If you have a question about Gladney's Russia Adoption Program, ask it here! We'll post the answer to this page.
Questions and Answers
 
Q: The Adoption Process states that limited information about the child is given when presented with the referral. Can you give an example as to what information is given. Also, are families allowed to video tape/take pictures of the child during the 1st visit so that it can be shared with IA pediatrician? Last, are families expected to make a decision on whether or not they accept the referral of the child during the 1st trip?
A: Families adopting from Russia may only be given the name, age, and gender of a child at time of referral. Families travel on the first trip to meet the child and take photos and/or video of that child and receive any additional information provided. This is the information a family will provide to their physician for review before agreeing to adopt that child.
A family may or may not decide during that first trip whether this is the child they want to adopt. That decision can be made final upon return to the U.S. from that first trip and after physician review of the information.
Q: I have read about Eurasian children being available in Russia. Would we be able to request a Eurasian girl?
A: It is rare to see a child of Asian descent in Russia.
Q: I took anti-depressants several years ago. I have not taken anti-depressants for the past 2 years and I am not currently taking them. I have no plans to take them in the future. Does that prevent me from adopting in Russia or elsewhere?
A: The regions in Russia where Gladney is placing children are very specific about the health of the prospective parents. They are unwilling to make exceptions and would more than likely not approve a family that has or is currently on medication for depression or anxiety.
Q: Could I adopt if I have 2 kids and only have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms?
A: Yes. Since children are in orphanages in Russia, typically, the children prefer to share a room with other children. That's what they are accustomed to.
Q: I am an insulin dependent diabetic. Would this restrict me from adopting a child?
A: Russia does have specific guidelines on the health of the adoptive parents. In the regions where Gladney is placing children, being an insulin dependent diabetic does prevent one from adopting.
Q: Can I adopt if I live in an apartment?
A: As long as you live in a safe, happy, healthy environment for raising a child, there shouldn’t be any problems for prospective parents living in an apartment.
Q: We are from the UK. Can we still use Gladney Center International Adoption?
A: Unfortunately, Gladney can only assist U.S. Citizens with international adoption.
Q: My husband & I have both prescribed anti-depression medications for brief amounts of time several years ago in our past. Would this keep up from adopting in Russia?
A: The regions in which Gladney is working in Russia will not place a child with a family if one or both prospective parents are taking medication for depression or anxiety. Be sure to check with other agencies that may work in different regions.
Q: What is the total cost for adoption from Russia?
A: Approximately $24,000 excluding travel expenses. The brochure in the Gladney information packet will provide details of the fees.
Q: I would like to adopt a sibling group. How possible would that be?
A: Adopting siblings from Russia is very likely. Families do need to be flexible on the age range and gender of the siblings they hope to adopt. It may take a little longer to locate siblings than it would a single child.
Q: My husband and I just got married. Can we go ahead and get started on the process so that when we've been married a year we will be able to adopt shortly thereafter?
A: Much of the paperwork is time sensitive. You'll want to wait until a month before your anniversary to being the process.
Q: Are there any specific health issues that make a child "unadoptable" or "ineligible" for foreign adoption?
A: Not that we are currently aware of.
Q: I had cancer 7 years ago. I am in complete remission, cancer-free and have been cleared by all my doctors. Would the Russian Authorities accept an application regardless of my past history?
A: Unfortunately, cancer is one of the medical concerns in Russia. Our past experience has been that they will not approve a family that has had cancer.
Q: I have asthma that is well controlled with medication. Will this preclude me from adopting from Russia?
A: To make sure asthma wouldn't be an issue, we would check with our country coordinator before you begin the process. To date, we have not had any families denied adoption from Russia due to asthma.
Q: I have type one diabetes and require insulin. I keep myself in very good control and always have. Would this be an issue to adopt from Russia?
A: Russia has established guidelines for the health of the prospective adoptive parents. Diabetes is one of the health issues that is a concern in Russia and would prevent a family from adopting there.
Q: Are you currently accredited in Russia?
A: As of August 28, 2006, the Gladney Center for Adoption is officially registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. We received our official certificate on September 4, 2006. In early 2006, the Russian Federation required all foreign not-for-profit organizations operating in Russia to complete registration with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation as a Non-Governmental Organization. Adoption Agencies are included in this group.
As of November 2006, the Resolution we have been waiting for has been signed. This Resolution contains a list of documents that must be prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science. At this time we are working on those necessary documents to submit to the Ministry of Education and Science. The Resolution gives the Ministry of Education and Science 3 months from the date of submission to decide whether or not to accredit an agency. We are encouraging families currently in the process to review all of their dossier documents for expiring dates and update documents as needed, except medicals and criminals, since they are only valid for three months. Please note that we cannot submit anything to Russia until we are granted our re-accreditation.
We are very grateful to the Russian officials for recognizing the Gladney Center for Adoption’s qualifications to help provide forever homes for children. We are also very thankful to our team in Russia for helping us achieve the NGO status with the Ministry of Justice in the Russian Federation. We will continue to accept families into our Russia program and maintain open lines of communication with our families.
Q: What regions of Russia does Gladney work in?
A: Currently, Gladney places children from the following regions: Kaluga, Vologda, Pskov, Smolenski, Ryazan, Chuvasia, Komi-Permyatsky, Perm, Voronezh, Chelyabinsk and Kostroma.
Q: We are considering applying to adopt from Russia. We were just concerned that I have high blood pressure, which is kept under control by medication. My husband has high cholesterol, also controlled by medication. We do not have any other health issues. Would these issues preclude us from adopting from Russia?
A: Major health concerns are more of an issue in Russia. High blood pressure and high cholesterol have not been a problem for families hoping to adopt from Russia.
Q: I had breast cancer 8 years ago. I had bilateral mastectomies and NO evidence of metastatic disease. I am cancer-free and on no medications. Will this prevent me from adopting from Russia.
A: Unfortunately, Russia will not accept applicants that have had cancer.
Q: I have mild type 2 diabetes which I control through diet and exercise. I know that some countries are very strict regarding health matters. Would this be an issue if adopting from Russia?
A: Since your Type 2 diabetes is controlled with diet and exercise, it is not as much a concern as if you were on medication for diabetes. Before you begin the process, Gladney would check with the country.
Q: Does the Russian program allow adoptive parents with any criminal background? My husband had a felony conviction of breaking and entering from 1993 (a horrible mistake made at the age of 18), but he has not been in a situation of any legal violation since then. I have a misdemeanor charge of petty larceny from 2001. I too have not had any issues since then. We are both successful, well educated (I have my MBA) and financially stable professionals. We have 2 beautiful sons, and are looking to adopt a daughter. We do however want to adopt a Caucasian or possibly bi-racial infant to toddler.
A: Felony charges are a serious issue not only in the foreign country but with adoption agencies. Because The Gladney Center is licensed by the state of Texas, we must follow licensing requirements to maintain that license. Families interested in adopting with felony criminal charges must go through an assessment process and complete additional paperwork before they can begin the adoption process. This is only for licensing and the adoption agency to determine whether or not we can move forward. After that time, we check with the foreign country to see what issues they may have.
Q: I am looking for a reputable agency to complete an adoption of a child we hosted from Smolensk - can you help us out? She has been stuck for almost 2 years and we cannot give up on her.
A: The Gladney Center does place children from the region of Smolensk. However, if this child has already been assigned to another agency, we would not be able to assist with the adoption. Any information you can provide about the child will help us to find out her current situation.
Q: My husband has juvenile-onset diabetes (insulin dependent). He is otherwise healthy. Would this preclude us from adopting?
A: Russia has become very specific with the health guidelines of the prospective parents. In the regions where Gladney is working to place children, insulin dependent parents are an issue and would not be able to adopt.
Q: My husband is 33 and has two DWI's from his college days. Would this prevent us from being accepted?
A: Russia has specific guidelines for families adopting from Russia. It wouldn't be as much of an issue if there was only one DWI. However, two charges of DWI may cause for some concern with the Russian officials. Before you begin the process, Gladney would check with our Russia program manager and see if this would be an issue.
Q: I am interested in adopting a deaf baby or toddler. Do you have any deaf children? My husband and I are deaf and would love to have a deaf child in our family.
A: Once the dossier is submitted in Russia, the Russian officials will look at the children available for international adoption to see if there is a child that meets your requests. Currently, there is not a particular list that we have noting a deaf child.
Q: I just turned 24 years old and my husband will be 25 in August. Do you have a minimum age requirement?
A: Your ages only prevent you from adopting from China. In China, both prospective parents must be 30 years old or older. In most countries, the age requirement states that you must be at least 15 years older than the child you wish to adopt. Your ages only prevent you from adopting an older child.
Q: I am 60 years old and my wife is 45, can we adopt a 2-3 year old?
A: The guidelines that Gladney has established for prospective parents it that both parents must be 60 or younger to adopt.
Q: I already have six biological children. Can I still adopt from Russia?
A: Gladney and Russia consider these situations on a case-by-case basis depending on the family's situation and the age of the children already in the home.