Process and Requirements
Small World places children between the ages of eight months and seven years. SWAF currently facilitates adoptions in two Eastern European Countries, Russia and Ukraine. Following are charts of the ages and genders of children placed.
Age of child upon arrival home
25% of children placed were 0-12 months
40% of children placed were 13 - 18 months
14% of children placed were 19 - 24 months
12% of children placed were 25 - 36 months
8% of children placed were 3 + years or older
Gender of children adopted:
49% of children placed were Male
51% of children placed were Females
Currently the process is taking an average of 6 - 12 months for a boy and 12 - 18 months for a girl, from the time contracts are submitted to the date of travel to adopt. Some circumstances may take longer for female children, your case manager can give further details. Parents are entitled to make final decision in the acceptance of the referral. The Executive Director, a certified pediatrician, is available to assist each parent through their process of child selection.
Small World provides clients with full disclosure of all fees, both the ones paid to SWAF and those paid to outside sources. SWAF provides references to prospective clients in its information packet which you may request online.
Small World does not participate in escort programs. All adoptive parents must travel to finalize their adoption. It is the belief of Small World that it is critical for internationally adopted children to know that their parents cared enough about the place where they were born, to travel and see that country. It is a legal requirement in both countries with which SWAF works that the parents appear in court in the foreign country to finalize the adoption.
Once accepted as a client, parents are provided with extremely comprehensive instructions for completion of all paperwork necessary to complete an international adoption. Parents are carefully prepared before travel and assistance is provided every step of the way.
Overview of Country Programs
In all of these countries the children available for adoption are available for reasons of impoverished birth parents, single motherhood, abandonment, or removal from the home possibly due to neglect or abuse.
Russia Program
- Both male and female children are available, as well as sibling groups.
- Children from eight months and older.
- Minimal, easily explained police records, accompanied by strong supporting documents, may be acceptable.
- Some medical conditions are not acceptable to Russian Judges depending on individual regions.
- Minor emotional difficulties may be acceptable. Some cities are more restrictive than others.
- Parents must travel two times, first time to meet the child, second time to finalize adoption. However, both parents are not required to remain in country if the ten day waiting period is not waived.
- Currently, video is not allowed. A picture and a brief medical history may be available prior to travel, depending on the region.
- Adoption is finalized in Russia.
- Adoptive parents must register adopted child.
- Adopted child's American visa is obtained in Moscow, Russia.
- Single women are allowed to adopt in some cities.
- Single men are not allowed to adopt.
- Both parents, if married couple, must travel for the first trip and second trip for court.
- The first trip ranges from three to seven days, the second trip from eight to twenty days.
- Children must be listed on the National Data Bank for a minimum of eight months, depending on the country/city.
- Dossiers must be apostilled by the Secretary of State.
- Post adoption report schedule - Five reports, one at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, all to be completed by the home study social worker.
Ukraine Program
- Pre-selection of children is not allowed.
- Both male and female children are available and also sibling groups.
- Children from 18 months and older are available.
- There may be only 45 years between the older adoptive parent and the children they are adopting, but married individuals may adopt by him/herself with permission from spouse.
- Upon review and approval by the executive director, certain criminal histories may be accepted.
- In addition to a U.S. medical form, no medical records are required in Ukraine. In the case of one parent having a serious medical issue the other parent can independently adopt with spouse permission.
- The perspective parents receive an appointment to visit the SDAPRC to view information on eligible orphans for intercountry adoption. If both parents are adopting jointly, both are required to travel for the appointment date and also to attend court. If only one parent from the married couple is adopting, only that parent is required to travel.
- Maximum of three appointments at the SDAPRC (for more information talk to the case manager).
- Adoption is finalized in Ukraine.
- Adopted child's American visa is obtained in Kiev, Ukraine.
- No single unmarried parents are allowed to adopt.
- The trips range on average from 18 to 35 days.
- Children must be listed on the National Data Bank for a minimum of 12 months.
- All dossiers must be apostilled by the Secretary of State.
- Appearance of children is primarily caucasian.
- Post adoption report schedule - Submit annual reports on the adopted child to the Consulate or Embassy of Ukraine at least once a year for the first 3 years after the adoption and once every three years afterwards until the child's 18th birthday. According to U.S. accredidation standards, a one or three month report will be required.