Why the Delays...

Our agencies accreditation expired in June 2006 and no one expected the delays that were to ensue. 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 (NGO). Adoption Agencies were included in this group. It was July of 2006 before agencies could submit their paperwork as they had to wait and see what paperwork was required. As of August 28, 2006, our adoption agency was officially registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. The official certificate was received on September 4, 2006. We then had to wait for a resolution to be passed. This Resolution contained a list of documents that had to be prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science. That resolution was passed in November 2006 and the Ministry of Education began accepting paperwork in December 2006. Our agency submitted their paperwork on December 25, 2006. The Resolution gave the Ministry of Education and Science 3 months from the date of submission to decide whether or not to accredit an agency. However, the three months did not materialize for any adoption agency. It was July of 2007 before agencies began to be accredited. At that time we were thinking it would be any day. But again we ran into another snag. One of the four ministries to review agencies paperwork required an agency background check through Interpol. Well, Interpol decided they did not want to do that anymore. It was through the work of adoption agencies and the Joint Council on International Children’s Services (www.jcics.org) that things were resolved. Our agency received accreditation on December 14, 2007 and their official certificate on December 21, 2007. This was nearly a year after submitting their reaccreditation paperwork. As you can imagine, this news was a great Christmas present.