Naturally, parents that are in the international adoption process are focused on one thing, bringing their child home.  However, it is important to remember that the international adoption process does not end with the homecoming of your adopted child.  It ends many years later upon the completion of your post placement obligations. 

Post placement reports, also known as post adoption reports, update the country of your child’s birth on the well being of your adopted child.  These reports are critical and essential to the stability of an international adoption program.   The reports insure the country of adoption that your child is being well cared, loved, and provided for.  Countries that allow international adoptions have a responsibility to follow the adopted child and ensure that they are being cared for.  Foreign governments take this responsibility very seriously.

Recently, Russia announced a long list of agencies that have not complied with the post placement obligation of Russia.  These “blacklisted” agencies are banned from conducting homestudies for parent wishing to adopt from Russia.  The new restrictions for homestudy agencies has caused delay and heart ache for many families in the international adoption process.  Parents that do not complete the post placement reports are ultimately putting the futures of countless children at risk.  Please respect the rules of your child’s birth country and complete the post placement reports.  If not, the adoption programs could close and children many children will miss the miracle of being united with families.