These country updates bring you the most current and up-to-date information from our program coordinators. One way of keeping you informed of what is going on in the country.
January 2012
It is anticipated that required registration with Ministry of Justice will be completed in January 2012. The agency representatives continue to receive more information regarding the new regulations, how they will be implemented, and how they will affect families in the program. We are hopeful that we will be able to have clear-cut information on the process to share with our families within the next month.
December 2011
We are pleased to announce that Julie Glandt is home from Moldova along with two families. Both families were able to complete their adoptions while Julie was there, congratulations! CAS has received our reaccreditation from Moldova and the registration process with the Ministry of Justice continues.
The Ministry of Justice will host a meeting with all the adoption representatives to explain the new adoption process and plans. The Ministry has not set a date for this meeting, but we would anticipate that it will not be scheduled until mid-January 2012 after the winter holidays. We look forward to this meeting and learning more about the new adoption process for families.
Moldova has been a wonderful option for families to adopt and we expect it will be again. Please continue to watch our website for the latest news on adoptions and when you might be able to adopt from Moldova.
November 2011
CAS is taking the next step towards opening the new Moldova adoption program. We are gathering documents to provide to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to complete our registry. Once we have been alerted to our meeting with the MOJ, we will update families to the forward progress. All of these steps are critical to the continuation of adoptions in Moldova and we are excited to one day be able to offer this option to families again.
October 2011
CAS received reaccreditation in Moldova! This is exciting news for families who are waiting in the program. Please watch our updates for more news about new guidelines, adoption time frames, and news of when we will accept new families.
July 2011
National Accreditation of agencies in Moldova has not moved forward as anticipated. CAS continues to wait for official information on accreditation requirements and future adoption procedures. Often, officials go on summer breaks to enjoy the beautiful Moldova countryside. The Moldova Sponsorship program welcomes new sponsors this month. The students gathered in Chisinau for a meeting. You can read more about this on our website.
June 2011
Agency accreditation for agencies licensed in Moldova has been delayed. Initially the anticipated timeframe was for June, it now appears that is will be in latter part of the summer. Adoption agencies are not able to submit new dossier until the re-accreditation process has been completed. Wait times for this program are unknown and movement is dependent on Moldova providing timeframes and specific parameters for implementation of the new adoption laws. CAS will not be accepting new applications for this program until re-accreditation is completed and changes in the new adoption process clarified.
May 2011
CAS continues to process adoption cases which were presented at the beginning of the year. Adoption cases are becoming a bit more complicated as the officials incorporate new law changes into the older cases. Families are experiencing delays between first and second trips as it is taking longer for the child’s passport to be issued.
The government has not released the requirements for agency accreditation; however, we anticipate receiving the requirements any day. New dossiers may only be submitted after the agency is approved. Also, the new law has been circulating on the internet. Families should be aware that Moldova officials continue to review the law to ensure it is in the best interest of the children. We do not know exactly what pieces of the law will be implementing or revised. At this point, the law stipulates a longer in country stay (up to 30 days) for families which may or may not be mandatory. Families should be flexible and prepared for subtle changes in this program. Please monitor our website for updated information.
April 2011
We currently have families traveling and completing their adoptions. Families are experiencing changes in that officials in Moldova are applying regulations according to the old law combined with pieces of the new law. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection is the Central Authority in Moldova. This authority is finalizing the requirements and guidelines for accreditation of agencies. Those guidelines will be available in mid April and the process should be complete by the end of May. New dossiers will not be accepted in Moldova until after the accreditation. We anticipate that the dossier requirement may be revised or additional documents needed. All new requirements with regard to eligibility, travel time, referral process and other issues should be available within the next two months. Families interested in adoption from Moldova should be flexible with regard to age and gender of child, expected travel timeframes and the possibility of a longer process. The CAS Moldova team will update the website as information is available and will continue to guide families through the process. For more information about adoption from Moldova, contact Tania Griasnow.
March 2011
Officials in Moldova are busy reviewing the new adoption law, reorganizing their central authority structure and making plans for agency accreditation. We have been informed that the accreditation process will take approximately 3 months. During this time, we continue to process cases for families with a registered dossier. We have families traveling each week during the month of March! Cases are moving forward with some steps according to the old law and some steps according to the new law. While specifics of the law are being sorted out, we do know that families can expect to have additional documents needed for the dossiers. The time in country for the first visit will be 7 to 10 days and the court hearings will be attended by the state prosecutor on the child’s behalf.
All families interested in adopting from Moldova should be flexible with regard to time frames, requests for documents and a changing process. Please check our website often for updates!
February 2011
2011 will be a time of change for adoptions in Moldova. January 31 was the last day of the old adoption law being in effect in Moldova. The government is now transitioning to a newer process. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection is the central authority in Moldova and they will be leading the implementation of this law. CAS is monitoring the changes which will impact the adoption process. Several families with registered dossiers will move forward with their adoptions with some minor changes. New dossier may be submitted in a few months when the adoption process is better defined. The next few months will be a time of transition and families interested in the program should monitor the CAS website for updates.
January 2011
In December, CAS hosted officials from Moldova and at their request visited adoptive children and their families. These officials were able to meet with social services providers in North Carolina and take back with them ideas and suggestions for services to disadvantaged families. The group met with the North Carolina Bi-lateral committee in Raleigh and the new Moldova Ambassador to the US. In the last days of the visit, the officials traveled to Washington DC to meet with the US Central authority.
These officials shared with CAS staff that soon new laws and new procedures would come into effect in Moldova. The target date for some changes will be February 1, 2011. Many procedures are not well defined at this moment. They include agency accreditation which requires the establishment of an office in the country, child registration to move from 6 months to 12 months and in some cases 2 years, a longer stay for parents in country, new required documents for the adoptive family and in some cases the child. There will also be a moderate change in the referral process for each family.
CAS continues to move families through this program. Officials encouraged the agency to continue the good work being done with children and families. They requested suggestions and engaged in open discussions about many adoption related issues. CAS looks forward to continuing adoptions from Moldova. Information about specific requirements, changes to the process, and potential delays in the adoptions will be available as soon as CAS has information. Families interested in adoption from Moldova should be aware that this is a time of change and that CAS will do their very best to keep them informed and up to date but delays are quite possible. Information will be posted on the website as it becomes available.
December 2010
Adoptions from Moldova continue to move forward with families traveling and coming home with their children. CAS anticipates a visit from Moldovan officials in early December who wish to visit families that have completed an adoption. The visitors will also share with CAS the changes in the law which will go into effect at the beginning of the year.
In Moldova, New Year’s Eve is one holiday that is celebrated throughout the country. It is an occasion for night-long parties. On this night, a traditional turkey is served. It is believed that no person should spend the night alone, as it is the night when the New Year, represented by a newborn baby, begins and the old year, represented by the tired old man, is replaced. The first day of the New Year is celebrated through songs and dances. The songs mostly symbolize the desire for a prosperous new year as characterized by fair weather, good crops, health and happiness.
November 2010
CAS welcomed home three families in October! CAS has several dossiers in country now and a full program. Activity is beginning to slow down as Moldova prepares for elections of the president in November. Officials from various ministries have stepped down from their posts due to the political and election process. Families can anticipate a longer wait from dossier submission to referral.
CAS looks forward to a visit from adoption officials in December. Their goal is to consider CAS for accreditation and to visit children who have been adopted from Moldova. More information about their visit will be sent to home families the second week of November.
Effective November 1, the immigrant visa process moved to the US Embassy in Chisinau. This will save traveling families time, money, and reduce the stress of the second trip. For more information about adoption from Moldova contact our Intake Coordinator.
October 2010
Adoptions are moving along nicely with families traveling and adoptions being finalized. There are currently families in country and more families traveling in October. Good news was issued from the US Embassy in Bucharest that as of November 1 they will be moving the visa processing for orphans to Chisinau, Moldova. This will certainly help with travel logistics and expenses. CAS will participate in a joint meeting of the Asif J. Chaundhry, US Ambassador to Moldova and Igor Munteanu, Moldova Ambassador to the US on October 7th in Greensboro. This is a wonderful opportunity to continue our strong partnership with officials in Moldova.
September 2010
Adoptions continue to make progress with families traveling. We anticipate staying busy into the fall and into the New Year. Delegates from Moldova are currently in the US to gather more information about the Hague adoption process and to visit adoptive families. They will visit New York and Washington DC.
Our outreach and intervention program is making a difference. Through the support of CAS, the Moldova social workers have been able to work with families in crisis and youth who are in desperate situations. Please visit our website to find out more about how you can support this program and the wonderful work being accomplished.
August 2010
CAS continues to move forward with adoptions in Moldova. Beginning in January we will see steps taken to implement the new law. Details of this new law and the impact on international adoption should be available by next month. The work with children and families continues in Moldova. Please visit our web page to read more about the wonderful Outreach and Intervention Project. This program is certainly making a difference in the lives of the neediest children and their families.
July 2010
Adoptions from Moldova are moving along with dossiers being submitted, families accepting referrals, and families traveling to meet their children. Changes in the adoption law in Moldova will be implemented in January 2011. CAS is already working with officials to clearly understand how the new law will impact inter-country adoptions. CAS continues to support life changing programs in Moldova and we could use your help! The Outreach and Intervention Project reaches out to the neediest families and the Moldova Sponsorship Project is changing the lives of children through ongoing support. Please visit our website for information on about these projects and to see how you can help.
June 2010
CAS welcomed home 3 families in the past few weeks. More families are traveling and the program is moving right along. The Moldovan Parliament passed a new law concerning adoptions on May 28, 2010. This law will require children to be placed and remain on the registry for a period of two years. Children with medical conditions may qualify for a reduction to 12 months on the registry. The court process for adoption will also change. A prosecutor will now represent the child(ren) in court. Potential adoptive families may also be required to answer more questions in court concerning their adoption. These new procedures will be implemented over the next few months and will be fully enforced by January 2011. We are taking applications for this program. If you have any questions, contact Julie Glandt.
May 2010
Adoptions from Moldova are moving at a steady pace. The recent increased popularity of the program may shift the time frames of a referred child to a longer wait. CAS is monitoring the process right now and will provide updates as they are available. The summer also tends to slow activity with officials away from their offices. CAS continues to seek sponsors for the Sponsorship program and donations for the Family Crisis Project in Moldova. For more information about Moldova, contact Julie Glandt.
April 2010
Adoptions are moving forward with one family home, and four families with referrals! The process continues to move forward and CAS is working closely with officials to maintain Hague compliance with adoptions. CAS is currently involved in several humanitarian projects. You too can change the life of a child still in Moldova. The teen sponsorship program is looking for sponsors of youth who desperately need assistance. For more information about Moldova adoptions or the sponsorship program contact Julie Glandt.
March 2010
Moldova is one of CAS’ strongest programs. Adoptions from Moldova move along steadily and applications are readily accepted. Siblings, as well as young children, and older children are available. Reaching out to the children in Moldova who desperately need our support is being realized through a wonderful new program. CAS is helping to support an emergency service project which reaches out to vulnerable children and their families. This project will allow social workers to intervene in cases involving children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected. While this type of government services is well organized and fully funded here in the U.S. it certainly is not well developed in Moldova. More information about this project will soon be on the CAS website.
February 2010
North Carolina and Moldova signed a renewed 5 year agreement to work cooperatively! CAS has a strong partnership in this agreement which allows a robust adoption and humanitarian aid program. Julie Glandt was able to share adoption updates and humanitarian project success with visiting Moldova Parliament members on January 25th in Raleigh. This is an excellent program for families interested in a program with strong cultural and social connections to the United States. Julie is able to keep families involved with Moldova after their adoption with projects and news. Adoptions continue to move steadily for this program and CAS is accepting applications.
January 2010
An adoptive family had a truly unique Christmas as they arrived December 25th in Moldova to meet their adoptive child and attend court. Adoptions from Moldova remain active with several families in various stages of the adoption process. The US Embassies in Bucharest and Chisinau Moldova are working cooperatively with Moldova officials to help streamline the adoption process for the parents and orphaned children. The initial visa application is now accepted by the Embassy in Chisinau and then transferred to Bucharest. Families adopting from Moldova will still travel to Bucharest, Romania to file for the final immigrant visa. We encourage families interested in this program to contact us and prepare to apply.
December 2009
Adoptions from Moldova continue to move forward. Another family has received their provisional approval from USCIS and should be traveling soon. Additional dossiers have been sent to be registered. The winter months are significant time of need in Moldova. Families with special needs children and orphaned children truly need humanitarian support. Please give generously so food, clothing and medical services can be purchased for the children.
November 2009
The Ministry of Social Protection for Children and Families has a new leader, Valentina Buliga. This Ministry is the central authority for Hague regulated international adoptions. As the new minister, Ms. Buliga will coordinate closely with the local child protection offices and orphanages to ensure the safety and welfare of the most vulnerable children. She is also considering new legislation which governs both international and national adoptions. The international adoption process continues to evolve as Moldova authorities work closely with the US Embassy to ensure a smooth and correct procedure.
September 2009
The government of Moldova continues to move forward with a new political party taking steps to fill positions and stabilize the political, economic and social environment. Adoptions activity continues slowly with two families finalizing their adoptions. Julie Glandt, Moldova program coordinator, will be traveling to Moldova mid September to meet agency representatives, government officials, and to visit orphanages. Make sure to monitor our website for updates regarding her travel.
August 2009
The second election of 2009 was held in Moldova and the ruling party was defeated. This does not bring a quick or easy solution to the seating of the new president or the parliament but the country leaders are working aggressively to make the necessary decisions. The website www.moldova.org has a section on politics and other country information which is informative and helps explain the current situation.
CAS continues to move forward with adoptions. The new Hague process has proved to be cumbersome and causes some delay in finalizing adoptions. We are working with the Moldova authorities and the U.S. State Department to ensure we are working in the best interest of the children. Assistant Director, Julie Glandt, plans to travel to Moldova in September to visit orphanages and provide humanitarian support. She will also meet with officials to ensure the adoption process continues. If you would like to support the humanitarian efforts, please contact Julie.
July 2009
National presidential elections will be held for a second time on July 29th. These elections will help define the administration for the Ministry of Social Protection, the government branch which oversees adoptions. At this time, we are encouraging new applications and for families to begin their paperwork process. One new dossier has been registered and we predict others may be as well. Adoptions are slowly moving forward and the agency reaccreditation is still in process. Two families have accepted referrals and their adoptions are making progress.
June 2009
CAS welcomes home another family with their adoptive daughter from Moldova! The wait for reaccreditation in this country continues as the political issues and election of President goes unresolved. CAS continues to monitor the situation and stays in close contact with our foreign agency representative. The program remains open as we anticipate the country will be move forward with new adoptions soon within the next few months.
May 2009
Families in the program continue to process their adoptions with one family traveling this month. CAS will soon be re-accredited and this will allow adoptions to continue moving steadily forward. The first U.S. Hague case is being finalized in Moldova and that process is going well. The needs of orphaned children in this country continue to be great with everything from medical, nutritional and developmental items needed. Please consider how you can help. For more information about the Moldova adoption program, contact Julie Glandt.
To view past Moldova adoption program updates, please see our CAS Publications page and click on the Monthly Country Updates.