Way back when we petitioned the Russian court for parental rights, we promised to do a number of things. One of these things was to file "post-adoption reports." The post adoption reports are similar to the homestudy that is done before adoption, but focus on the child's development, attachment, and integration into the household. This, for example, is a blank report form from out adoption agency, and here's a bit more information on post-adoption reports, courtesy of other adoption agencies: Children's Hope and Dove and Adoption Ark.
Russian law requires four post-adoption reports to be filed: the first is due six months after the adoption is finalized, and the next three are due at 12, 24, and 36 months after adoption. Filing the reports cost some money: one has to hire a professional caseworker to actually write the reports, and then there's translation and mailing (although our adoption agency takes care of that). However, there are a number of reasons to actually comply with the post-adoption reporting requirement, not the least of which is that we promised to do so, and a promise is a promise, right?
More importantly, though, the Russian government can be understandably miffed about non-compliance with their requirements, and they can and will halt adoption proceedings from adoption agencies whose clients have not filed post-adoption reports. So, in other words, not filing the post-adoption reports screws things up in a big way for the people behind us in line. Not that we need more motivation to do the right thing, but it does make me wonder why anyone would not.
In any case, this subject is topical, because our second post-adoption report is due in September. Given the time it takes to write and apostille and translate and mail, that means the caseworker visit needs to take place right about now. This afternoon, as a matter of fact.
Russian law requires four post-adoption reports to be filed: the first is due six months after the adoption is finalized, and the next three are due at 12, 24, and 36 months after adoption. Filing the reports cost some money: one has to hire a professional caseworker to actually write the reports, and then there's translation and mailing (although our adoption agency takes care of that). However, there are a number of reasons to actually comply with the post-adoption reporting requirement, not the least of which is that we promised to do so, and a promise is a promise, right?
More importantly, though, the Russian government can be understandably miffed about non-compliance with their requirements, and they can and will halt adoption proceedings from adoption agencies whose clients have not filed post-adoption reports. So, in other words, not filing the post-adoption reports screws things up in a big way for the people behind us in line. Not that we need more motivation to do the right thing, but it does make me wonder why anyone would not.
In any case, this subject is topical, because our second post-adoption report is due in September. Given the time it takes to write and apostille and translate and mail, that means the caseworker visit needs to take place right about now. This afternoon, as a matter of fact.
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