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| May 2006 | ||
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In this issue...Upcoming Events - Attend an upcoming Program Introduction meeting Program Highlights
Upcoming EventsRussia Program Introduction MeetingsMA - Waltham MA - Pittsfield Additional meetings to be planned for the fall. Check our website for updated information. To register for either of the meetings above, please visit www.whfc.org. Eastern European Family Heritage DayA new event for families with children age 5 years and older to be held in November 2006. View more details for this event online.
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Russia Program Update
April was a month with a lot of activity in the Russia Program. Eight children were referred to WHFC families. Three families, including one who adopted siblings, traveled to Russia and returned with their children in April. We already have four families scheduled to arrive home in May and have several other court dates scheduled for May. We expect the flurry of referrals and travel to continue, now that we are re-accredited and up and running in our 9 regions of Russia. The Russia Program really needs families. We expect to match all our dossier-ready families over the next couple of months. New families entering the program can expect a wait for the referral of an infant in less than 4 months, and even less time for a child over the age of 18 months. Families who are requesting a young sibling group can still expect their wait to be approximately 6 months. Kim Bernstein, Russia Program Manager, attended a meeting of Russia accredited agencies at the end of April. Approximately 25 of the U.S. agencies working in Russia were in attendance. This group of agencies meets approximately every six months to work together to keep adoptions from Russia as an option for children and families, share information and experiences, and to demonstrate to the Russian government officials that we are committed to practicing the highest standards of child welfare as a collective group. What's NewStay Connected - Visit the All-New WHFC.ORGWe have recently relaunched our website offering new, in-depth resources for prospective and adoptive families seeking support along the journey. Our new website offers the following:
Log on today at www.whfc.org and see all of the changes for yourself. View our online presentation entitled "Adopting from Russia."The latest addition to our library of online audiovisual presentations is "Adopting From Russia." Our library also includes presentations on our China, Ethiopia, and Guatemala adoption programs. These presentations which offer insights into the country, its people and culture, as well as the process of adoption. You can learn about the children available for adoption from each country and share the experiences of our families and staff in each of our culturally rich, visually stimulating countries. View the complete library today. Join Us For a Live Online Presentation on Adopting From RussiaFrom the comfort of your home or office, we invite you to attend a live 30-minute presentation by our program staff (and families). Using the internet and a phone, attendees will be able to ask questions and learn about:
In addition, you will have the opportunity to view video from one of our WHFC families on their trip to Russia to meet their daughter. Two sessions of this event are scheduled: June 27, 2006 at 7:00 PM EDT, and June 29, 2006 at 12:00 PM EDT. Advanced registration is required, and space is limited, so register online now for this event! Waiting ChildrenWide Horizons For Children has a number of waiting children available from Eastern Europe as well as other regions around the world. Please contact Amanda Halpern, Waiting Child Program Coordinator, at ahalpern@whfc.org or 781.419.0371 for more information. Families who are working on, or have a completed home study can receive additional information on waiting children. Contact Us
Masha Korsunsky, Russia Program Coordinator Vica Nikitina, Russia Program Coordinator Kim Bernstein, MSW, LICW, Russia Program Manager Job OpeningsRussia Program Assistant |
We are pleased to offer this e-newsletter to provide information on the Russia Adoption Program available at Wide Horizons For Children. Wide Horizons For Children has been working in Russia since 1992, one year after adoptions from Russia first began. Since then, we have united over 785 Russian children with their adoptive families. In March 2006, Wide Horizons was newly re-accredited, and we are currently working in 9 regions including: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Ufa, Yekaterinburg, Bryansk, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don, Ivanovo and Tyumen.
Happy Spring! We are pleased how quickly things have resumed in the Russia Program after receiving our re-accreditation in early March.
Eugenia (Genia) Bevz, Russia Program Coordinator