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Use this link to read info about Lithuanian Orphanges:[url]http://my.execpc.com/~raa/new_programs.htm[/url] The link is from a US adoption agency that provides assistance in adopting from Lithuania.
Also, if you are interested, there is a Lithuanian Adoption board on Yahoo: [url]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lithuanian-adoptions[/url]
I am the owner/moderator of the board and we swap info concerning Lithuanian Adoptions.
Good Luck!
Gina
My wife and I are just starting the process and really need info on where and how to start. I have the opportunity to travel to Lithuania fairly often. I visited an orphanage in Vilnius last month. I was moved by the care the children receive but also at the great needs they have. I would like to know what is the prefered method, agency or lawyer?
Hi T & N M,
My suggestion is to use an approved agency. Lithuanian adoption laws are complicated and there are only 70 or so foreign adoptions a year from Lithuania, so there aren't a great deal of experienced adoptive families out there to guide you.
A good agency will help guide you through the requirements for your state homestudy, your INS approval, and your Lithuanian Dossier. You will need a lawyer in Lithuania for the final adoption, and that will be provided through your agency.
In a previuos post, I listed a link to a Yahoo Group for families adopting or considering adopting from Lithuania. I would suggest you try that group. We have links to approved agencies and you can ask for member recommendations.
Best Wishes in your Process!
Gina
My wife and I adopted our daughter, Mary, in 1997, when she was 1 year old. We used a private Attorney in Connecticut (we live there also). The whole procedure from start to finish took 4 1/2 years. Lithuania was just changing from Communism to Democracy and the laws changed many, many times. We are in the process of adopting again, but this time through Romania. We started in Lithuania, but my Lawyer advised me that nothing was going to happen for an extended period of time there. So she advised us to move our Adoption to Romaina. Of course the country has been closed to adoptions on and off for 2 years now.
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Mary's dad,
My current situation sounds exactly like yours and I wonder if the lawyer you are talking about is M.T. If so could you please E-mail me at donvon2@aol.com? I would LOVE to hear your experience.
16 mos. and still no child...
Originally posted by Jbug
Please respond to this post if you have or are in the process of adopting from Lithuania. I would love to chat with you about it!
Thanks
WE ARE A COUPLE WHO ARE SERIOUSLY LOOKING INTO ADOPTION FROM LITHUANIA AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU ARE FAMAILIR WITH MAIN STREET ADOPTIONS AN D NINA WHO HAS RESPONDED TO US. THANKS......GREG AND ARLENE
Jbug
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Wow. These are not encouraging messages. The child I am considering adopting is from Lithuania.
Did someone say they receive fairly good care there? I was reading the Effects of Insitutionalized Care forum and was told that the eastern european orphanages do not usually have as good quality care as the south and central american orphanages, and that they may have more attachment difficulties. However they did not specifically mention Lithuania.
I am in Atlanta, GA. If anyone can recommend someone to do an international homestudy, you can send the name to my inbox. We are just getting started, and researching the whole issue.
Thanks,
dk
Hi, Donna. I'm actually traveling to Lithuania Friday. We finally got our referral Feb. 2 and go for our first court date on April 8.
We are using Bethany Christian Services in Atlanta. The office is in some transition (international coordinator is retiring) but we've been very pleased overall with the service we've gotten. Our SW is Sharon Stumb from that office, but there are others I think.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Jenni
That is so exciting!
I have been looking into Bethany since I first saw your mention of them. That is why you may have seen the post I had regarding religion. I was uncertain about their name, since I myself am not a Christian. Other than certain regions of Russia having Christian families under the Family Requirements section, I didn't see anything on their website requiring that. Their website was, at least, more informative than most. I was also impressed at how they actually work within the countries to improve the lives of families.
I placed about 4 phone calls yesterday afternoon to the major agencies around Atlanta (I haven't tried One World yet) inquiring about starting my homestudy and not a single one, including Bethany, has returned my call yet! That has surprised me.
I would be very grateful if you would keep me apprised of your progress whenever you have time.
Best of luck to you!
Donna
As I said there's been some transition going on in the Atlanta office. Hopefully you'll hear something soon. I really don't know how they deal with families that aren't Christian. I just know that's the basis of what they are doing in the countries they work with.
Have you checked out the yahoo group for Lith adoptions ([url]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lithuanian-adoptions[/url]). You can get lots of good info there. Several agencies are represented.
I know there's another member of that group who is from Georgia and she is using Illien.
One way you can get direct info from Bethany is to deal directly with the European coordinator who is based in Michigan. Her name is Toni Carter and # is 231-995-0870 (I'm not giving out unavailable info--it's actually on the website). I've been dealing directly with her because of the "newness" of the Lith program. We are actually the pioneer family in the process of completing a "normal" adoption for Bethany. (A single mom adopted a special needs child and ended up having some different experiences as a result.)
Hopefully this will help you out some. I've got to get back to my packing.
Jenni
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It has been one year and a day since we met Daniel for the first time. You asked if Lithuania was a difficult process. Wellllll... We began the paperwork process in January 2002 and the adoption was finalized and Daniel came home with us on May 28 of 2004. Paperwork itself was completed in 3-5 months and the rest of the time was waiting.
Most couples wait at least 2 years--longer if you want a younger child. And children are usually at least 2 or older--no infants. If you have Lithuanian heritage you do get some preferential treatment.
Are you aware of the yahoo group for Lithuanian adoption? It might help you to check out their message board and read up on some of the experiences people have had there. Some are still waiting and others have successfully adopted. It's a wealth of information.
[url]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lithuanian-adoptions[/url]
Hope this helps!
Jenni in Georgia