HOST FAMILY REQUIREMENTS
We are primarily recruiting host families who are interested in adopting. For Russia, a host family can be a married couple with or without children or a single woman over 35 years of age who is able and willing to provide a warm and stable home environment for one or more orphans. There should be no more than 45 years’ difference between the ages of the child and the prospective mother. Ukraine doesn't accept singles, and neither host parent can be more than 45 years older than the child. They must also be in good physical and mental health. Host families are required to complete a home study, including a criminal record check as well as state child abuse clearance.

Summer host families provide visiting children participants with room and board and transportation to and from a local day camp. If parents in the family work outside the home, it will be necessary to arrange a reliable back-up plan for coverage if the summer camper becomes sick or cannot attend camp for any reason. In addition, host families assist in locating a day camp in their area and in obtaining a full or partial scholarship for their camper. If a scholarship is not available, host families are expected to meet the cost of day camp. For our winter program, one host parent must be at home with the child, since there is no option for camp.

Prior to the arrival of the children, host families are required to attend a day-long orientation meeting and parent workshop. During the children’s visit, there will be mandatory social events for all members of the host family and the visiting child.

Russian or Ukrainian language ability is a valuable asset to families but not required. Since most host families speak English only, translation support is a critical element of a successful hosting experience. Assistance from a translator is especially recommended for the child’s first days in the home and first days of camp, as well as to help with behavioral issues or cultural differences that may arise. Some families have also found that teen translators are helpful during our programs.


THE HOSTING PROCESS
We expect the winter visitors to be in the US from late December to mid-January. Summer campers will arrive in the United States in late June or early July. They will need some time in your home to recover from jet lag, to get acclimated to living in a family, and to adjust to their English speaking environment.

Mid-way through the program, you will need to inform us about your interest in adopting. If you decide not to adopt or are unsure of your decision at that time, you will be required to provide other interested families the opportunity to meet the child or children you are hosting. It is critical that as many families as possible meet the children during the time they are in the United States. Host families will have priority in adopting the child or children in their home, but the final decision as to which family adopts which child is made by our staff.

Our paramount concern is the welfare of the children participating in our program. Our staff is always available to assist you and the child to have a positive BOH experience. There are circumstances under which we might decide to remove the child from your home. This would occur if we believe the child is suffering abuse or neglect, including any physical discipline, if the child and the host family are not a good match, or if the host family has decided that they will not adopt the child. We will, at all times, consider what is best for the child, and reserve the right to move the child to another family at any time for any reason.

All of the children must return to the countries of origin at the program’s conclusion. Neither the foreign nor the U.S. authorities will permit the children to remain in the United States at the end of the program.


THE ADOPTION PROCESS
All Bridge of Hope for Russian and Ukrainian Children adoptions will be handled by Cradle of Hope Adoption Center, Inc. (CHAC) located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Cradle of Hope is a highly respected and reputable nonprofit international adoption agency with 20 years’ experience assisting orphans and more than 3,200 adoptions of children from Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and Latin America.

In order to adopt internationally, there are three different governmental authorities whose rules and regulations must be satisfied. First, you must meet the requirements of your state, which requires a home study report recommending you to be adoptive parents.  Home study services must be provided by a licensed nonprofit adoption agency in your state, rather than by an individual social worker. Cradle of Hope will provide home study services to families in MD and VA. Second, you must meet the requirements of the U.S. federal government, by receiving permission from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to bring a foreign child into the country. Finally, you must comply with all of the foreign country's adoption requirements. Cradle of Hope will help you with each and every step of the process. We estimate that it will take most families three to four months to complete all of the paperwork needed for your adoption. Once your “dossier” is received overseas, the adoption is often completed within 6 months. We encourage families who are committed to adopting to begin their paperwork as soon as possible to minimize the child’s wait to return to the United States.

Important things to know about Russia's laws on adoption:

• Both adoptive parents are required to travel to Russia to process and complete the final adoption through the Russian court system. Parents will be overseas for approximately three weeks, although one parent can return home after a week.

• Russian law gives Russian citizens priority in adopting orphans. Therefore, at any time in the process, the child could be adopted by a Russian family

• Russian law generally requires families to make two trips to Russia in order to complete an adoption. So far, BOH families have had to travel to Russia only for the court hearing, with the first trip being waived. We will do everything possible to keep your travel to just one trip, but host families should be prepared to make two trips if required by Russia.

Important things to know about Ukraine's laws on adoption:

• Both adoptive parents are required to travel to Ukraine to process and complete the final adoption through the Ukrainian court system. There are occasional exceptions, which our staff can discuss individually with families. Parents will be overseas for approximately four weeks, although your trip could be longer or shorter. Usually, one parent can return home after the first week, or families can make two shorter trips, with only one parent returning to Ukraine for the second trip.

• Ukrainian law gives Ukrainian citizens priority in adopting orphans. Therefore, at any time in the process, the child could be adopted by a Ukrainian family.

NEXT STEPS
If you are interested in participating in the Bridge of Hope for Russian and Ukrainian Children Hosting Program, please email PGancie@Cradlehope.org to receive more information. We appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you soon. You can make a difference in a child’s life and in your own life not only for this summer but forever!

If you have questions, please call (301) 587-4400, or email info@bridgeofhope.cc

 Cradle of Hope Adoption Center, Inc.