Program Background

For Russian Children
DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
Since its inception, the Bridge of Hope for Russian Children program has been directly responsible for the adoption of more than 400, or over 90%, of the older Russian children who participated in our summer programs. We continue placement efforts for children who have not yet found their "forever family.” In 1997, the first Bridge of Hope for Russian Children program brought 13 Russian orphans to the mid-Hudson region of New York. In 1998,  34 of 36 BOHRC children staying in New York and the Washington DC area were adopted.  In 1999, 36 of 43 children participating in our DC Metro, Long Island, and mid-Hudson programs found adoptive families.  For BOHRC 2000, host families in Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York hosted 49 children, and 43 were adopted.  In 2001, 38 of the 43 children who participated in the program were adopted.  In BOHRC 2002, host families from Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and the DC metro area adopted 36 of 38 participating children.  In 2003, 64 children participated in our Bridge of Hope for Russian Children program on the east coast and in California; 53 were adopted.  In 2004, 60 out of 64 BOHRC children were adopted.  Sixty-nine of 71 children who participated in BOHRC 2005 found adoptive families, and 29 out of 30 BOHRC 2006 children were adopted through hosting areas in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Fifty-three BOHRC 2007 children have been adopted, and 30 BOHRC 2008 children are in the process of adoption.

Our success in finding homes for these older children is directly attributable to the Bridge of Hope for Russian Children program, which enables families and children to spend time together before making life-long commitments.


PROGRAM AREAS
Bridge of Hope for Russian Children 2009 plans to bring children to stay with families in Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Mid-Hudson and Long Island, New York, Maryland, Virginia and the Washington, D.C., the Midwest, and neighboring areas within a three-hour drive of BOHRC regions.. We are committed to keeping the children in touch with each other during the summer, and we cannot supervise individual children all over the country. Therefore, we require that our host families live near a program region and commit themselves to participate in BOHRC activities, which include orientation, arrival and departure meetings and at least two weekend events.

We are often asked about expanding Bridge of Hope for Russian Children to other geographic areas. For this to happen, a dedicated group of volunteers would have to meet the expansion guidelines set out on our website, which include fundraising, recruitment of host families, day camp scholarships, translators, and much more.  Please contact us if you're interested in helping to start a new BOHRC region in your area.


ABOUT THE CHILDREN
The Russian children participating in Bridge of Hope for Russian Children will be between the ages of 6 and 13 years old and will be selected by their orphanage directors as healthy, socially well adjusted, and able to handle the demands of this type of program. In late spring, selected host families will receive a brief medical report and picture of the child or children they will host.

All BOHRC children are legally available for adoption. Most participants will be individual children, however some will be sibling groups of two. The children do not speak English, and this may be the child’s first experience in a family setting. All of the children must return to Russia at the program’s conclusion. Neither Russian nor U.S. authorities will permit them to remain in the United States even if you decide to adopt.

It must be noted that children born to intact functional families generally do not end up in orphanages. Most children in orphanages were born to poor families or single mothers, or they have been abandoned or were taken from birth parents due to neglect or abuse. All children are impacted by life in an institution. They will have developmental delays that may affect their speech, motor skills, cognitive functioning, and physical growth. Children may also exhibit institutional behavior such as rocking or other self-stimulating activities. However, BOHRC children are reported to have a good prognosis for a healthy future if provided with the love, support, and treatment they will need to overcome the challenges they faced prior to adoption.


WHAT BRIDGE OF HOPE FOR RUSSIAN CHILDREN PROVIDES
Through the generosity of many donors and volunteers, Bridge of Hope for Russian Children offers our summer campers an unforgettable visit to the United States to attend local summer day camps and experience life in a family setting. Russian adult escorts accompany the children to and from the U.S. We provide health insurance to cover the cost of emergency health care needs (major medical problems such as accident or sudden illness requiring hospitalization) for each child and escort during the program. We assist host families to solicit scholarships for day camps in their vicinity. Our staff provides training, education, and support to families and children throughout the program.


FUNDRAISING, DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS
Bridge of Hope for Russian Children 2009 must raise a minimum of $4,500 per child to cover all program expenses.  Fundraising efforts and generous donations of individuals, organizations, corporations and foundations and host families will assist in this effort. BOH for Russian Children staff and families have raised funds through church drives, candy sales, special events, employer donations and direct solicitations.

All funds raised go directly to cover the expenses of the Bridge of Hope for Russian Children program. We have a sponsorship program for individuals, groups or corporations interested in funding the cost for one or more orphans to participate in the program. Donations of any amount are always welcome.

Host families pay a non-refundable $500 application fee at the time they submit their BOHRC application. This fee will be used to cover some of the program's expenses, including staff time, travel, translation services, postage, long distance calls, copies and faxes. Host families will also be required to pay a $1,500 - $2,000 program fee, to help cover costs associated with bringing the children to the U.S.

In addition, host families will be responsible for expenses associated with meeting the child's needs during the visit, including food, clothing, personal care items, medical or dental costs not covered by insurance and day camp tuition if they are unable to obtain a partial or full scholarship. Note: The BOHRC application fee and program fee are applied toward the expenses of the Bridge of Hope for Russian Children program, are non-refundable and are not applied toward any subsequent adoption fees.

 
Bridge of Hope For Russian Children Families

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

 Cradle of Hope Adoption Center, Inc.