Child Welfare in Russia

1. Child Welfare in Russia Lanny Endicott http://drlannyendicott.com.tripod.com

2. Adoptions

3. 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

4. US Adoption of Russian Children • 2009—1,586 • 2008—1,861 • 2007—2,310 • 2006—3,706 • 2005—4,639 • 2004—5,878 (BICIS Immigration Statistics) Profile of Adopted Children • 46% - female • 4% - under 1 year • 75% - 1 – 4 years of age

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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)

11. Russian child welfare system a $4 Billion USD system

12. 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

13. 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)

14. 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)

15. 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)

16. Before 2007-8, 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)

17. 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)

18. 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”

19. 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

20. 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