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Overview:
Despite economic reforms that have taken place
since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, many
families in former Soviet nations struggle to
survive. An estimated 600,000 children live
"without parental care" in Russia. About
1/3 of these children live in institutions; most of
the rest live with guardians, in shelters, or under
police jurisdiction. Economic factors lead to most
relinquishments. Parental rights may also be
terminated in the case of neglect or drug and
alcohol abuse.
Janice Goldwater, of Adoptions Together, in Silver
Spring, MD, says, "We see many children whose
birthparents are unable to raise them because of
economic, social, and familial circumstances. Of the
children who are available, we see two groups: one
is babies relinquished in the hospital at birth to
orphanages, and the second is older children who are
removed from their families because of
neglect."
Facts:
Number of Adoptions from
Russia:
2002: 4,939
2001: 4,279
2000: 4,269
1992 : 324
Age/Gender of Children Adopted
From Russia in 2001
Source: INS Immigration Statistics
52% Female
23% under 1 year of age
57% 1 – 4 years of age
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