Welcome to the updated Adoption Options' Blog!

Adoption Options on Facebook!

2012-02-07T14:47:00.000-08:00

Adoption Options can now be found on Facebook! Please check out our page, like it, and suggest it to any of your friends who may be interested.

The Adoption Options Facebook page serves as an additional resource for the Organization providing hours of operation, a map to our location, phone and email contact information, photos of families and AO events, and more. Please take a brief moment to review the new page and leave us a comment!

Kyrgyzstan Food Donation Update

2010-12-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

To all of our families that contributed to our food donation drive,
We raised $7500 for food donation for the orphanages in Kyrgyzstan this past Spring. Unfortunately due to the instability in Kyrgyzstan we could not locate a reliable channel in which to assure this donation would reach the children. After multiple delays we were informed that the food shortage had been resolved. We then asked reliable sources about what were unmet needs of the children in the orphanages. We were informed that there was a critical need for wheelchairs for disabled children to help their mobility. We requested the Frank Foundation to assist us with this project. In our prior post I have posted the Frank Foundation grant proposal, which identified the specific children to benefit from our donation. Thru your generous donations we have been able to purchase 30 of the 50 requested wheelchairs and we are in the process of arranging delivery. The first five have already been shipped. When I reflect on what has been special about this year I think of your donations and willingness to assist those children in need. Thank you for your assistance. We were not able to purchase all of the wheelchairs so if any of you wish to contribute to this project please send your donations to Adoption Options specifying the wheelchair project. Happy Holidays!

2010-12-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

WHEELCHAIRS FOR KYRGYZ CHILDREN

A Humanitarian Campaign for Physically Disabled/Wheelchair bound Children of Kyrgyzstan

Initiated by the Office of the President of the Russian Federation and

Frank Foundation Child Assistance International (FFCAI)

BACKGROUND

According to a 2002 Report on “Children and Disability in the Kyrgyz Republic” published by UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, an estimated 91,000 Kyrgyz citizens were categorized as disabled by the end of 2001. 15,700 or 17% were disabled children under 16 years of age. Approximately 16.7% of these disabled children were diagnosed with infantile cerebral palsy (ICP).

Since 1994 when the Kyrgyz Republic ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the government has been making efforts to conform to the convention. However, the government is unable to provide full social support and necessary aid to the majority of families with disabled children and the institutions specifically designated to provide education, care and social services for them. The most serious problems and hurdles they face are as follows:

Severe shortage of specialized retail stores (selling wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.) and manufacturers of necessary equipment;

Prejudice, lack of tolerance and compassion for disabled – there is a lack of educational initiative informing the public (particularly children) of the abilities of disabled.

Poor educational services resulting in social isolation of disabled children;

Shortage of knowledgeable teachers and training programs for disabled children

Only a small portion of disabled children have an opportunity to attend or be placed in specialized institutions and to receive the relevant assistance. The majority of disabled children, particularly those from poor families or remote areas, have practically no access to advanced treatment, care and rehabilitation facilities. The corresponding provincial institutions have insufficient finances, maladjusted accommodation, and frequently lack even the basic necessities for normal development of disabled children.

CONCEPT

In response to this dilemma, the office of the President of the Russian Federation, under the leadership of Presidential Appointee, the Special Envoy to Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Vladimir Rushailo, in partnership with nonprofit child advocacy organization, Frank Foundation Child Assistance International, have launched a program to address the urgent requirements of the disabled children in Kyrgyzstan. The following needs have been identified and are targeted for project implementation:

1. Mobility Equipment for Children: 90 pediatric wheelchairs are immediately needed for students who lack proper equipment for their well being. The current program seeks to obtain 30 wheelchairs from the USA for transport back to Russia during the professional visit of Mr. Rushailo during his upcoming visit to the USA at the end of November 2010.

2. Specialized Transportation (Buses) for Students: Children confined to wheelchairs, are severely limited by a lack of sufficient transportation. Minibuses specially equipped with mechanisms to raise wheelchairs are requested to enable centers to adequately provide for the children’s’ needs.

3. Contemporary technology and specialized educational opportunities for disabled children: The project strives to encourage disabled youth to fully embrace life by introducing opportunities for them to live enriching and independent lives. Through the latest technological breakthroughs to potential career training and options, FFCAI hopes to develop diverse programs utilizing partnerships with local and international organizations.

CURRENT INITIATIVE

FFCAI seeks the support of the public and private sectors to create a viable project with benefits extending to hundreds of disabled children throughout Kyrgyzstan and provide them with the physical, emotional and intellectual support and opportunities they deserve to be self-sufficient and contributing members of a new and strong society. As the first step, FFCAI takes immediate action to launch the program through organizing the donation of 50 pediatric wheelchairs to Kyrgyzstan at the end of 2010. Coordinating this effort with Mr. Vladimir Rushailo’s professional visit to the USA at the end of November 2010, the wheelchairs [1] will be transported back to Russia, transferred to Kyrgyzstan and delivered to the disabled children who desperately need them – all under the direct supervision of Mr. Rushailo.

This effort is continuing a tradition of cooperation between Mr. Rushailo’s office and FFCAI to benefit disadvantaged children. In July of 2008, we had sent this exact pediatric wheelchair to Mr. Vladimir Borisovich Rushailo as a test/prototype to make sure it was a suitable model for the disabled children in his program. Mr. Rushailo personally transported the wheelchair from the USA to Arkhangelsk Region, where it was given to the Municipal Rehabilitation Center for Experimental Support for Children with Limited Mobility – a facility under the auspices of the City of Arkhangelsk Department of Education and the State Physiological Clinical Institute of Northern Russia Medical University. The Director could not have been more pleased with the unit and approved it immediately. Ten additional wheelchairs were purchased and delivered to the center over the course of the next few years.

In his most recent presidential appointment as Special Representative of the Russian President for Relations with Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Rushailo expands his focus to include support for disabled children in Bishkek and other regions throughout the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Rushailo seeks to replicate the humanitarian initiative for marginalized Kyrgyz youth by using the successful model and infrastructure he developed in the Arkhangelsk Region. Frank Foundation is honored to be part of this global effort.

Deleted specific information on list of 50 children for privacy reasons

CONCLUSION

The current educational program continues a strong tradition of democratic partnerships and international sharing for a common goal. FFCAI extends its gratitude to Adoption Options and its expansive network of generous and compassionate families for its continuous support. The current program allows us to collectively work together to directly benefit 50 specific children throughout Kyrgyzstan and provide them with a basic tool – a wheelchair – so that they may begin their journey to becoming independent, self-sufficient and contributing members of a new and strong society.

[1] Excel Kidz Chair: The Excel Kidz Chair features a bright yellow frame with a smiley face logo on the breathable nylon upholstery. Footplates are composite to stay cooler. Also features easy flip-back arms. Thick, comfortable calf pads on elevated leg rests. Tires have deep tread for playing outside and inside. Anti-tippers are included. This chair is hemi-capable with dual axles. 250lb weight capacity.

USCIS fees change for I-600

2010-11-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

This is to advise that effective November 23, 2010 the adjusted fee for filing the I600 for a non-sibling group will be $720. For more information please visit the USCIS website at www.uscis@state.gov .

Update on Kyrgyzstan

2009-10-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Kyrgyzstan Families,

This is a follow up to proposed response from the Kyrgyzstan government regarding adoptions. This month the government was scheduled to make a public position on international adoptions, which we were hopeful would restart the program. The government announcement was postponed earlier this month stating that a position paper would be rescheduled later this month. As of today no rescheduled release date has been issued. We continue to monitor the situation and we will let you know as soon as we hear anything else about this situation. In regards to this being a negative statement we do not know if it is or not. What we do know is the program regulations are in place to restart the program but we are waiting for a government directive allowing the adoptions begin again. We will let you know as we get new information.
Again for anyone that wants to consider changing countries please contact me and we can discuss other alternatives.

Warm regards,

Brent

Brent E. Yoder, LCSW
Executive Director

Embracing Adoption

2009-10-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

Adoption Alliance is celebrating National Adoption Month on November 15, 2009 at Turk Family Center 8804 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123. This is their 5th annual conference and it is dedicated to providing education and information to prospective adoptive parents, adoptive families, adoption professionals and others who share a commitment to adoption issues.

This year they will be discussing medical concerns, attachments and bonding. Pre-registration is required and can be done on-line at www.jfssd.org.

From Adoptive Families Magazine

2009-10-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

You Can Adopt: An Adoptive Families Guide is now the number-one selling adoption book on amazon.com. Without the contributions of so many of our readers, this book would not have been possible. We thank you! Susan PS: Don't forget to join your fellow Adoptive Families readers in our new adoption network, adoptivefamiliescircle.com . You'll find other families like yours, read blogs, and see gorgeous photos. Please join the discussion and upload your family photos.

Update on Kyrgyzstan

2009-09-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Kyrgyzstan Families:

I wanted to bring you up-to-date on what I know. The government is scheduled to release a document in October as to the status of international adoptions. We hope this means that they will finally re-start their program but no one seems to know for certain. It appears to our people that they will re-open but they caution that we need to wait until next month to see what is in the document. I am sorry that I do not have anything more definitive. I will let you know as soon as I have additional information.

Warm regards,

Brent

Brent E. Yoder, LCSW
Executive Director

Russia Updates

2009-09-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Russia Families,

This is a quick note to tell you that the adoption situation in Russia continues to improve. We have opened two new regions: Vladamir and Yaroslavl with another two we expect to confirm opening later this month. Vladimir and Yaroslavl are near Moscow.
We have been receiving referrals, with many families receiving referrals very quickly to their dossier being completed. I have another sibling opportunity if anyone is interested. I have two sisters born 12/04 and 12/05. If anyone is interested please let me know.

Warm regards,

Brent
Executive Director

Baby Clothes available

2009-09-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

We have a blue baby snow suit (18 month) and a bag of clothes for infant girls. If you would like any of the items, please contact Adoption Options. You are welcome to come and pick it up! It's free!!

Possible Disruption

2009-08-13T09:12:00.001-07:00

Sadly sometimes adoptions do not work out. I have been approached by a family that adopted a Caucasian infant boy in 2004 from Russia. The litte boy has been diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder. This family has taken good care of him but they have reached the limits of their care and have come to the heart breaking conclusion that he may be better cared for by another family that have the emotional resources to care for him. He is a beautiful young boy that is full of energy and enthusiasm. If anyone is interested in finding out more about this child or if you know of someone who may be interested please let me know.

Warm regards,

Brent

Brent E. Yoder, LCSW
Executive Director

Adoption Options, Inc
411 Camino Del Rio South
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92108
Telephone 619-294-7772
www.adoption-options.org

Adoptive Families' Photo Contest

2009-08-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

Adoptive Families' 2009 Photo Contest! Enter now!
Grand prize winners chosen from two categories—candid and formal portrait—will win digital camera suites and deluxe photography packages.
Runners-up in various age groups will receive portrait packages.
For more information, please go to http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/photocontest/

Helpful websites

2009-08-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.babycenter.com
This website is a great source of information for parents with a toddler or small child. Baby center provides information ranging form height predictors, and growth charts to baby name ideas and great activities for kids. There are useful lists of questions like: “is it safe…, is it normal…, and ready or not”.

http://www.adoptionclubhouse.org/
This website provides information about both international and domestic adoptions. This website is set up to attract both parents and kids to use. There is a way that kids that were adopted can talk to other kids who have been adopted and form bonds over the internet. There is a link, for parents’ use, which provides access to talk and comment on the website with other families. There is another link for teachers and parents to use in regards to homework and other school work that children who were adopted might need help with, such as family trees and autobiographies. Additionally, there is kid-friendly adoption vocabulary, lists of famous people who were adopted, and lists of kid-friendly books and movies regarding adoption.

http://www.tapestrybooks.com
The Tapestry Books website offers a myriad of books about international as well as domestic adoption. They offer access to books for children who were adopted and also for their adopting parents. This website is a resource for information about prospective adoption clients, helping them with preparation and form realistic expectations. Their main resources are the books that they recommend but they also have an assortment of compact discs (CD), digital video discs (DVD), and e-booklets. There is a self help section where consumers may browse the website using simplified categories to find books, but they do offer a personal service directed toward recommending books to consumers.

http://www.adoptivefam.org/
This is the website for Adoptive Families Magazine and is quoted as an award winning national adoption magazine; it is the leading source of information for families before, during, and after the adoption process. There are links to their bookstore in addition to a page to write your adoption story. There are articles on many important adoption-related topics that can be found on the left hand side of the home page under “Quick Links”. They provide brief descriptions of many of the countries where kids are being adopted from such as: China, Russia, Ethiopia, and Korea. This website offers a multitude of information on many different topics under the adoption umbrella. Overall the website is very informational and educational.

Kyrgyzstan Adoption Update

2009-07-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Families,

Below you will find an update from the State Department regarding Kyrgyzstan. This update is directed to the families that are stuck but it has relevant information about the general issues in Kyrgyzstan and some hopeful promises. I will update you as I receive new information.

Warm regards,

Brent

Brent E. Yoder, LCSW
Executive Director

Dear Kyrgyz Adoptive Families:

I am writing from the Office of Children’s Issues to provide you with a brief update on recent developments regarding the pending adoption cases in Kyrgyzstan, following the visit of Kyrgyz officials in late May.

On May 27 three officials from the Kyrgyz government, Deputies Gulnara Derbysheva and Damira Niiazalieva, and Child Protection Expert Ekaterina Khoroshman, met with adoptive parents, adoption professionals, and government officials as part of a U.S. Government-sponsored international visitors program. The visit succeeded in helping these officials better understand, first-hand, the intense commitment that U.S. families have for their prospective adoptive children. The officials also learned about the standards and protections for adoptive children that are built into the U.S. intercountry adoption process.

After they returned home, these officials held meetings and interviews to address some of the questions and concerns that people in Kyrgyzstan had raised about intercountry adoptions. These officials are clearly following up on the promise they made to work for release of the sixty-five cases.

In June, the State Department also sponsored the visit of a U.S. adoption expert to Kyrgyzstan. This expert met with Kyrgyz government officials, private organizations, and individuals to answer questions about U.S. adoption law and to explain the support and protections available to adoptive children in the United States. During these presentations, the expert emphasized the importance of resolving the sixty-five adoptions currently pending for the well-being of the children.

Recently, the State Department received promising news that proposals regarding these sixty-five cases may be presented to the Kyrgyz Parliament in the coming days. As of this writing, no official action had yet been taken. It is not clear what concrete effect these proposals might have, since the Parliament itself apparently does not have the authority to resolve these cases. Further, Presidential elections are scheduled for July 23. Nevertheless, we welcome this interest and are optimistic that if the proposals are introduced and passed, they could initiate a more positive shift in momentum on the sixty-five cases.

I cannot yet report any specific, concrete developments either in Kyrgyz adoption policy or on any of the pending adoption case files. We, in the Office of Children’s Issues, will continue to follow this issue closely and will make every effort to report to you if there are any new developments.

Gerry W. Fuller
Adoption Division Co-Chief
Office of Children’s Issues

FCC- San Diego 3rd Annual Kite Festival

2009-05-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

FCC- San Diego invites you to their 3rd annual kite festival.

Time: 12 pm to 3:00 pm
Date: June 14, 2009
Location: Kate Session Memorial Park
5115 Soledad Road
San Diego, CA 92109

This event will include a fun craft adn an appearance by Sparkles the Clown. Please bring your own everthing: food, drinks, blankets, chairs, sunscreen, etc.

Questions: Contact Heidi Duncan at madelinehailey@aol.com or (619)312-2906

Kyrgyzstan update 4/16/09

2009-04-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Today I attended a conference call with the US State Dept, US Embassy General Consul in Bishkek, USCIS, and the 65 families that are stuck in the process. The meeting was designed to update these families on the current situation, what is being done by US officials to advocate resolution, and to answer questions from the families. The following was provided to the attendees as general information:

· The Embassy has confirmed that the Kyrgyz governmental working group submitted its report to the Kyrgyz Parliament. On Wednesday March 8, the findings of the Parliamentarian commission were presented to the three parliamentary committees with jurisdiction over adoptions. The presentation noted that numerous violations of adoption legislation had occurred and called for efforts to prosecute government officials and orphanage directors involved in “child trafficking.”
Vice-Premier Uktomkhan Abdullaeva told committee members that most of the children have been adopted by U.S. citizens, and happily live with their new families according to reports and photos. She mentioned that there is an urgent need for a database of adopted children to keep track of post-adoption reports. Another goal of the Government commission is to establish a national adoption agency.
The committee will recommend to the parliament the Kyrgyzstan ratify the Hague adoption convention.
The full Parliament is expected to discuss adoptions soon.

· According to recent press reporting, the Kyrgyz government has opened nine criminal cases, three involving U.S. adoptions that have been completed and the children are now living in the United States. In general in Kyrgyz criminal matters, the prosecutor or police collect evidence and, if appropriate, refer the matter to the courts, who then decide to proceed with prosecution or dismiss the allegations. The Embassy is aware that local adoption facilitators have been questioned, but It is unclear at this time if the courts have made any decisions about prosecution or are waiting for further investigations to be completed.

· The U.S. Embassy has not received an official notification or request from the Kyrgyz government regarding these investigations. Unofficial contacts have indicated to the Embassy that in their judgment it is unlikely that any adoptions will receive a final approval until these criminal investigations have been completed and a decision has been made regarding possible prosecution. The Embassy will attempt to get official confirmation.

· The Embassy is in contact with an organization called UpLift, which is currently working in Tokmok and Bishkek orphanages and may be able to provide services for and information about children at these orphanages. We understand that some adoptive parents may already be in contact with individuals who work for this organization. We anticipate we will be able to provide information by the time of the conference call.

· At every meeting, the Embassy continues to press Kyrgyz officials on the importance of resolving these cases as promptly as possible in the best interests of the Kyrgyz children.

The meeting confirmed much of what we already have known. The general sense is that Kyrgyzstan will reopen their adoption program and that the atmosphere is generally supportive. There continues to be no time estimate of when this will happen. The officials explained that the process is complicated because it involves multiple different government branches and that the Kyrgyzstan government is disorganized and complicated. The US officials identified what they were doing to promote resolution but clearly stated that they are limited due to soverienty of the Kyrgyzstan government. They also highlighted the Kyrgyzstan officials can be sensitive to slights and that caution needed to be taken in addressing these issues. The current focus will be on educating Kyrgyz officials as to why American desire to adopt and on the success stories of completed adoptions. The Consular reassured families that all adoptions that have been completed to date have been legal according to US standards. The Embassy investigates each case to confirm the legal status of the child and that no child trafficking is occurring. They believe that the primary legal issue being investigated is whether the children were made available for domestic adoption prior to consideration for international adoption as mandated by law. The officials also believe that Kyrgyzstan will ratify The Hague Convention.

According to our people on the ground there is considerable confusion going on with the investigations. This will likely take some time to sort out and everyone is going to be reluctant to move forward until the legal issues are resolved. Hopefully the adoption committee will move forward with the changes quickly. We will continue to monitor the situation and let you know as we get additional information.

Recent update on Kyrgyzstan

2009-04-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Kyrgyzstan Families:

I have heard through the Joint Council that the findings of the adoption committee were presented to Parliament. The presentation was fair and well received. The presentation did address child trafficking and encouraged prosecution of the orphanage directors and officials that have been implicated in these situations. The Vice-Premier defended American adoptions encouraging the continuation of adoptions to American families. There was also emphasis placed on compliance with post-adoption reporting for continuation of the program. All of our families that have previously adopted have been in compliance with the post-adoption reporting.
Additionally it does appear that the Parliament will move towards ratification of the Hague Convention. What this will likely mean is that for those families that have already filed their I-600A they will be grandfathered under that current non-Hague regulations and for those that file after Kyrgyzstan ratifies the Hague Convention you will need to file the I-800A. The Hague Convention process is much more intensive in cost, effort and documentation so I encourage that anyone who has not filed their I-600A do so before this is ratified. I do not have a date as to when this will occur.
As you know this is good news that they have finally presented their findings. This is a step towards reopening their adoptions. We will follow these developments and update you as we get more information. I know that there is a tentative meeting scheduled with the State Dept for the families that are suspended on April 15th. I will let you know what is discussed during this meeting. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this update.

Warm regards,

Brent

Brent E. Yoder, LCSW
Executive Director

Vaccination information

2009-04-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

There has been a recent recommendation that all contacts of new internationally adopted kids should have Hepatitis A vaccination because of recent cases of families being exposed after arrival. Previously, it was just recommended for people traveling to developing countries, now it should be given to everyone who will take care of the child - siblings, grandparents, etc. This would be good information to include in your newsletter.

Michelle Dern, M.D.
www.elcaminopediatrics.com

Kyrgyzstan Update

2009-04-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Kyrgyzstan Families:

I have attached below the latest communication from the US embassy in Kyrgyzstan. They confirm that the adoption process is supported and that it is a matter of when they will move forward. I think it significant that the Consular indicates “certainly not this week”. I would hear this as they think this could happen soon but again no one knows at this time. Let us all hope this is soon. I will keep you informed as we receive new information.

Warm regards,
Brent Brent E. Yoder, LCSW

As you may know the Parliament convened a special adoption commission to investigate the cases. Now the Parliament should discuss findings of this commission among 3 committees: Safety and Security, Migration and Children’s issues. After that the findings and recommendations will be discussed by the whole chamber and the Parliament will elaborate recommendations to the Government. According to our contacts, the adoption commission has changed its originally negative attitude, it sounds much more benevolent now. Its prediction is that eventually everything will be fine – however it is hard to predict when, certainly not this week. Government in its own turn is waiting for completion of Parliament’s work on adoptions. At the same time the Government is revising adoption regulations and working out provisional measures for 65 pipeline families. We have notified both Government and Parliament of immigration procedures and benefits for adoptive children. Currently we are closely cooperating with the General Prosecutor's office which is investigating a few fraudulent adoption cases, by providing it with explanation of adoption procedures for U.S. parents. We continue working with the MFA regarding authenticatio fees for adoptive parents.
Sincerely
Consular section

Home Study Fingerprint Requirement changes

2009-03-31T14:21:00.000-07:00

The Federal government passed the Adam Walsh Act that requires more stringent criminal processing for applicants. The State of California has interpreted this change to mean that applicants must have an FBI clearance in addition to their California Department of Justice and their Child Abuse Clearance. In the past we have relied upon the FBI clearance done as part of your USCIS I-600A application. The State's interpretation along with the Hague requirements that all criminal clearances must be done prior to home study submission does not allow us to avoid this. Sadly this means you will have to get two FBI clearances to get your approval.

Russia children availability for adoption

2009-03-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

We have heard the rumor that Russia has stopped their adoption program or they are having horrible times, or that there are no children available. As with many rumors they are not true or have some partial truth that gets distorted. This is good time to adopt from Russia as long as you are flexible. The wait for infant girls can be long but for infant boys there is only a small waiting period. This past month our agency has had to decline several opportunities for boys because we did not have enough families. Even for an infant girl we have one region that it is likely that we can either get girls over 18 months almost immediately or younger girls within a few months. This particular region while having children readily available is a complex region that requires families to be flexible. If anyone wants to discuss availability please feel free to call us.

Russia supports international adoptions to US

2009-03-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

The following is an excert from Moscownews.com:
Russia refuses to prohibit adoptions into the US19 Mar 2009, 12:11 PM Russian Parliament has refused to ban adoptions of its orphans by American nationals. The measure was suggested by a Communist MP, bitter about the December acquittal of a US father responsible for the death of his adopted son from Russia . Adoption into the US should be banned, even if temporarily, Nina Ostanina was quoted by Newsru.com website as telling the meeting of State Duma, the lower chamber of Russian Parliament. Between 1996 and 2008, 15 Russian children adopted by Americans died. In 14 cases through the fault of their new parents. At the same time, the US remains the largest adopter of Russian children; for instance, in 2007, 4,536 Russian children were adopted abroad, 3,468 of them into the United States . The projected bill was rejected by most MPs. Instead, a decision was made to develop a standard agreement between Russia and the adopting state, allowing to establish better control over the child’s life after the adoption. The issue of foreign adoptions stands sharp in Russia , where the number of orphans was estimated at 800,000 in October 2008. Of these children, 80 percent were so-called social orphans, rejected by their biological parents or taken from them by legal decision. But foreign help in this matter is regarded as controversial, especially in view of the recent case of American Miles Harrison, who was in December found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter of his 21-month-old adopted Russian son. Harrison left the child in his car unattended in hot weather, causing the child’s death from overheating. The acquittal was officially condemned by Russia ’s Foreign Ministry.

Change in processing I-600 in Russia

2009-03-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

We received notice from the US Embassy in Moscow that they will be changing their processing procedures for the I-600 approval. The task of approval has been the responsibility of the USCIS but had been passed on to the State Department employees stationed at the embassies. The USCIS will be reassuming this responsibility as of April 1, 2009 in Moscow. What this means to families presenting their adopted children for final approval and requesting visas to bring their children home is that they will have an additional step than those prior. We hope this will not mean delays but it could possibly lengthen your final trip. What families need to be aware of is that there will be more scrutiny of the medical issues, ages, gender, and number of chilldren matching their home study approval. If they do not match a home study update will be required and a new I-171H given by their local USCIS. We are currently working on procedures to streamline this process.

Kyrgyzstan update

2009-03-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

March 20th was the published date for presenting the recommendations for international adoptions to the Parliament from the adoption panel. The recommendations were not presented and have been placed on hold due to a new political crisis in Kyrgyzstan. One of the members of Parliament has assassinated recently while secretly traveling from Kazakhstan back to Kyrgyzstan. This assassination has many underlying political implications and has resulted in an investigation of key government officials. This crisis has taken precedence over the adoption issue, which has been postponed without comment on when it will be considered again. I know this is not the news you all hoped for. I hope that this will not be a long delay and that we get resolution soon. We will continue to monitor the situation. As one of our families so clearly stated, "Is anyone considering the children?'

Trips in April

2009-03-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Three of our families will be traveling next month. Congratulations to those families who have their first trips to Russia scheduled in April. We wish you a safe and joyous trip!

March update

2009-03-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

Adoption Options wishes the best of luck to our family who will have their court hearing in Orenburg, Russia during the first week of April!

March update

2009-03-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our 3 families who brought their beautiful children home from Russia in March! The children are from the Kirov, Yekaterinburg and Kazan regions.

Informational Meetings in San Diego and Other Counties

2009-02-13T11:55:00.000-08:00

Our San Diego Informational Meeting is on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 6:30 pm.
We also have couple of Informational Meetings scheduled in the Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. For more information, please visit our website at www.adoption-options.org and click on the 'Event' link.

St. Patrick's Day Family Festival San Diego

2009-02-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

AO was invited to participate in the parade that will take place on Saturday March 14, 2009. This year the theme is Celebrating Children’s Services: Adoption, Fostering, and Mentoring. The Parade begins at 11 am at 6th and Juniper.

This event will be a wonderful opportunity for AO to make the public aware of our work, international adoptions, and bring out our families and volunteers for a fun day. After the parade, roam about the festival area and visit vending booths with assortments of Irish and other goods, information booths, food vendors, and kid’s zone.

If you are interested in participating in the parade while representing AO, please contact Lori Weiner at (619) 249-7772 or lori@adoption-options.org. We will send out more information regarding this event via email.

USCIS changes for filing I-600A in San Diego

2009-02-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

You can still submit the application in person on Tuesdays between 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to the locations below OR mail it via CERTIFIED MAIL (with return receipt requested) or FedEx to:

For the last names that start with A-M:
ATTN: Margaret Porcelli, Orphan Unit
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
880 Front Street, Room 1209
San Diego, CA 92101-8834

For the last names that start with N-Z:
ATTN: Nancy Guerrero or Connie Flores, Orphan Unit
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
1261 3rd Avenue, Suite A
Chula Vista, CA 91911

AO Newsletter

2009-01-29T15:12:00.000-08:00

Our Winter Newsletter has been published on our website. Click on the link to access the newsletter http://www.adoption-options.org/current.htm

We will email our future newsletters instead of mailing them out. Please contact us if you would like to see the photos of your kids in our next issue or if you have a story to share!!

Chinese New Year Celebration!!

2009-01-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

Families with Children from China- San Diego - is putting together a New Year Celebration on February 21, 2009 from 11:00a.m.- 2:30 p.m. at

Chinese Community Church
4998 Via Valarta
San Diego, CA 92124

If you would like more information or if you want to RSVP, please email Madeline Hailey no later than February 13, 2009 at MadelineHailey@aol.com

Weekly update

2009-01-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

There is an Informational Meeting today at AO office in San Diego that starts at 6:30pm.

We are getting a steady flow of referrals from Russia at this point. One family is finishing court this week, and one family came back from their first trip to Russia.

Our Executive Director is working on opening a program in Colombia.

Joint Council Webinar:The Role of the U.S. Government in Intercountry Adoptions

2009-01-14T11:49:00.000-08:00

• Are you interested in learning what role the U.S. Government plays in your adoption?

• Do you want to learn how you can advocate for your child and prevent unnecessary delays in the adoption process?

• Do you want to hear directly from your key U.S. government representative?

• Join the Joint Council on International Children’s Services, a leading child welfare advocate, for a January 29th Webinar designed for you!

The Role of the U.S. Government in Intercountry Adoptions:
A Joint Council Webinar
January 29th - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Featuring speakers from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services and the
U.S. National Benefits Center
Cost: $20 per Family
Register online at http://www.jcics.org/Webinars.htm

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:
January 23 (if paying online); January 21 (if paying by check)

AO groups in January

2009-01-12T14:51:00.000-08:00

Our "Waiting Families" group will be in January 14, 2009. The Pre-travel group will be on January 21, 2009. Please remember to RSVP for the groups.

We are excited to announce that the 3rd annual Russian story telling and potluck will be held on February 25 at the Mission Valley library. Please RSVP and let us know what you will be bringing.

Please refer to our website for group dates and times.

December-January update

2009-01-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

We have six families traveling to Russia in January. Kyrgyzstan program will be re-opening this month as well, and we anticipate that some of our families will travel to pick their children in January-February 2009.

Kazakhstan Update

2008-12-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

We continue to receive many calls and emails about our Kazakhstan program. While there has been a lot of interest, we only have two families who are actively completing dossiers for Kazakhstan at this time. If you are interested in learning more adopting from Kazakhstan, please contact Joyce Thompson or Brent Yoder at 619-294-7772.

Congratulations!

2008-12-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

We have two families who have recently returned with their adopted children! One family adopted a little 20 month boy from Orenburg, while the other family adopted a 4 year old boy from Apatity.

We have several more families who have referrals and will be going on their first trip soon!

Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Holidays

2008-12-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

Please be aware that Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan will be observing the "Russian" holidays the first half of January. This typically means that the entire country will not be working as all governmental offices and agencies will be closed for the holidays.

Upcoming Adoption Options' Holiday Schedule

2008-12-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

With the upcoming holidays, we wanted to give everyone advanced notice the days our office will be closed:

Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008

Friday, December 26, 2008
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thursday, January 1, 2009

Friday, January 2, 2009

We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for allowing our staff to take the time off to spend the holidays with their families. We will resume our normal office hours on Monday, January 5, 2009.

Hague Home Study Update

2008-12-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce that we have received our third approval for a Hague convention country! While this may not be exciting news for some, for us it means that are home studies are being approved by the National Benefits Center. Based on these approvals and our work with other placement agencies, we have created our own Hague home study template. This will help reduce the "request for additional evidence" and also cut down on the approval wait time. It is the NBC's goal to reduce their processing time to 30 days, but to date, their processing time is still 90 days.

Newsletter Photos Needed

2008-12-04T08:56:00.001-08:00

Adoption Options is in the process of completing our Winter Newsletter. Anyone interested in submitting photos of their family and/or children should email the photos to Natasha Oberg at natasha@adoption-options.org.

Hague Home Studies

2008-11-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

Adoption Options is a fully Hague accredited adoption agency. Since the implementation of the Hague by the Department of State (DOS) on April 1, 2008, anyone who is adopting from a Hague convention country has had to undergo a different home study process.

While the general aspects of the home study has been the same, the approval by immigration is completely different and the approval time has temporarily increased.

As of November 17, 2008, the National Benefits Center of the USCIS has received a total of 1,419 I-800A cases. Of that, they have approved 245 cases, with 1,174 cases waiting for approval. The average processing time is 90 days, but they are hoping to cut down this processing time to 30 days once they get through the backlog of cases.

If you are adopting or thinking of adopting from Hague convention country, please be sure speak to us by phone so we can review all the things that you will need to do in order to get approved. Because this process is new, it has been a learning experience for all of us involved. So while it can be frustrating, we have had several families who have completed the new process and have been officially approved by immigration. Adoption Options will be able to get you through it!

Adoption Options' Thanksgiving Holiday Office Hours

2008-11-25T10:19:00.000-08:00

In honor of Thanksgiving, our office will close early on Wednesday, November 26th, and will remain closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th. We will resume our regular office hours on Monday, December 1st.

Adoption Options would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our families, current and past, for your continued support of our agency and the children we serve. We are happy to work with all of you to bring orphaned children home. We sincerely hope that you have a safe and tranquil Thanksgiving!

Reminder, Free Informational Seminar Tomorrow

2008-11-19T13:25:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that Adoption Options will be hosting a free informational seminar tomorrow, Thursday, November 20th, on international adoptions. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM and will be held at our office in San Diego. Any one interested in attending should call Natasha at 619-294-7772 to RSVP.

Tonight's Pre-travel Group is Cancelled

2008-11-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

Please be advised that Adoption Options' Pre-Travel Group for this evening has been cancelled due to lack of RSVPs. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause any of you.

There will be no Pre-Travel Group in December. We will resume with this group starting in January 2009. Please review our Events' section on our website for information about upcoming meetings and events. We look forward to seeing you at our next event soon!

http://www.adoption-options.org/events.htm

No Internet or fax!!!

2008-11-18T07:22:00.000-08:00

Please be aware that AO does not currently have internet or fax due to a down power line in our area. We are attempting to work with our service provider to get this corrected, but as of today, Tuesday, November 18th, we are not back online. We are available by phone. We are very sorry for this inconvenience and hope to be back online as soon as possible.

Adopting from Kazakhstan

2008-11-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to announce that we will now be accepting new clients and dossiers for this adoption program. The Kazakhstan embassy is now accepting dossiers, and we would like to send any interested and qualified families as soon as possible.

For details about this program please contact our office at (619) 294-7772 and asked to speak to Joyce Thompson, LCSW, Kazakhstan Program Coordinator. You may also reach her by email at joyce@adoption-options.org.

Adoption Options' Pre-Travel Seminar

2008-11-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

Attention all Adoption Options' Placement Families!

We will be offering a free, Pre-Travel Seminar, to any of our placement families. We will have one family who has recently adopted 3 children from Russia come and speak about the adoption process and travel experience. Any family who is adopting from our Russian, Kazakhstan, or Kyrgyzstan programs are welcome to attend and learn key tips from a fellow adoptive parent.

Date and Time: Wednesday, October 19, 2008 at 6:30 PM

Location: Adoption Options' Office

411 Camino del Rio, South

Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92108

Please RSVP to Natasha at (619) 294-7772 or by email at natasha@adoption-options.org by Tuesday, November 18th.

Sensory Integration

2008-11-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, November 12 we had the opportunity for the fourth time to have Leah Taylor, an occupational therapist and adoptive parent, speak at the Adoption Options’ monthly parent support group. She educated the group members about Sensory Integration and Sensory Integration Dysfunction. She also discussed signs of sensory difficulties, sensory integration and international adoption, activities you can do at home with your child to help with sensory integration, and when you might want to get your child assessed for occupational therapy.

What is Sensory Integration?
Sensory integration describes our ability to take in information through senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing), sort that information based on previous knowledge and then make a meaningful or adaptive response.

What is Sensory Integration Dysfunction?
Sensory Integration dysfunction occurs when a child is not able to access or integrate these sensory experiences to achieve this “adaptive response”. The information is perceived by the individual as too much, not enough or disorganized. Sensory Integration problems, unless severe, are often subtle and easily mistaken for behaviors or explained as personality traits. Understanding a child’s sensory needs ultimately supports them in reaching their own greatest potential.

What makes children, post- orphanage at higher risk?
Sensory Deprivation
Poor Nutrition
Poor prenatal care
Premature birth
Limited opportunity for exploration
Minimal Opportunity for natural movement
Extended period in seated equipment (swing, excer- saucer)
Limited handling, caregiver contact

There is a positive outcome: Children who have experienced sensory deprivation tend to be highly responsive to sensory integration therapy.

What you can do:
*It’s a good idea to get a baseline Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment for all children who were institutionalized for longer than 6 months.
*Ask your MD for a referral for an OT evaluation (your child will need a prescription) or Request a “FREE screen for OT”
*Try some things at home.
*Work on creating a Sensory Diet (with the guidance of an OT)
*Keep a journal, look for trends and celebrate your family’s achievements
*PLAY, a lot- and then some more!

Things you can do at home:

Oral:
Drink from a straw
Sing
Eat crunchy or Chewy snacks
Chew gum
Blow whistles
Take a deep breath
Blow bubbles

Tactile:
Play-doh
Paint
Infant massage
Gently wrestle
Play gentle “contact” games (twister, make up your own)
Find many opportunities to invite your child to snuggle
Dig in the dirt
Sandbox
Walk or run in the grass or on the beach
Splash in waves
Carry your baby close to you (on your back, in a sling)
Hold hands
Explore nature: leaves, safe bugs, jump in puddles
Use a washcloth in the tub
Water table play

Movement:
Swing
Slides
Play upside down games
Sit and spins
Jump
Wiggle
Dance (don’t forget your instruments)
Roll like a log
Roll up in a blanket (or yoga mat) like a hotdog
Run, spin, and roll

Heavy work:
Sit with a heavy blanket on their lap-Sleepy Pete lamb (from Leaps and Bounds)
Wear a small backpack with “treasures” inside
Eat crunchy or chewy snacks
Drink through a straw

Help with chores: push laundry basket, unload non-glass groceries
Garden together
Jump with two feet landing solidly on the ground
Pull a wagon
Ride a trike
Climb a “mountain”
Wrap in a yoga mat- make a burrito ( wrap below the shoulders only)
Build a sandwich out of couch pillows
Wear a tight knit cap

For a study on Sensory Integration and International Adoption:
The Research: Sharon Cermak, Ed.D., OTR/L, published “The Relation Between Length of Institutionalization and Sensory Integration in Children Adopted from Eastern Europe” in The American Journal of Occupational Therapy May/March 2005, Volume 59, Number 2. (Susan H. Lin, Sharon Cermak, Wendy J. Coster, Laurie Miller.)

Free Informational Meeting on Adoptions

2008-11-06T17:34:00.000-08:00

Interested in learning about international adoptions? Please join us for a FREE, informational meeting that will cover all aspects of adoptions, but will focus mainly on International Adoption. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in our

NEW San Diego Office, located at:
411 Camino del Rio South
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92108
Please RSVP to Natasha Oberg by calling her at (619) 294-7772 or by emailing her at natasha@adoption-options.org.

Upcoming Holiday Closure

2008-11-06T17:31:00.000-08:00

Please be advised that our office will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th, in observance of the Veterans' Day Holiday. We will have our normal office hours, 8 am to 5 pm, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday and 8 am to 1 pm on Friday. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Adoption Options and Home Study Services

2008-11-06T17:29:00.000-08:00

This is a reminder that Adoption Options is licensed to conduct home studies in the following counties of California: San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. If you are a resident of any of these counties and need an international home study, please contact our office at 619-294-7772 and speak to Joyce Thompson, LCSW for more information.

Baby Mine-The Story of Isabella

2008-11-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

Please see this touching video made by Krygyzstan adoptive mother, Melanie, about her daughter's adoption.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=70b942e11c2b536ffef28c&skin_id=1604&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

November Waiting Families Group

2008-10-31T11:35:00.000-07:00

This group is open to all families waiting to adopt. We know that it can be a long and sometimes trying wait for your child. This is a forum in which you can discuss issues with other families who are also in the process of adopting.

Please note that attendance of this group will count for 1.5 hours for the required 10 hours of parent education if you are currently in the home study or home study update process.

Date and Time: Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 6:30 PM

Location: Adoption Options Office

411 Camino del Rio South, Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92108

Please RSVP to Natasha at (619) 294-7772 or

natasha@adoption-options.org.

AO November Parent Supprt Group

2008-10-31T11:30:00.001-07:00

The Adoption Options' Parent Support Group is a great way to connect with other aprents, either currently in the process or parents whom have already adopted. This month's topic is on Sensory Integration and International Adoption given by an adoptive parent who is also an occupational therapist.

Please note that attendance of this group will count for 1.5 hours towards the required 10 hours of parent education if you are currently in the home study or home study update process.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Date and Time: November 12, 2008 at 6:30 PM

Location: Adoption Options' Office

411 Camino del Rio South, Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92108

(619) 294-7772

Please RSVP to Natasha by November 10, 2008

as space is limited

natasha@adoption-options.org or (619) 294-7772

Adoptions from Kazakhstan

2008-10-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that our Kazakhstan program has "re-opened". While this program has never been officially close, the Kazakhstan embassy is now accepting and processing dossiers once again! Any families who are interested in adopting from Kazakhstan, please contact Kazakhstan Program Coordinator, Joyce Thompson at (619) 294-7772 or by email at joyce@adoption-options.org.

Adoptions from Kyrgyzstan Update

2008-10-31T11:14:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that 5 of our Kyrgyz children have arrived safely home to the United States. Congratulations to the 5 families who welcomed their children home!

Adoptions from Russia Update

2008-10-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

Our Russian adoption program continues to move foward. We have had many families come home with their beautiful children in the last month, with many more who are scheduled to travel in November and December to pick up their children.

If anyone is interested in learning more about our Russian adoption program, please contact Brent Yoder at (619) 294-7772 or by email at brent@adoption-options.org.

Picnic Reminder

2008-10-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

Just a brief reminder that our Fall Reunion Picnic will be held this Saturday, October 18th, from 1 to 4 PM, at our regular location at Mission Bay Park.

We will be holding a silent auction, with the proceeds to benefit our adoption agency and adoption programs. Cash or checks will be accepted.

There will also be a pumpkin decorating activity for the children as well as face painting. We will also be having another Halloween costume parade, so please feel free to bring the children's costumes so they can show it off to everyone!

To RSVP or for directions, please call our office at 619-294-7772. See you there!

You Are Invited!!!

2008-10-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

We would like to remind you about AO picnic and fundraiser that will take place on October 18, 2008 from 1pm until 4pm. You are invited!
There will be games and a silent auction. We will be accepting cash or checks for the items purchased at the auction. Also, we will have a Halloween costume parade for the children around 3pm!!

We are currently accepting donations and baskets to help us prepare for the fundraiser. We have received 15 baskets so far, but we are still in need for the following items:
- miniature pumpkins and pumpkins decorations
- folding tables for the auction (will be returned to the owners)
- medium size baskets- need before October 15th
- gift baskets
- monetary donations

If you have any questions or to RSVP, please contact Natasha at 619-294-7772.

We will see at the picnic!!

AO office hours

2008-10-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

Please note Adoption Options' new office hours:

Monday - Thursday 8am-5pm
Fridays - 8am-1pm

Please note that we have staff meetings every Thursday at 10am-11:30am

Call to all Adoptive Parents of Russian Children

2008-09-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

Joint Council Announcement

Program International Relations Initiative
Date September 11, 2008
Regarding Joint Council ACTION REQUEST - RUSSIA
In a proactive effort by Joint Council and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to promote a positive public and governmental image of intercountry adoptions, we are collecting 20 stories of successful Russian adoptees. These stories will be strategically forwarded by DOS to the Government of Russia and Russian media.
Stories should be approximately 500 words in length and, ideally, include a picture of the adoptee and his/her family. Submissions should also include a confidential information release from the adoptive family authorizing a release from all copyrights. Confidential information releases need to include the names of the family members, their address, phone number(s), and an email address. Please note that the story and/or photos will be shared with Joint Council, the US Dept of State, authorities of the Russian Government and members of the media.

Stories should be submitted to Rebecca Harris at rebeccah@jcics.org by September 26, 2008. Thank you!

Volunteers Wanted

2008-09-16T14:49:00.001-07:00

We are looking for volunteers to help with our next picnic, to be held on October 18th. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Lori Weiner at 619-294-7772 or by email at lori@adoption-options.org.

We Need Your Help!!!!

2008-09-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Families,

As some of you may know, November is National Adoption Month! This year, in efforts to create awareness and lend support to children in need, we will be hosting fundraising activities during the October 18th reunion picnic.

The funds raised this year will go directly to Adoption Options for the continued operation of our adoption agency and our adoption programs in Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

In order for us to achieve this goal, we need your help! During the October Reunion Picnic, we hope to hold several activities such as a silent auction, games, pumpkin decorations, professional face painting, and more. Adoption Options is in need of the following items for these fundraising activities:

- 15-20 gift baskets for silent auctions
- Monetary donations
- 5-6 foldable tables (will be returned to owner)

Also, if any of you would like to volunteer your time and supplies for any arts and craft activities that the children could do at the picnic, please let us know.

If your family or business would be able to donate or lend us the above mentioned items please contact Natasha or Joyce (619) 294-7772. Your donation is tax deductible!

We realize that this is a challenging time in the economy for all of our families as it is for our agency. We thank you in advance for your continued support of our adoption agency and programs. If your company/employer offers any donations to non-profit organizations, please let us know so we can contact them as well.

Sincerely,
Adoption Options

Next AO Parent Support Group, September 24th

2008-09-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

The Adoption Options’ parent support group is a great way to connect with other adoptive parents, either currently in the process or parents whom have already adopted. This month’s topic is related to School and Adoption: How to talk to your children’s teachers about adoption, how to do projects such as family trees, and different school issues that can come about.

Please RSVP soon if you plan on attending.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 @6:30 PM

Topic: School and Adoption

**NEW: Adoption Options’ Office

411 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92108

(619) 294-7772

Please RSVP to Natasha by September 19, 2008 (there is limited space)- natasha@adoption-options.org OR

Call 619-294-7772

Informational Meeting on International Adoptions

2008-09-08T16:10:00.001-07:00

Interested in learning about international adoptions? Please join us for a FREE, informational meeting that will cover all aspects of adoptions, but will focus mainly on International Adoption. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in our NEW San Diego Office, located at:

411 Camino del Rio South

Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92108

Please RSVP to Natasha Oberg by calling her at (619) 294-7772 or by emailing her at natasha@adoption-options.org.

Russia Update

2008-09-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Our Russian program continues to do well despite concerns that there would be changes to the program due to the recent situation between Russia and Georgia. We have continued to receive referrals for both boys and girls of all ages. Families interested in learning more about our Russian Program should contact our Executive Director, Brent Yoder, LCSW at brent@adoption-options.org or (619) 294-7772.

Kazakhstan Update

2008-09-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Kazakhstan remains open for international adoption. However, due to changes that have occurred at the Kazakhstan embassy, no dossiers are being processed at this time. The Kazakhstan embassy is requiring all agencies working in Kazakhstan to be Hague Accredited, though Kazakhstan is not a Hague Convention Country. We should find out more information from the Kazakhstsan embassy regarding the adoption process after September 15th and will provide an update here.

Families interested in finding out more information about the Kazakhstan program may contact Kazakhstan Program Coordinator, Joyce Thompson, at joyce@adoption-options.org or (619) 294-7772.

Kyrgyzstan Update

2008-09-03T11:13:00.001-07:00

Due to changes in other countries' program, we have seen a surge in interest in the Kyrgyzstan program. We have temporarily stopped taking new applications from any families, but are taking names and contact information for families who want to be placed on our waiting list to apply with our agency. If you are interested in finding out more information about Kyrgyzstan or would your name added on our waiting list, please contact our Kyrgyzstan Program Coordinator, Joyce Thompson, at joyce@adoption-options.org or at (619) 294-7772.

We are officially in the new office!

2008-09-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

We officially moved into our new office this last weekend, and are up and running. Please be sure to update your contact information with our new address:

411 Camino del Rio South, Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92108

(619) 294-7772 Office

(619) 294-7771 Fax

www.adoption-options.org

info@adoption-options.org

Our telephone and individual email addresses have remained the same. As a reminder, our office hours are 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Thursday and 8 AM to 1 PM on Fridays. We are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Call out for blog links

2008-08-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

Hi families with blogs! We are looking to add more adoption blogs to our list...if you are interested in allowing to place a link of your blogs to ours, please contact Aline Kalebjian at aline@adoption-options.org. We have many families who would like to her personal stories about their adoptions, and this would be a great way for them to find yours!

Please feel free to add our blog to your blog rolls as well!

AO Parent Support Group on August 13, 2008

2008-08-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

Adoption Options' August Parent Support Group

Date: August 13, 2008

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: AO Office

5353 Mission Center Road, Suite 303

San Diego, CA 92108

This month’s speaker is Dr. Michelle Dern, a local pediatrician with a special interest in the care of internationally adopted children, to speak about International Adoption Health Care.

The Adoption Options’ parent support group is a great way to connect with other adoptive parents, either currently in the process or parents whom have already adopted.

*Please note that attendance of this group will count for 1 ½ hours towards the new requirement of 10 parent education hours if you are currently in the homestudy or homestudy update process.

Please RSVP to Lori Weiner at lori@adoption-options.org as soon as possible if you plan on attending.

We are moving!!!

2008-08-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

Effective September 1, 2008

Adoption Options will be at a new address!

411 Camino del Rio South, Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92108

619-294-7772 Phone

619-294-7771 Fax

877-542-7772 Toll Free Number

New Blog

2008-08-04T15:29:00.000-07:00

Due to technical difficulties, we have had to re-do our blog. Unfortunately we lost the messages from our previous site, but moving to this site will allow us more flexibility and creativity over how we present our information.

Stay tuned!