August 19th, 2006
Hello and welcome to Adoption Options’ blog! We want this to be a forum where prospective and veteran adoptive parents can come to for up to date information on Adoption Options and our placement program in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Please feel free to make comments or post on the site.
In addition to this blog, we are in the process of creating a wikiopedia (a type of online encyclopedia) that we have loving named ”Adoptopedia”. In this forum, families will be able to post information for everyone to view, and it will automatically organize the material in alphabetically and in categories. It is our hope that the AO famillies will be able to share their value personal experiences with others.
For those of you new to blogging and to the wiki, we hope that you will find this experience to be an easier way to get updated information, as well as to share your thoughts with others. We would like you to be as open and honest as you can. However, this blog will be moderated by our clinical staff to ensure the safety and appropriateness of the material posted on it.
We look forward to seeing you “online”!
Posted in General AO Information | 1 Comment »
September 5th, 2006
Since the inception of our placement program in Kyrgyzstan, we have had seven families successfully complete their adoption; with five of the seven recently returning with their children in September. So far, all the families have been pleased with the overall health of the children, and feel that the children received the best possible care while at the orphanage.
These seven families were all pioneers to this program, and through them, we have learned more about the country and the adoption process.
Currently, the court is on holiday, and is scheduled to resume regular business in October. However, we continue to receive referrals for waiting families despite the court’s vacation schedule.
Posted in Kyrgyzstan | No Comments »
September 20th, 2006
Kazakhstan remains a very viable country to adopt from; especially for families interested in adopting Euasian looking chidlren. Travel to Kazakstan remains a single trip, anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks (depending on the region). We have had five families adopt children from Kazakhstan this year, and we have several families waiting for referrals.
Posted in Kazakhstan | 1 Comment »
September 20th, 2006
Unfortunately our Russian re-accreditation has not been officially approved. Two ministers involved with signing our accreditation have resigned, and now we must wait until two new ministers are appointed. The President of Frank will be traveling to Russia to see
Adoption Options is able to work in some regions in Russia, by allowing us to work independently. We had some families travel and complete their adoption despite this issue, and do continue to receive referrals in those regions. However, there remains several regions that do not allow for this, causing many families to have a delay in their adoption process.
Many families have been asking how long it will take to get a referral. The current wait time for a referral of a baby girl, under three years is 6 to 9 months. Wait time for a referral for a baby boy is about 2 months. This is from the time you have signed contracts with AO–after you have completed your home study.
Posted in Russia | No Comments »
September 21st, 2006
So we have had the blog up for a couple of days, and we want to update this as frequently as needed…but is anyone really reading this? If you are reading this, please post a comment so we know that this information is going to someone…
We would love to know what kind of information you would like to see here. We have a list of topics that we will be adding onto the blog, but we would like to know your thoughts so we may include other topics we might have missed. And well, if you are reading this, then we would like to gear it towards the readers! Please let us know what you want to see.
Posted in General AO Information | 5 Comments »
September 22nd, 2006
We have recently received information regarding this playgroup that was created by another adoptive parent. AO has no affiliation with this group, and we have not attended any of their events. Their information was provided to us by organizer, Sandra Knutson.
The San Diego Adoption Play Group
Meet local Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents to Be, and their children. Gather to discuss issues related to adoption and parenting, to provide support to each other, and to have fun with our kids.
Learn more info at http://adoption.meetup.com/82
email Sandra at meercatnaburrow2@yahoo.com
Posted in General AO Information | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2006
Russian Male Ensemble called Hermitage.
This ensemble of six voices will be touring the
West Coast in October and will be performing at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Poway
Wednesday October 18 at 7 pm.
The group enjoys keeping the Russian traditions of church music from the Eastern Church alive.
Thus they will sing liturgical motets and psalms as well as various folk songs.
The singers were mostly educated in Saint Petersburg and
several have sung in the Kirov Opera, Leningrad State Opera and many churches and choirs from the region.
We will still have a $10.00 donation at the door.
Children under 12 years of age will be $5.00.
There will be a reception in the parish hall
following the concert.
You won’t want to miss this extraordinary event!
**For more information, please call the church directly at 858-487-2159.
***AO is not affiliated with this group in anyway. This is a privately sponsored event.
Posted in General AO Information | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2006
We have had a recent request for more information on Kazakhstan, specifically posts from familiies who have adopted from Kazakstan. I am in the process of asking families to begin writing information about their trips or allowing us to post links to their own personal adoption blogs. Once I get this info, I will put that information here. You can also refer to our AO website, and view our current newsletter. The cover story features two children from Kazakhstan who were adopted by one family. http://www.adoption-options.org/PDF%20News%20Letters/Fall%202005%20PDF.pdf
Families with children in the home are allowed to bring their children to Kazakstan in most regions. We generally do not recommend families bring their children on the trip as the travel and visits to the orphanage can be difficult for the children. However, families who want to pursue this possibility should talk to us right away so we can plan accordingly. This may also influence where your referral will come from since only certain regions allow for this option.
Posted in Kazakhstan | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2006
Michael and Diva Lawrence have graciously agreed to allow us to post a link to their personal adoption blog. The Lawrence family have recently adopted their daughter, Sofia, from Kazakstan. Please visit their blog to read about their experiences, which included bringing their two biological children on their trip. To read from the beginning, please scroll down and begin with their May 2006 posts.
http://www.ourjourneytosofia.blogspot.com/
Posted in Kazakhstan | No Comments »
September 26th, 2006
I am often asked how long will it take to complete my adoption…and although there is an “intellectual” answer to that (usually one year, depending on the country the family is adopting from), it is difficult for me to address the emotions that come with waiting for your referral and then for your trip to the foreign country.
During the home study and dossier process, I believe that most families feel like this is a process that they have some control over. Therefore, the wait does not seem to haunt them so much. It is when the paperwork is all done, and there is nothing else that the family can do but to wait is when this “waiting game” becomes increasingly more difficult. It is difficult not to become impatient because you are inevitably waiting for “the call” that will change your lives forever…and I know that it is all that you think about, dream about, talk about…which makes the wait even harder to bare.
However, to make that wait a bit easier, I do encourage the following:
- Get educated! Read as much as you can about not only the process, but how you can best prepare for travel and for the arrival of your child. Also read about normal child development issues, especially if you are a first time parent.
- Connect with other families. Ask us to refer you to other families who have adopted or with other waiting families.
- Attend our parent support group and our pre-travel seminar.
- Attend our reunion picnics.
- Prepare the child’s room.
- Locate resources in your community that you will need when your child comes home. i.e. pediatrician, schools, daycare, playgroups, other children’s activities.
- If you are working, plan for your leave of absence, find out company’s policies on time-off and extended leave
- Spend time your friends and/or extended family members.
- Rest (You won’t get much of this once your child is home!)
- Have an open line of communication with your adoption/placing agency.
If you are already doing all of this, good for you! We do realize that the wait can be long and difficult, and we don’t want you to feel isolated or frustrated at the process. Please keep in mind that there are often things beyond anyone’s control that can prolong this wait, but keep the lines of communication open with your agency so we/they can provide you with the support you need and also keep you up to date on what is going on in the country. If anyone else has any other suggestions, please post them here. This is definitely a subject that everyone should weigh in on.
Posted in General AO Information | 3 Comments »