What's a girl to do with all this time waiting? As you can see, I have made some minor changes to my blog. I've added some widgets (see the right side of the page), I've changed the colors and the format. I'm trying everything and anything to keep myself occupied by this most excruciating wait. The rooms are picture perfect, their closets are filling up, my yard is meticulously groomed, I'm learning and practicing my Russian phrases for adoptive parents. I am driving myself crazy checking my e-mail 50 times a day to see if there is any news about accreditation.
The latest from my agency's new case manager is that accreditation will happen the end of this month and we will be travelling in June for court; but I feel like I have been down this road and heard this soooo many times that is hard to even get hopeful, but if I don't have faith, then what is left? The only one thing I am certain of is that this adoption will happen, but we just don't know when. I may be pushing a walker across Siberia to get them, but they will come home eventually. I am just asking for continued prayers and good thoughts to get these kids home. I miss them so much.
Love,
Jane
Monday, May 21, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
Latest news:
Here is the latest statement regarding the impending accreditation:
"On Wednesday, April 25, 2007 the Hague Implementation Staff of U.S. Department of State issued an official notice confirming the news that "no U.S.-based adoption service providers are currently accredited with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.” The following day, NCFA President and CEO, Thomas Atwood, along with NCFA staff Lee Allen and Chuck Johnson met with Alina Levitskaya, Director of the Department of Youth Policy, Upbringing, and Social Protection of Children of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. Ms. Levitskaya was in Washington, DC to meet with senior staff within the U.S. Department of State to discuss the status of Russian intercountry adoption and the accreditation of U.S. agencies. Ms. Levitskaya told NCFA that her visit had been scheduled in response to recent publicly-stated concerns that the ongoing delays in re-accreditation process appeared to be aimed primarily at American agencies and that these delays were hurting children. During the meeting, Ms. Levitskaya offered explanation of reasons why the Russian government’s efforts to initiate adoption reform measures have taken much longer than anticipated. The NGO registration requirement and the Russian Ministry of Education and Science’s requirement to involve other Russian ministries in clarifying adoption procedures have presented huge challenges that, in Ms. Levitskaya’s opinion, appear to be near resolution. She confirmed receipt of the U.S. Department of State’s recent statement regarding the rights granted to Russian children adopted by American families – and thanked NCFA for acting as a liaison with the U.S. Department of State on this issue. Ms Levitskaya expects several agencies to receive renewal of their accreditation in the imminent future, as well as a steady processing of applications from other countries. Further, Ms. Levitskaya informed NCFA that, after clearing the backlog of pending accreditations, the Ministry of Education and Science will then explore the notion of accepting applications for accreditation by additional agencies."
I have no idea of their definition of "imminent" is; hopefully that means by the end of the month of May.
Jane
"On Wednesday, April 25, 2007 the Hague Implementation Staff of U.S. Department of State issued an official notice confirming the news that "no U.S.-based adoption service providers are currently accredited with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.” The following day, NCFA President and CEO, Thomas Atwood, along with NCFA staff Lee Allen and Chuck Johnson met with Alina Levitskaya, Director of the Department of Youth Policy, Upbringing, and Social Protection of Children of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. Ms. Levitskaya was in Washington, DC to meet with senior staff within the U.S. Department of State to discuss the status of Russian intercountry adoption and the accreditation of U.S. agencies. Ms. Levitskaya told NCFA that her visit had been scheduled in response to recent publicly-stated concerns that the ongoing delays in re-accreditation process appeared to be aimed primarily at American agencies and that these delays were hurting children. During the meeting, Ms. Levitskaya offered explanation of reasons why the Russian government’s efforts to initiate adoption reform measures have taken much longer than anticipated. The NGO registration requirement and the Russian Ministry of Education and Science’s requirement to involve other Russian ministries in clarifying adoption procedures have presented huge challenges that, in Ms. Levitskaya’s opinion, appear to be near resolution. She confirmed receipt of the U.S. Department of State’s recent statement regarding the rights granted to Russian children adopted by American families – and thanked NCFA for acting as a liaison with the U.S. Department of State on this issue. Ms Levitskaya expects several agencies to receive renewal of their accreditation in the imminent future, as well as a steady processing of applications from other countries. Further, Ms. Levitskaya informed NCFA that, after clearing the backlog of pending accreditations, the Ministry of Education and Science will then explore the notion of accepting applications for accreditation by additional agencies."
I have no idea of their definition of "imminent" is; hopefully that means by the end of the month of May.
Jane
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Another week of waiting
Well, another week has passed and still no travel dates; I guess the 5 to 6 week time frame I was given back in March is not going to happen. I am probably the only person who loves Mondays, as that means the work week has begun in Russia and maybe, just maybe, we might get some good news! I spoke with my agency late last week and their best guess is accreditation will happen the end of May. In the meantime, they are trying to to process the three families in Birobidzhan as independent adopters. This would mean that we essentially don't have an agency representing us, although our agency still does all the work, whatever.
I am willing to do anything at this point, including just flying over there and waiting it out in the Hotel Vostok in Biro. I do feel kind of sorry for these agencies as they really cannot take on new clients until this mess is cleaned up and without new clients, they have no revenue coming in. My agency is having to lay people off and rent out part of their space in their office just to keep the lights on! It amazes me how far reaching the consequences of this delay is having. Nothing else new to report. Thank you all for your e-mails and prayers; I am sorry I have not responded to everyone, I will try and be better going forward.
I do have some new babies to report on, here is what has set up home on my courtyard. At least someone is having babies around here!!!
I am willing to do anything at this point, including just flying over there and waiting it out in the Hotel Vostok in Biro. I do feel kind of sorry for these agencies as they really cannot take on new clients until this mess is cleaned up and without new clients, they have no revenue coming in. My agency is having to lay people off and rent out part of their space in their office just to keep the lights on! It amazes me how far reaching the consequences of this delay is having. Nothing else new to report. Thank you all for your e-mails and prayers; I am sorry I have not responded to everyone, I will try and be better going forward.
I do have some new babies to report on, here is what has set up home on my courtyard. At least someone is having babies around here!!!
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