Adoption Conditions Improved for Russian Families

In particular,

• It is established that the guardianship agency is responsible to inform the public about children left without parents’ custody, the possibilities and procedures for their adoption through the official site of the guardianship authority and mass media, as well as receive citizens interested in adoption.
• The term of validity for medical health assessment report for persons interested in foster care is increased to 6 months (versus 3 months currently).
• Candidates for adoption who have been approved for foster care will be registered with the guardianship authorities based on the candidate’s application and an approval report for foster care (documents required for adoption are not necessary in this case).
• List of documents required for persons desiring to be registered as foster parents or guardians for children without parents has been amended to remove certificate of conformity to health and safety regulations for the place of residence.
• Persons desiring to become foster parents and holding a certificate of approval for foster care are given the legal right to receive detailed information about the child being transferred to their care and about the existence of his/her relatives, to address medical institutions for independent medical evaluation of the child. Foster parents are also endowed with the responsibility to meet the child and establish personal contact with him/her, and to become familiar with child’s personal file held by guardianship authority.