Life in a Russian Orphanage

Life in a Russian orphanage leaves little to be desired. By no means am I advocating that a foster child in the US is the best thing since The Osbornes got off TV--they did get their reality show cancelled didn't they? please say yes...; however, in comparison with what I know about the Russian system, it is far superior. It simply makes my heart ache to know that Russia makes it so difficult for foreign families to adopt their children. (And in no way am I saying that it is much better in other countries because I know that they have their own hardships as well.)

All children must be on the Russian database for 8 months before the child is released for inter country adoption. So no matter how old the child is when he enters the orphanage, he must wait 8 months before a foreigner may adopt him.

Orphanage workers are over worked and under paid. Only a few years ago they were paid around $20 a month. Basically these workers dedicate their life to charity. Hopefully that has gone up considerably. There are approximately 100 children in every orphanage. There is approximately 1 nurse to every 10 babies; some the ratio is 1:15! The children are kept in Baby Houses until they are 3 or so, and then they are moved to the Children's Houses. A child who is not adopted by 16 is basically put on the streets to survive any way he can.

From what I've read, the orphanage care has improved dramatically over the last 10 years due largely in part to donations made by adoptive families. I think instead of the stark white institutional settings you used to find, many of the orphanages now have colorful playrooms and more stimulation. Many agencies require a donation be paid as part of the adoption expenses incurred by families. I've seen it anywhere from $500 to several thousands during our interview process. Others request that you bring items to donate to your child's orphanage on one of your trips. All of this is desperately needed I can assure you.

We've been told to expect a developmental delay of one month for every 3 months a child has been in the orphanage. Reasons for these delays include a range of things from lack of sensory stimulation, lack of personal care (I've read that the Baby Houses are fairly quiet as the babies learn that crying doesn't get them picked up), nutritional factors (babies are more or less fed with whatever is available at the orphanage and not according to their diet as we would here), or lack of fresh air (babies are kept indoors for 9 or so months a year). We've been told by our social worker that Russian babies are not ever put in a bath tub--they are only given sponge baths--so be mindful that we aren't going to be able to drop him in the bubble bath and expect him to be blissfully open to that suggestion.

On a positive note, most of these will children catch up to their US peers once they are in a loving family environment. Others take a little more time depending on their experience in Russia--either from their home life or orphanage life or a combination of both. Please join us in prayer as we pray for the orphanage director and the nurses who are caring for our precious little boy. We ask that our little boy be surrounded by those who truly have a vested interest in him, who love him, and who advocate for him. We pray blessings on those workers as they fulfill James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble..."