Georgia: Country and Program Overview
The ancient and historically significant country of The ancient and historically significant country of Georgia borders Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey. The climate is similar to the southeastern section of the United States. The terrain is mountainous and often lush, as evidenced by the beautiful sea sides and stunning views from every city vista. Georgia is the second nation to adopt Christianity as the national faith. St. Nino brought Christianity to Georgia in 317 AD. The primary Church is the Georgian Orthodox Church. Georgians are spiritually and physically beautiful people with creamy fair to dark olive complexion, dark hair and dark eyes.
Current Status
Partners for Adoption will make sure your adoption from Georgia is as simple as possible, from homestudy through placement, when you work with us in collaboration with our partner agency, Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc. For more information please contact us or Hopscotch directly at www.hopscotchadoptions.org.
Children Available
The children range in age from birth to 12 years. Referrals are made after a 6 month government registry period has expired, unless the child has a significant special need. In this case, the registry period is often reduced. Children are made known and referred by the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MOES). Eligible children reside in orphanages and the care is greatly improving under the supervision of a new and experienced director. The MOES offers referrals with medical and social history reports, photos and access to an independent medical examination by a US embassy panel physician. Children available for adoption have minor to correctible special needs, physical (and possibly emotional) delays as a result of institutional care or have non-correctible special needs. Sibling groups and non-related children can be adopted through this program.
UPDATE: Upon acceptance of a referral, Hopscotch is now offering private foster care. Hopscotch will provide regular updates consisting of videos, photos and reports from the foster family.
Parent Requirements
Married couples and single women are eligible to apply for infants, toddlers or older children.
Program and Process
To begin the process, only a partial dossier is required for submission to the Ministry of Education and Science. Upon submission of required Apostilled documents, your dossier is sent to Georgia and translated into Georgian. Your dossier is hand-delivered to the MOES and registered for approval. This takes approximately 1-2 months. Once the MOES approves the family for adoption, a search can begin for a suitable referral.
UPDATE: Once the child is identified, the MOES offers a medical and social history report, photos and access to an independent medical examination by a US embassy panel physician, a US credentialed developmental/psychological assessment, provides private foster care and sends ongoing updates which include photos and videos. The MOES and Hopscotch strongly encourage your visitation of the referred child prior to accepting and registering the child for adoption. This can be accomplished in a short 4 day trip by one or both parents. An official acceptance takes place when your referral has been evaluated by an International Adoption Specialist or other medically experienced service provider and a letter has been submitted to the MOES indicating acceptance.
Next, the child’s documents and your dossier begin the final approval process. The MOES produces a Letter of Conclusion. Once this letter is obtained, a court date can be requested. The court date is requested in the form of a letter from the family. This process can take approximately 1-4 months to complete. Once a court date is secured, you will be notified to travel to Georgia with a two week notice to begin the process of completing your adoption.
If married, BOTH parents must travel and attend court. After court, one parent may depart and leave the other parent with a Power of Attorney to complete the process. After court, both parents may choose to depart and return in 15 days to complete the adoption process. There is a 15-day wait following court. After the 15-day wait, the court decree is issued and the finalization process will begin and conclude in approximately 9-11 days.
Although Hopscotch is exploring the possibility of an escort program which would be available for the second trip to pick up and escort a child back to their new family, this is not yet fully in place. Currently, the approximate stay in Georgia for an adoptive family would be either about 23 days or two shorter trips, the first of about 4 business days and the second of about 9-11 additional days after the child’s court decree is issued.
You will be met at the airport by our in-country team and reside in a private host apartment. You will be assisted every step of the way with an English speaking representative. In-country services include a private apartment, transportation, nanny, translator and all necessary appointments made on your behalf. Sightseeing is optional, but we hope you’ll take full advantage of coming to know and love Georgia.
Fees
Contact Hopscotch directly for a current fee schedule.