Child Welfare in Russia Lanny Endicott

Adoptions

Some Adoption Numbers Over the past two decades the US has been the major recipient of Russian children Only China and Ethiopia have sent more In the recent 5 years adoption of Russian children has declined – 5,878 (2004) to 1,586 (2009) Over 60,000 Russian children have been adopted by American families

US Adoption of Russian Children 2009—1, —1, —2, —3, —4, —5,878 (BICIS Immigration Statistics) Profile of Adopted Children 46% - female 4% - under 1 year 75% - 1 – 4 years of age

As US adoption rate has declined, Russian adoption rate of Russian children has increased nearly proportionally (Boris Altshuler – Right of the Child) Russians families experience nearly an 80% failure rate in adoptions (Katya Celeno – Orphans Tree) Or, 8500 adoptive families returned their children (Altshuler – Right of the Child)

Russian Adoption Rules Parental age: no age restriction for adoptive parents – except that prospective single parents must be 16 years older than the child being adopted Family status: no rules about length of marriage or number of children in the household Singles are permitted to adopt

Travel: usually two trips are required – though many families make three – one parent can make the first trip, both required for the second Estimated cost: $30,000 to $40,000 Estimated time: from completion of application to adoption referral (6 to 18 months) – may be shorter for a boy

Orphan Care There are some 650, 000 children in the child welfare system – 165,000 living in orphanages – 300,000 living in guardianships – 150,000 are adopted but still considered orphans until they turn 18 – 400,000 in kinship and foster homes 90% of orphans considered “social orphans” – with at least one parent living (Altshuler)

Orphanage Categories “Parental Orphans”: parents leave their children with the state to get their lives together – parents may visit – most abandon their children to the state (200,000 children) Corrective Institutions: 108,000 children placed in these institutions for health problems (children have parents)

Mentally Retarded Children: – Those under 4 placed in baby orphanages run by the Department of Health – Those over 4 are placed in orphanages or homes for care (29,000) – half from parents who have given up children to the state “Mercy children”: classified as uneducateable, sent to institution to die (some have called “death camps”) (Altshuler)

Russian child welfare system a $4 Billion USD system

The System United Nations Commission for the Rights of Children (1999) pressured Russia to move children out of the institutions Move children to families (patranot) and assist vulnerable biological families with social service resources The plan necessitated a new concept for social workers—building trust with families

Patranot was cancelled in 2008 along with the free services provided to biological and adoptive families Number of children in out-of-home care has since jumped – 72,012 families lost parental rights in 2009 – 300 children are added daily to the orphan system – 697,389 total children in the system (2009) (Janna Danilova – Risk Network)

Pro-Mama Center (Our Family Program at Orphanage #19 in Moscow) operated as an NGO in partnership with the state (15 years) – state funding cut in 2009 – Provided team approach to helping biological and adoptive families (psychologist, teacher, neurologist, doctor, social worker) – Served 500 children in Moscow Region and 5,000 throughout Russia – Claimed 5% failure rate with families (Maria Ternovskaya – Pro-Mama)

Child Welfare Philosophy Concept of “back or white”—children totally belong to the state or totally belong to their parents – If belonging to the state they are placed in the orphan system – If belonging to the parent (or adoptive parent) the state provides no resources for their adjustment (Ternovskaya)

Before , orphanage buildings were being transformed into service centers for children – children were being placed in guardianship, foster, and adoptive homes – 41 Regions involved in 2007 Government policy ended the program making it easier for the state to pick up children – Designed to be temporary, shelters became permanent (2300 shelters became permanent and doubling the number of orphanages to 4600)

The “orphanage system” is about power and money – many have their hands out as it trickles down to each orphanage (Alshuler) Children have become to the state a “natural resource like gas and oil” (Ternovskaya) Orphanage system is maintained to care for at-risk children: – Returning vulnerable adoptions to the state – Parents giving up children to the state (Ternovskaya)

Help from Churches Churches in the Ukraine and Russia are encouraging adoptions and providing help to adoptive families via educational seminars and support groups In the Ukraine there is the cry: “30,000 churches adopting 30,000 orphans” There is the theme: “Today orphans, tomorrow ours”

In Russia, the theme: “orphans today, sons and daughters tomorrow” One church in St. Petersburg has adopted over 100 orphans and provided support for adoptive families The pastor of the largest Pentecostal church in the country (Moscow) has adopted 4 children and encourages his membership to do likewise

The Need Encourage adoption of Russian children by Russian families Provide support and practical resources to Russian families adopting children – through churches and other NGOs