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INS Fee Increases

Mentor Program

Russian Holidays

Waiting Child

Welcome Home

• Christmas is celebrated in
  Russia on January 7.
  
  
• Reminder during tax time:
  Take advantage of the adoption tax credit.
  
  
• If you are traveling to Russia this winter, make sure to bring an old-fashioned, fluffy snowsuit for your child. Russians bundle the children during the cold weather!
  

Program Update

Happy Holidays, and our wishes for a safe and splendid 20002
      December and January are traditionally a very slow time for Russian adoptions because of holiday closures. However, we did receive a few referrals and court dates. Since mid-January, the pace has definitely picked up.
      As the Russian officials have become more concerned about the confidential nature of information about children, they have begun to implement some changes in the adoption process. In December, many regions began to require two trips, the first of which is intended for adopting parents to gather information about, and meet their children. Families then return to the U.S. and usually wait 4 to 8 weeks to return to Russia for the court hearing.
      Some regions have not yet decided if they will require two trips, and some regions have not yet decided how much, if any, information will be made available on a child prior to travel. This means that, in some cases, you may be asked to travel to Russia without any information about a child. If there are regions that continue to release child information, or require only one trip, you may decide to request one of those regions, with the understanding that your wait will increase for a child referral.
      These changes are, understandably, of great concern to families waiting for a child referral. From experience, we know that every time there is a law change in Russia, it takes some time for regional officials to interpret the law and to begin implementing the changes. Additionally, we can always expect some changes in paperwork requirements whenever the legal process changes. Please check your mail and your e-mail frequently, and check in with your case manager for updates.

      In order to keep on top of changes such as the most recent law change, we are in constant contact with the staff of both the Frank Foundation program and the World Child program. In early December, we hosted a party with Yaroslav Panasov (the World Child Russian coordinator) and his mother Alexandra Panasova. About 15 local families came to the party at our Maryland office, and we were pleased to meet the beautiful children. Nancy and Tanya then brought Yaroslav and Alexandra to the New Paltz, NY office for a visit and holiday party. A special thanks to Susan Dibble for opening her home to us.
      December also brought the Frank Foundation holiday party, with a visit from Father Frost himself! Thanks to the Frank Foundation for a lively evening of dinner and dancing!

Katie's Story

Sometimes, it's hard to understand why an adoption may not go as expected, or why a family suffers a tragedy along the way. "Katie's Story" encourages us all to look for the silver lining.

My husband, Chris, and I are the parents of three amazing children. Our children are Christopher (age 8), Brian (age 6), and Katie (age 16 months). We know we are truly blessed because having our family
come together was not easy. After the birth of our two sons and a miscarriage, Chris and I were told we would be unable to have anymore biological children. We always wanted a house full of children, and we were devastated by the news. It may sound as if we were greedy, but we felt our family just wasn't complete. I now know how right we were.
      In October of 2000 we submitted an application to World Child to adopt a baby under the age of eighteen months. The anticipation we felt about the arrival of another child into our family was unbelievable. We processed our paperwork, had a home study, and made trips to Albany to have items certified and re-certified. We put our life savings as well as our hearts into the baby that was growing in our hearts. Thank goodness Chris is organized, or I'd still be trying to fill out forms!
      In late April we received a picture and a video of a gorgeous little girl. Her name was Olga and she had bright blue eyes, brown curly hair, and a smile that would melt your heart. We fell instantly in love with her, and so did our entire family. We e-mailed her picture to everyone and we watched the video so many times it began to wear out. Her beautiful picture was posted on our refrigerator, my parents' refrigerator, in my husband's visor of his car, and at my desk at the school where I teach eighth grade. We could not wait to get a court date and make her our daughter, although in many ways she already was.
      In middle May, we received devastating news. Katherine of World Child called Chris and told him that Olga could no longer be adopted. Katherine cried as she gently told my husband that Olga had been diagnosed with a brain tumor on her last physical and was no longer available for adotion. This devastated our entire family and us. It was similar to a death in the family, and Chris and I felt the same way we did when we miscarried. We prayed for Olga and we always will. However, something told us to keep pursuing the adoption of a child, and we told Katherine we would like to have another referral.

      In early June we received a video and a picture of Tatiana, an energetic and beautiful one-year old. Although we were guarded this time, we eagerly accepted the referral and anxiously waited for a travel date. I personally know that I had to have watched her video at least fifty times.
      The Thursday before Father's Day we received some terrible news. Unfortunately due to a crazy clerical error, Tatiana could not be adopted because she was never permanently relinquished by her birth mother. This time I was just plain angry! Chris and I agreed to stand up, brush off our knees, and try again. We just knew in our hearts that a baby was waiting for us.
      On June 29, 2001 Katelyn Mary Cox came into our life via a video and a picture. We were scared to death to even look. When we did we fell in love, again. My parents came up and watched the video and I clearly remember my father remarking how beautiful she was. I was so excited and something told me this was it. Within a week we had a travel and court date. On July 17, 2001 we left our sons with my parents and began our trip to Novosibirsk, Russia to meet our daughter.
      We met Katie on July 19, 2001 and it was love at first sight. It was as if she was waiting for us to take her home. We visited her daily in the orphanage and played with her. She had a terrible head cold at the time and loved the extra attention she was getting. She connected with us very quickly and it was clear her caregivers at the orphanage treated her with respect and love. On July 24, 2001, Katie became our daughter! We cried tears of joy when the judge stated she was now our daughter.
      Katie was truly meant to be ours. She is a perfect fit in our family. Her big brothers absolutely adore her, and I have never been more proud of them. She is such a happy wonderful child. I think of Olga and Tatiana often, and I pray for them. I think they were brought into our lives because they needed some extra prayers. However, I wouldn't change a thing because Katie was meant to be our daughter, and I can't imagine life without her. As I rocked her to bed tonight I couldn't help think that this is the best Christmas ever. Our family is complete!

      -- Maryellen Cox

      As you can imagine, the very best part of our job is to meet the families who so eagerly await their children, and to meet the children once they come home. It is our pleasure to invite you to visit our office for a cup of Russian tea, and to treat yourself to a traditional Russian folk tale (you can even learn some Russian while you are here!). Waiting families, and families who are home with their children are welcome. If you have friends who are just thinking about adopting, bring them along. It's a great way to meet other families, and to celebrate the Russian heritage.

      We plan to meet the third Wednesday of every month, at the Falls Church, Virginia office. Story and tea will begin at ten o'clock AM and will last until noon. Call for directions (and to confirm the meeting place, as we may move it if attendance is large enough).

The INS has planned to increase several of the fees associated with adopting from overseas. This increase will apply to families who are in process, and to families who are home and have not yet filed for the INS Certificate of Citizenship. Increases will go into affect on February 19, 2002.

• I-600A (Application) has increased from $405 to $460.
  

• Fingerprinting fee has increased from $25 per applicant to $50 perapplicant.
  
  
• N643 (Citizenship) has increased from $125 to $145.
  
  
• I-824 (used to transfer your approval from one country to another) has increased from $120 to $140.
  

For more information, details and forms, please visit the INS website at:

www.ins.gov/graphics/index.htm

Have you ever wished that you had a peer to turn to while you were in the middle of your adoption? Wouldn't it have been helpful to have another adoptive parent to allay your worries and concerns?
      The World Child Russia program would like to begin a Mentor Program for all parents "in process" -- and we need your help.

      The time commitment is as much or as little as you and your mentored family decide. Please consider volunteering your time and your experience to help those following in your footsteps on the journey to parenthood. If you are interested in becoming a Mentor, please call Nancy at (703) 536-8523 or e-mail nbaker@worldchild.com.
      Thank you for your help!

New Year's Celebration

In Russia, the center of winter holiday celebrations is the New Year. During the Soviet Era, Christmas was prohibited. Thus, the Christmas Tree was referred to as the New Year's Tree. St. Nicholas (Santa) was replaced by Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) and his young helper, his granddaughter Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden). Children send their wishes to Ded Moroz, and find presents under the tree on New Year's Eve or on New Year's morning, depending upon their age. Winter holidays are also celebrated in schools, with students dressing in masquerade costume, dancing around the New Year's Tree, singing traditional holiday songs, playing games and exchanging gifts. In larger cities, school children may be invited to be part of the audience at a holiday show.

      Most Russians believe that the way you meet the New Year will set the tone for the entire year that lies ahead. On New Year's Eve, when many young Russians are celebrating at parties, a toast is usually made and participants will announce their wish for the upcoming year. As the clock at the Spasskaya Tower of Moscow strikes midnight, people will raise their glasses and announce the toast, after which dinner will continue.

Christmas

The Russian Orthodox church still uses the Julian Calendar, which is 13 days behind the more commonly adopted Gregorian calendar. In part, the church decided to maintain the Julian calendar as an act of protest against the Bolsheviks in 1917, when the Bolshevik government adopted the Gregorian calendar. This is why Christmas is celebrated on January 7 instead of December 25 (although today, the holiday season begins on the 25th and ends on the 7th). On Christmas day, many Russians attend a church mass followed by a feast to break their fast.

Meet Tanya, a nine year old girl who wishes to be adopted, and who is ready to be assigned to an adoptive family.
      Tanya has been described by her caregivers as a benevolent and cognitive girl, who prepares her hom ework with pleasure and is eager to learn. She enjoys reading books to younger children.
      Tanya enjoys performing, and can be seen dancing in a small performance in her video. She also is active in arts and crafts, including knitting and sewing clothes for dolls.
      We would love to find a family for Tanya, whose birthmother is reportedly deceased. Tanya has experienced a few major losses and disappointments in her short life, and it is said that she is sensitive to outside influence. She is said to be very friendly and social with other children, but care should be taken to ensure that Tanya is socializing with select individuals because she is so sensitive to the influence of others.

      A medical report and video are available for this lovely girl. If you are interested in welcoming Tanya into your family, please contact us.

As this is our first bi -monthly newsletter, we only have space to mention our most recent arrivals. Of course we welcome each and every child who found their family in past years!

REMINDER: Please consider sharing personal anecdotes, adoption experiences, or other information to be included in future issues of this newsletter. You can submit your thoughts and ideas to Nancy Baker at nbaker@worldchild.com or call (703) 536-8523.

We hope to provide you with the Russian newsletter on a regular basis. If you would like to continue receiving the newsletter, but have a new, different or more convenient e-mail address, please reply to nbaker@worldchild.com and let Nancy know. However, if you would prefer not to receive this e-mail newsletter, please e-mail Nancy at the address above and your name will be removed from the newsletter mailing list.