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
Things continue to move at a good pace in Russia. Now that the holiday season is coming to an end, it is anticipated that the pace of activity will increase even more. There are two families who are scheduled to have court in January and another family in February. Regional managers are eager for submission of more dossiers.
The Annual Father Frost Get-Together was held on Saturday the 14th. It was a great success. Visit our website for pictures and information!
December 2011
Families continue to grow with the adoption of their children from Russia! December, usually a slower month, has been busy with several families traveling to Russia to meet or adopt their child. We received confirmation that as of Jan. 1, 2012, the waiting period between your court hearing and official issuing of the adoption decree will be increased from 10 days to 30 days. Due to this change most families are choosing to take three short trips to Russia. Russia celebrates the winter holidays with vigor! We usually see brief slowdown during this time while Russian’s celebrate with their families.
Do not forget to save the date for our Father Frost Party on January 14, from 2-4. Learn more about this great get together by clicking here. To RSVP contact Helen Nixon.
November 2011
The Russia Program continues to actively seek new applicants and is processing families at a steady rate. A short webinar featuring updates on Russian Program is scheduled for Nov. 17th at 1:00 pm. Families who are already in the program and those considering applying to the program are encouraged to participate. Register Here For more information or to set up a personal consultation please contact Tania Griasnow.
October 2011
The Russia Program continues to unite families with their children at a steady pace. One family in the Russia adoption program had a successful court hearing in the Ivanovo region and will be traveling in mid-October to bring their two sons home. The Joys of Adopting from Russia webinar held on September 27 enabled families like you to receive the latest updated information on our Russia Program and the regions where we are active. The webinar received good reviews and is presently available on our website for your convenience, click here to watch. Reference families are available to talk about their adoption experience, just give us a call.
September 2011
Great news, now that the mutual agreement regarding adoption of Russian children by US citizens has been signed by the US and Russian Federation and adoption officials are back from their summer holidays, increased activity is anticipated in all of the agency’s four regions. The Russia Program continues to remain steadfast and reliable, offering parents availability of younger referrals and predictable time frames. The program is actively seeking new families to adopt. Families who are interested in learning more about the latest about adopting from this exciting program are encouraged to sign up for the Russia webinar scheduled for September 27, 2011. For more information and to register for this webinar click here.
August 2011
On July 13, 2010 we received the exciting news that the USA and the Russian Federation had signed a mutual agreement regarding adoption of Russian children by US citizens, thus ensuring that US citizens will continue you to be able to adopt from Russia. There has been a great deal of activity in the Russian Program with three families traveling to various regions to accept their referrals. Three families are expecting assignment of court dates sometime in August. As we are Hague accredited as well as accredited in Russia, we are anticipating that the Russia Program will continue to flourish and grow as the provisions of the mutual agreement are implemented. The program continues to actively seek new families interested in a program which is very successful for families interested in adopting younger children.
Interested in learning more? We will host an “Adopting from Russia” webinar on September 27 at 8pm. Click here to register.
Tania, Russia program coordinator invites families interested in adopting from Russia to contact her with questions.
July 2011
There has been plenty of activity in the Russia adoption program even with the typical summer slow-downs that take place in the months of July and August. Three families are scheduled for their first trip in the last two weeks of July. The regions where we have seen the most activity lately have been Kirov, Sakhalin and Ivanavo. This program remains open and is actively seeking new families. It is anticipated that families will be able to process even more quickly in the fall months.
We have many resources to learn more about adopting from Russia. A good place to start is with our recorded webinar, which goes over the Russia adoption journey and has a family tell their story and answer questions. You may also contact CAS for an information packet full of information and resources.
If you are interested in adopting from Russia, please contact Tania Grisnow .
June 2011
The Russia Program remains open and active! Several families traveled to meet with their children for the first time in May and several families are waiting for the assignment of a court date. Referrals have been coming in from the regions of Moscow, Ivanovo, Sakhalin and Kirov. It is anticipated that there will be somewhat of slowdown in months of July and August as many of the adoption and court officials with be taking their summer vacations. So this is a good time to complete your home study and be ready to submit your dossier when the officials return to work.
Watch the Russia webinar or schedule your appointment with Tania to learn more today.
May 2011
In April a family came home with their 13 month old little boy and completed their adoption in 10 months! Two families also traveled to meet their children for the first time. If you would like to adopt a child in under a year, this is the program for you! Families continue to successfully adopt children from Russia and become loving families. Regional managers in Kirov, Moscow, Ivanovo and Sakhalin have been busy submitting dossiers to their regions and are ready to help families adopt. Watch the Russia webinar or schedule your appointment with Tania to learn more today.
April 2011
This is an excellent time to adopt from Russia! Families are moving along at an impressive pace. We are receiving referrals from Ivanovo, Moscow, Sakhalin and Kirov and regional managers are eager to register new dossiers. One family returned home with their son in end of March, another family is scheduled to return home with their son in mid-April. A family is scheduled to travel to Sakhalin for their first trip in early April. CAS has lots of activity and happy families in the Russia Adoption program. It is your turn to have the same by starting your adoption today. If you missed the Adopting from Russia webinar you may watch it online.
March 2011
Russia continues to be one of the most steadfast and reliable programs. Adoptions are being processed at a steady pace and young children are coming home. One family returned home in February with their 14 month old son. Another family is scheduled to have court in the middle of March. The wait for female referrals continues to be longer than for males. The 10 day waiting period is currently not waived in any region. Families have the option of two or three trips to complete their adoption from Russia. The most active regions are Moscow, Kirov and Sakhalin. Families who are interested in obtaining the most current information on adopting from Russia and hearing the story of a home family are encouraged to sign up for the Russian webinar scheduled for March 29, 2011. Please visit our website for more information about the upcoming webinar.
February 2011
Now that the Russian holidays are over, there has been increased activity in the Program. Two families had successful court hearings in January.
One family has already returned home with their child, another family will be bringing their child home in early February and one family was able to travel to Russia for their first trip. The program is open and actively seeking applications. Regional managers are exploring possibilities of more regions which would be open to processing adoptions. This would give our families even more options. The Golden Gates Russian Folk Singers and Dancers performance held on Jan. 22, 2011 in Greensboro, NC, was a huge success with more than 300 people attending. There were many families present who had adopted from Russia and enjoyed watching their children actively participate in the presentation. Families presently in the program who attended the performance were able to earn 2 hours of educational credit and meet families who are home with their children.
January 2011
Our Regional Managers anticipate increased adoption activity after the Russian Holiday celebrations conclude on January 10, 2011. Two families are scheduled for court dates in January and two more families are scheduled to have their first visit in the latter part of January 2011. The most active regions remain Moscow and Kirov where we have seen referrals under the age of one year. Ivanovo and St. Petersburg presently are not actively processing adoptions by U.S. citizens as they are waiting for bi-lateral agreement to be signed. The Russia program remains a stable option for families interested in adopting a young child
December 2010
The Russian Program continues to move at a steady pace. Most referrals have been coming from the Moscow and Kirov regions. The Moscow region has been able to provide some referrals that are under a year old at time of referral. Male referrals continue to be more readily available than female referrals. It is anticipated that there will be some slow down in activity as the holiday season approaches. Full activity should resume sometime in mid January 2011. So, now is a good time to get started with your adoption.
The Golden Gate performance group will be in Greensboro on January 22, 2011 at 7:00 pm. Adults are $8 and children are $5. This is a phenomenal show with Russian folk dancing, songs, instruments, & culture. More information available at Triad Stage.
November 2010
The Russian Program continues to create happy families at a steady pace. Children have been available in Moscow, Kirov and Sakhalin. Two families will be traveling to Kirov in the beginning of November to meet with their children.
If you are interested in learning the most current news about adoptions from Russia, please join us for the Russian Program webinar that will be presented on Nov. 9, 2010. During this webinar you will hear the story and ask questions of a family who adopted in September 2010. Tania will also go over all the exciting possibilities for you in this program. Register for the webinar today. For more information, please contact Tania Griasnow or Siri Scott at CAS.
We are saddened to inform our families of the death of Irina Kadeva, who was the main regional manager for the St. Petersburg region. Irina had been instrumental in facilitating our families with adoptions from St. Petersburg since 2000. Her expertise, advocacy and compassion for children and families will be greatly missed.
October 2010
Russia Program continues to flourish. The most active regions have been Moscow and Kirov, where referrals are more readily available. Three families are scheduled to travel to Moscow in late September and mid October for their first trip. Several referrals from that region have been under 12 months at time of referral.
Two families may travel in October to Kirov region to meet with their referrals. Additionally, families interested in children with Asian heritage, should inquire about adoption from the Moscow region. Russia continues to be one of CAS’s most steadfast and viable programs. Watch our website for the new Russia webinar in November.
September 2010
The Russian Program continues to be one of the most reliable and steadfast moving programs available. With summer coming to an end, it is anticipated that adoption activity will resume at an accelerated pace. Regional managers are eager for completed dossiers as they anticipate referrals from their regions. Reduced fees, reasonable referral times and younger children make this an attractive option. Families have recently received referrals as young as 9 months old.
Participants in Russian webinar held on Aug. 24th, rated the program highly and found it quite informative and helpful. Interested families who were unable to participate in the live webinar may still obtain the valuable information through the recorded version. Watch here at a convenient time.
Contact Tania for more information about adopting from Russia.
August 2010
Adoptive Families Magazine chose Russia as one of the 10 Best Adoption Options in 2010! Read the article in the March/April 2010 issue. The options were chosen by experts and families as to which were best for families just beginning the process.
One of our families who had been waiting on a court date during the summer has received notice that they can make plans to travel mid August to attend court. As with all of our regions in Russia that CAS is working in, the 10 day waiting period after the court date is no longer waived and families have the option of either remaining the additional days after court before the court decree is received or they may return back to the US and return after the waiting period and the decree has been signed.
Both Russia and the United States have been meeting regarding the bilateral agreement and are making progress. However, an official agreement has not been reached. Some regions are waiting until this agreement is reached before processing new adoptions while others continue to process adoptions although at a slower rate during the summer months.
July 2010
Summer has arrived which signals the slowing of adoption activity in Russia as judges and other governmental officials involved in adoption take extended vacations. This could be the perfect time to apply and get your homestudy complete and the process well underway. We have several regions in Russia willing to accept US families’ dossiers and process the adoption. Ivanovo is our only region waiting for the finalization of the U.S./Russia bi-lateral agreement. If you are looking for a steady personalized program, the CAS Russia program is for you. We encourage families interested in children around 20 months to apply. You will enjoy a process time from dossier to your return home of about 13 months. Russia is one of the quickest and most reliable programs for families interested in a young child. Apply today!
June 2010
Families who have recently completed their adoptions from Russia have experienced an average of 9.5 months from submission of dossier to coming home with their child. The children’s ages averaged 20 months. This program is very consistent, and as a Hague approved agency in good standing in Russia, we are confident in our ability to help you bring a child home. CAS has solid references and a proven track record in Russia. With the new lower fees, Russia becomes a must for families considering international adoption. For more information about adopting from Russia watch our recorded webinar. Russia remains an excellent option for most families looking to adopt a younger child in a shorter timeframe.
May 2010
As a result of the 7 year old boy being returned to Moscow by his mother, there has been much confusion as to whether adoptions of Russian children by American parents would be suspended. There has been no official announcement that adoptions have been suspended. There have been some delays and slowing down of adoption activity in some regions, while others continue to process adoptions by US citizens. The meeting between US Dept. of State and Russian officials that took place in Moscow on April 29th was a productive one. Though no official agreement between the two countries was signed at that time, another meeting was schedule for May 12th. We have been successful in processing our families through during this stressful time. One of our families successfully completed their adoption of a 20 month old little girl and returned home on May 1st. Another family is scheduled to go for their 1st visit in early part of May.
The Russia Program is one Eastern European program that continues to have younger referrals available. The last three families to come home were able to adopt children who were 19-20 months old at the time the adoption was completed. As Russia is not a Hague Convention country, the time it takes to complete adoption can be considerable less than in countries where Hague requirements are implemented. New reduced international and in-country fees are in effect as of May 1, 2010. For more information about this exciting program, please contact Tania Griasnow.
April 2010
CAS is proud to announce the launch of the invigorated Russia Adoption Program. With this new launch come lower fees, shorter anticipated wait times, and more referrals. The Russia Adoption Program has been busy with several families traveling and completing their adoptions. Congratulations to all those happy families!
There is still space available in this program; now is a great time to find out more. Join Tania in the Greensboro office to discover more about adopting from Russia on Thursday, April 15. If you are not able to make the meeting please watch our instant webinar all about our Russia program and schedule a time to speak with Tania about your questions. This new Russia program is going to be great and we look forward to you being a part of the excitement!
March 2010
The Russian Program continues to process adoptions from all 5 regions. The referrals have been young and Russia is one of the only programs where you can state a gender preference. One CAS family had court scheduled for beginning of March; they are one step closer to bringing their child home!
Join Tania, Russia program coordinator, and a family, who came home in December with their beautiful little girl, to find out more about adopting from Russia on March 23. CAS has a webinar scheduled for all families considering this incomparable program for their adoption beginning at 8:00pm (EDT). All you need is a computer and your phone to participate. Register today, or contact Tania Griasnow or Siri Scott for more information.
February 2010
On January 16, 2010 CAS held its annual Father Frost Party at Brookhaven School in Greensboro. Families who attended were able to participate is crafts, games, and viewing of Russian children’s movies. The culmination of the event was a visit from Father Frost and the Snow Maiden!
The Russia Program is one of the few programs where referrals under 2 years old are available. For families interested in a stable program the Russia Program continues to be a viable option. Over the next two months you will have the opportunity to meet Tania at the February information meeting in Greensboro, or in March we will have a special Webinar on adopting from Russia. If you have questions about this program, please contact Tania. CAS also has a special information package just for families interested in adopting from Russia; contact Tania for one today. This program remains open and is actively seeking new families.
January 2010
The Russia program is beginning this New Year as our most dependable and best option for families who would like to move forward with their adoption. December was a busy month for the Russia Program. Three families successfully completed their court hearings. Two of the families returned home in December and one family returned home on Jan, 1, 2010! It is anticipated that there will be less activity in early part of January as Russians celebrate New Years and Orthodox Christmas. We here at CAS are busy making our preparations for our annual Father Frost Celebration that will be held on January 16th. Please join us!
The Annual Father Frost Party is scheduled for January 16, 2010 from 2-4 pm at the Brookhaven Country Day School at 3207 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro, NC. If you are able to attend, please contact Helen Nixon at 336-275-9660 or by e-mail at hmn@carolinaadoption.org. Home families and families interested in adopting from Russia are all invited.
Families interested in adopting from Russia are encouraged to watch the webinar hosted on the Russia adoption program page. Contact Tania Griasnow with any questions, and prepare to apply. This program has lots of potential for families ready to add to their family.
December 2009
The Russian Program continues to exhibit steady activity. Three families have been scheduled for court in December and one family is scheduled for their first trip. Referrals of children have been steady and cases are moving along nicely. The Russia Ministry of Education conducted a program audit in November and no concerns were identified so the accreditation is secure and adoptions continue.
We have been notified by our regional managers that as of November 2009 all five regions from which we have been receiving referrals will enforce the 10-day waiting period following court. Russia continues to be a solid option for families. If you are interested in this program, please contact Tania for more information.
November 2009
There has been a significant amount of activity in the Russia Program in the month of October. Two families brought their children home after successful court hearing and processing through the American Embassy. Both children, a boy and a girl, were under 24 months old at the time their adoptions were finalized. Two families were also able to complete their first trip in the month of October.
The Russian Program is one of the agency’s most longstanding and reliable programs and remains stable and viable. The Russian Program is one of the few where referrals of children under the age of two at time of referral are available. Time frames remain predictable, and families who are open to region, ethnicity, age and gender are able to process through in a timely manner. The Russia Program continues to schedule court dates and receive referrals from 5 different regions. The program is actively seeking families to apply.
September 2009
The weather may be cooling down in Russia with autumn approaching, but activity in the program certainly hasn’t cooled down! The Russian Program continues to be the busiest program with the most completed successful adoptions. To learn more about adoptions from Russia, please join us for CAS Russian Program Information Webinar Tuesday, Sept 29th at 8:00. Tania, the Russian Program Coordinator will be on hand to update and answer all your questions about adoptions from Russia.
August 2009
Historically, there has been a slowdown in adoption activity in Russia in the summer months as many court and other adoption officials take extended vacations. However, adoption activity has progressed through the entire summer and another family successfully completed their adoption of a little girl in July. They are now able to rest and enjoy the end of summer, bonding with their daughter. Four other families are waiting for assignment of court date and hope to complete their adoption process in August. Russia is a very busy program with more successful adoptions happening than any other adoption program. Contact Robyn or Taniato find out why this is the adoption program for you. We also invite you to join us in September for the webinar all about adopting from Russia.
July 2009
Russian Program continues to process at a steady pace. One family successfully completed their adoption in June. Another couple was scheduled for court in early July. This is an excellent time to adopt from Russia! We have been receiving referrals regularly. In the last several months most of the referrals that have been received have been from Ivanovo, St. Petersburg and Kirov. If you are interested in speaking with a family that has traveled recently about this wonderful program please contact Tania. Watch for our Adopting From Russia webinar in September. You will hear about the different regions, hear a family’s story and be able to ask questions about their experience, and learn what adopting from Russia can mean to you.
Make Blueberry Varenyki with your family!
June 2009
The Russian Program continues to process families at a steady rate. Two families traveled to Russia for their first trip in May, and both officially accepted their referrals. One family had a successful court hearing at the end of the month and is scheduled to return home 1st half of June. There has been increased activity in the St. Petersburg region. Children available in Russia are 10 months and older at time of referral. The Russia adoption program has the advantage of a large support system in the Russian adoption groups found across the U.S. If you are local to the Greensboro area join us in June for a special Adopting from Russia information meeting. If you live outside of the area we will have a Russia Adoption webinar soon. Contact Tania for more information about this program.
May 2009
The CAS Russia adoption program continues to steadily process families and adopting from Russia a great choice. Two families were able to successfully complete their adoptions and return home with their children in April. Another family completed their first trip to meet their child and is preparing for their second trip to finalize the adoption. Two more families are scheduled to take their first trips in May. Wish them luck. As you can see the Russia program is an excellent option for anyone looking for a stable program that is steadily moving.
If you are interested in adopting from Russia or would just like some more information, contact Tania Griasnow.
To view past Russia adoption program updates, please see our CAS Publications page and click on the Monthly Country Updates.