPTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 08:53:03 AM Location Albania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category Albania Kazakhstan Lithuania Russia Bulgaria Ukraine
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What motivates you to think about adoption? If you're in the process of adopting, or have already adopted, you can probably fairly easily identify why you chose this path. Perhaps you've dealt with infertility or difficulties having a child by birth.  Perhaps you feel a sense of responsibility to care for children who are without parents or relatives to care for them.  Maybe you came to adoption as a result of several factors.  Whatever your motivation, you probably feel strongly that adoption is the right decision for you and your family.  At BCS we are fortunate to play a small part in the formation of families through adoption, and as you can see in a recent news article (Faith moves families to adopt children from overseas) to adopt as an expression of one's faith is often motivation enough.  We are also excited to see the work that's being done within the Church in bringing awareness of the needs of orphaned children throughout the world.  An informative new website you may be interested in checking out is 143million.org. You'll see that adoption is just one of many ways that your own faith may be motivating you to do something for children throughout the world.

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 01:27:15 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category Albania Bulgaria Kazakhstan Lithuania Russia Ukraine
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As we have now completed the first 9 months of 2009, we want to bring you up to date on what has been happening in several Eastern European countries and Russia.

Albania - As of the end of September 2009, we have had 3 families united with their child/children from Albania.

Bulgaria - We are excited with the pilot program begun in Bulgaria. We have 8 families who are in process of submitting a dossier. Of these 8 families, 4 have identified a child with special needs and are excited to receive approval and to travel to receive their child. Bethany Christian Services International has received several waiting children in need of loving families. If you are interested in learning more about a waiting child, you may contact Janie at jvandyke@bethany.org for more information.

Kazakhstan - Four families have come home with 6 precious children from Kazakhstan. Another family currently is in Kazakhstan and returning soon with their son.

Lithuania - As of the end of September 2009, we have had 4 families come home with a total of 7 child/children from Lithuania.  Another 2 families for a total of 4 more children will be home by the end of this year. There continue to be many older children in need of loving families in Lithuania.

Russia - Bethany Christian Services International is able to assist families with home studies and post-placement reports for a Russia adoption. As of the end of September, 28 families have come home with 37 children from Russia. A couple families anticipate being able to travel soon to Russia to bring their children home. There are many young children, older children, sibling groups, and special needs children in need of loving families in Russia.

Ukraine - Five families have traveled to Ukraine and are united with 5 precious children. There is 1 family who is anticipating travel to Ukraine during the month of October.

There are many precious, waiting children in Eastern Europe and Russia who need loving families. For more information on adopting a waiting child, please visit the Intercountry Adoption page of Bethany's website.

There are many other children who will not be able to be adopted, but need support to be able to stay in their biological homes, foster care, life skills training, etc. If you are not able to adopt, but desire to help a child, please visit www.bethanyglobal.org for the opportunities to help a child.

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 10:00:11 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category Bulgaria Russia Ukraine Albania Kazakhstan Lithuania
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Recently one of Bethany's staff members accompanied a local group of individuals committed to caring for the needs of children living in institutions on a trip to Ukraine.  Here is a brief summary of her experience:

"I had the opportunity to travel with a team to Ukraine this past summer.  While we were there we spent time with children and youth in Tulchyn, a small village in the Vinnitsa Oblast.  We also had the chance to interact with residents in a level 4 institution.  While some were physically able to maneuver on their own (via taped together wheelchairs or by crawling), most were bed ridden with twisted limbs, severe muscle atrophy, and paralysis.  On the surface, our first impressions often jump immediately to the assumption that caregivers in such a facility lack compassion.  Why else would people be tied in their beds?  Once we removed our blinders, we began to absorb the realization that there was a 1:15 ratio of caregivers to residents, making it physically impossible to provide the care and protection each person needed.  While the visit was, at times, disturbing to many in our group, the response from nearly all of the residents was of shear gratitude and simple appreciation for our time spent with them.  I dare admit that I might even look forward to my next visit".  

Please take a minute to pray for the children and adults in institutions in Ukraine who are living with less than optimal care and are helpless to care for themselves.  If you are interested in learning more about how you can become involved in caring for vulnerable children and adults in Ukraine please visit bethanyglobal.org.  

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 12:16:09 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category Albania Bulgaria Lithuania Russia Kazakhstan Ukraine
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Children in Eastern Europe with special placement needs may have a hopeless future.

These children may have medical, physical, or developmental challenges. Children who turn 5 years of age with these needs are sent to "Institutions for the Handicapped."  There they will live out hopeless, helpless lives. Some are tied to cribs and chairs and drugged so as not to cause trouble for the caretakers.

In Eastern European countries, children who turn 15 or 16 years of age must leave the orphanage.  They are literally sent out into the streets with little education or skills.
--40% turn to drugs and alcohol
--40% are at risk for prostitution and crime
--Only about 10% adapt to society.
--Almost 15% commit suicide.

Children who are older than 5 years old are difficult to place, with so many families wanting young children instead.
Although we recognize that the older children come with unique challenges, they can certainly be blessings to their adoptive families.

Bethany is always looking for patient, brave, and loving families to adopt older children and children with medical, physical and developmental challenges.  Check out Bethany's Waiting Children page for more information.  In addition to adoption, Bethany is involved in many programs that benefit children and families by focusing on family preservation and support.  Check out Bethanyglobal.org for more information on our efforts around the world.

It is vital that we pray and advocate for these children!  By working to provide services in Eastern European countries for children and families, we can offer the hope of a better future!


Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves: ensure justice for those who are dying. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31: 8-9

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 01:45:29 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category Albania Lithuania Kazakhstan Ukraine Russia Bulgaria
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From time to time, we will share information about waiting children-- children who have special placement needs or circumstances.  Please take a minute to consider how you can help care for these children, whether by considering adoption of a child with special needs, praying for these special children, or bringing awareness to others about the needs of such children throughout the world. Today we would like to share information about two children in Eastern Europe:

Bethany has 2 waiting children in E. Europe with Arthrogryposis. They are a 9 year old girl and a 10 year old boy. They are unrelated.

Arthrogryposis is a condition where many joints become "frozen" and consequently cannot bend. Sometimes the nerves that would normally move the bones in the affected joints are also impaired. Casting, physical therapy and sometimes surgery may improve joint movements.

These children are bright, happy children. They live in the same orphanage.  An adoptive family who adopted two children with special needs from this orphanage came to know them. They would be happy to talk with anyone who might be interested. Each child already has a $7,500.00 grant from Brittany's Hope Foundation and there is also an opportunty to receive a Bethany Caring Connection grant.

These children will have no hope for a future living in an orphanage. They will not receive the resources they need to become productive adults. They will live out their life in an "institution for the handicapped."

If you are interested please contact Janie at jvandyke@bethany.org.

Posted by Michelle J. Dykema At 08:57:40 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)