Update: 9/7/05

Dear Families,
 
Please keep praying for the next Duma meeting which will continue on September 9, 2005. Although we rejoice that a moratorium was not discussed, we are still concerned with the proposal for a bilateral treaty due to the amount of time that this document would require. We expect that it will take time to hear of the final decisions; therefore, there is not much we can do in the next few weeks but wait for word. While we wait, I will be flying down to Texas to help with the relief efforts. I will be in the office the remainder of the week, but will be out next week. Other Eastern Europe family coordinators will be keeping you updated on issues as I have, and please contact Christi Hicks at ext. 124 with urgent questions or concerns. Please know that I have collected many questions for Dr. Dubrovsky which have not been forgotten. Dr. Dubrovsky is due back to the United States next week, but he may choose to prolong his stay if deliberations continue.
 
May God "grant you, according to His riches in glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that you... may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:16-21).
 
Below is an excerpt from JCICS's website that is both helpful and positive. You will need to visit http://www.jcics.org/Russia.htm for the full press release.
 
September 2005 - JCICS releases a press release after convening a coalition meeting to discuss guidelines and response to Russian tragedies. 


"In response to the recent alleged incidents of abuse involving Russian adopted children, Joint Council on International Children’s Services (JCICS) convened a meeting on August 24th in Washington DC to discuss the matter with other experts in the child welfare field.

Nearly thirty licensed, non-profit U.S. adoption agencies were in attendance as well as representatives from the National Council For Adoption (NCFA), Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoptions (FRUA), ATTACh and Adoption Exchange Association. The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) will also be involved in this effort going forward. Guest speakers at the meeting included representatives from Childhelp USA (Virginia) and the National Council on Child Abuse and Family Violence. The intent of the meeting was to collaborate with other NGOs and adoption agencies to create a coalition task force to examine cases of abuse and determine what additional safe guards can be put into effect to maximize the protection of children."


In His Service,
Sara Parrish
Eastern Europe Family Coordinator