Russian Adoption Hold Has Ripple Effect on US Camp/Hosting Program

“An organization that has brought 175 Russian children to Iowa said it had to cancel its 2012 event, and its future beyond that may be grim.

Since 2000, Camp Hope has brought orphaned children of all ages from Russia to Des Moines for one week each summer, providing a vacation for the children at the same time as they work to set up adoptions with Iowa families.

But now, the Russian government has placed a hold on adoptions from a region of Russia the group works with. That means officials are not issuing visas to children for the 2012 camp.

And because adoptions from Russia generally take close to a year, it also means the group of children and families who began the adoption process with Camp Hope last year are now forced into limbo.

“We have no control over this, and it brings us great frustration and sadness, as I am thinking it does for you as well,” said Anne Nieland in an email to families involved in the organization, both presently and in the past. But she declined to elaborate, citing the ever-shifting situation with adoption policy in Russia.

The email also said the group would continue to host reunion events so the children and families from the previous 11 years can keep in touch.”

Camp for orphans canceled after hold placed on adoptions
[Des Moines Register 4/6/12 by Regina Zilbermints]

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