WACAP began placing children from the Russian Far East in 1995. We have placed over 800 children from Russia since then. With offices in Moscow and Vladivostok, and 10 full-time employees in Russia, WACAP staff assist families every step of the way through the adoption process. Currently WACAP is placing children from six regions in Russia: the Republic of Tatarstan, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Altaisky Krai, Primorsky Krai and Sakhalin Island.

The children range from infancy (up to 18 months) to 15 years of age, with and without identified special needs. Before they are eligible for international adoption, children must be registered in a local data bank for one month, in the regional data bank for two months and then for six months in the federal data bank at the Ministry of Education in Moscow. Russian citizens have priority over international adoptions, even after the child’s data bank registry has expired.

Yes. In most sibling groups, at least one child is over age 5 and the parents’ rights have been terminated. Occasionally younger siblings, including twins, are referred for adoption. You may ask to be matched with siblings, if they are available. Requests for siblings are considered on a case-by-case basis. Your homestudy must indicate that you’re approved to adopt siblings, and the approval must be noted by USCIS.

Most children are Caucasian. A few are of Asian or other ethnic heritage. There is little information about birth parents, and you should be aware that most birth mothers received no prenatal care.

Russian medical protocol results in most newborns being diagnosed after birth by a panel of medical specialists, and then re-diagnosed over time. Medical reports usually include these diagnoses, although Russian medical terminology differs from what American doctors use. The care of children in institutions is governed by the Ministry of Health and includes routine testing for certain conditions, including but not limited to hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis.

If you’re considering adoption from Russia, WACAP strongly recommends that you consult early in the process with a medical provider who specializes in international adoption and can help you learn about Russian medical reports and the health issues of Russian children. After you arrive in Russia, you’ll meet and receive all available information about a child referred to you for adoption. Then you must decide whether to accept the child. It’s extremely important to be well prepared for this experience, and to have a skilled medical provider ready to help you interpret the medical information you receive and make your decision.

To find an adoption medicine specialist, check out the lists maintained by the University of Minnesota’s International Adoption Clinic or the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Russian children are vaccinated according to the directives of the Russian Ministry of Health, and immunization records are provided to adoptive parents. Please consult with your medical provider or specialist regarding this aspect of your child's health care.

Our staff have traveled extensively in Russia and has observed that although resources are limited, the institutions generally do their best to provide favorable conditions for children. Children ages 4 and younger live in institutions called baby homes, which are governed by the Department of Health and are staffed by medical providers. Children 4 and older reside in children’s homes or boarding schools supervised by the Department of Education and follow an educational model of care. Nutrition is not optimum, and the ratio of caregivers to children varies widely based on the ages of the children in care. A ratio of two caregivers for 10 to 12 infants or toddlers is common. Rooms are brightly colored; children learn poems and songs and participate in skits and physical exercise programs. Therapy and massage are often part of the routine. Conditions vary widely based on local resources.

The preference is for married couples (three years of marriage preferred) or single women up to age 55. If you want to adopt an infant, Russian authorities prefer that you be 48 or younger. Requirements are more flexible for parents adopting older children or those with special needs. The Department of Education in each Russian territory reviews and approves prospective families. Final approval of each adoption rests with the regional court judge. Protocol may differ from region to region.

The waiting time depends on the age of the child you request, as well as your openness to adopt a child with special needs. It also may be affected by regional processing protocol and other factors. Please contact WACAP's directly for the most current waiting times, which are based on our most recent experiences and can lengthen or shorten accordingly. Parents generally travel to Russia to attend their court hearing and bring their child home six to 14 weeks after accepting the child.

WACAP representatives in Russia will translate your application materials and have the translations notarized, then file your completed dossier with the Department of Education in the region of your choice. Depending on the region, you may receive current photos and medical reports about a child—or you may receive a child referral with no other information. At that point, you’ll decide whether to travel to Russia to meet the child and learn more about him or her. You may take photographs and videos of the child, take him or her for an independent medical evaluation, and consult by phone or online with your pediatrician in the United States. You may accept the child in Russia, or return home before making your final decision. After you accept a child, documents are prepared and filed with the court, and the court invites you to attend the court hearing and complete the child’s adoption in Russia.

When the birth mother has had no prenatal care, there is always a risk that something was not optimum during the pregnancy. Physicians tell us that it's impossible to conclusively diagnose fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) without knowing the birth mother's history. However, a doctor can make a risk assessment based on medical reports, videos and photos. WACAP can give you the names of medical providers who specialize in assessing Russian medical reports in order to help you make an informed decision.

Consult early in the process with a medical provider who can help you review the child's information to assess all aspects of growth and development, including the risk of alcohol and/or drug exposure. While you’re in Russia, WACAP staff there will help you send digital photos of the child to your medical provider, and will translate all child information from Russian to English within 24 hours after you receive it.

You must travel twice to Russia: first to meet the child, and then to attend the court hearing about six to 14 weeks after you accept the child’s referral.