Preparing for

International Adoption

Part I

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Dear Family, Congratulations on your decision to start the process of International Adoption! The adoption process is emotional and often overwhelming one, as paperwork is sorted and filled out and big decisions are made regarding the country and culture and type of child that will change your family. Taking the time to educate and prepare will make for a more successful adoption journey. The following guide will outline for you some basics of International Adoption, some details regarding Adoption STAR’s Bulgaria and Hungary Adoption Programs, financing your adoption and some additional reliable support and educational resources. Best of luck on your journey! Adoption STAR

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Overview of International Adoption International Adoption has a long history in the United States. During post war era in Germany, Japan and Korea saw significant numbers of children who were mixed-race and often stigmatized in their country of birth. Families in the U.S. were struck by the stories of these children and reached out to bring them into their families. So began the true beginnings of International Adoption. Over the years the process has changed as protecting the welfare of the children and families involved required greater oversight. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 and Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption were enacted to oversee the ethics and standards, which aims to protect all those involved in the adoption process. Being Realistic As families prepare for international adoption they will need to be realistic in what they feel is best for their family. Children come with a history that influences their future. While, children can be resilient by nature, a child will need to be provided a safe and nurturing place to grow and heal. Only when we understand the experiences that children waiting for adoptive families have had can we make the educated decision to parent a child through international adoption. The majority of children adopted internationally have spent time in less than optimal care environments, such as an orphanage. Children adopted from institutions, and who have had disruptions early in life are at increased risk for special needs. It is almost impossible in institutional settings for a child’s needs to be consistently met, creating a need. Many adoption professionals believe that for every three months that a child spends in care, they are likely to experience about a 1month delay in overall development. Understanding It will become important for your child learn that they can trust you, their caregiver, to respond to their needs consistently and with determination to change their distrust in the world around them. General issues parents should educate themselves on include: abandonment, grief and loss, cycle of attachment, the impact of less than optimal care on a child’s emotional, social, and physical development, understanding developmental versus chronological age and talking about adoption. Leap of Faith Adoption is truly a leap of faith. It is highly recommended that prospective adoptive parents seek consult with a physician experienced in adoption medicine who will be able to review child referral information. Working with a practitioner who has an understanding of the risk inherent to children who are institutionalized early in their lives will benefit both your understanding of your child’s needs and the quality of care your child receives. Such a review will help a family to decide if they are a good fit for a particular child. Uncertainties will likely lay ahead, they are part of the journey, but the decision made will be well-informed.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Adoption and Foster Care (www.aap.org/sections/adoption) can help families to identify a physician in this field The Wait Is unpredictable and almost always longer than you wish it would be. Various factors will impact the wait time, such as the type of child you are looking to add to your family, the length of time it takes for children’s paperwork to be processed for adoption in their birth country, the number of families waiting to adopt from the same country and then finally the wait time to get paperwork together to bring them home. Remaining active and busy might just be the key in getting through this time. Some things to consider are: What language will your child be hearing or speaking when you meet? You might consider learning some basics of the language your child is familiar with so you can try to communicate and comfort them during the transition into your family. Identifying cultural resources that can not only help you to learn more about the culture from which your child will come to you from, but also for your family to find connections for your child once they are with you. Moving Forward Adoption doesn’t end at placement or even once the post placement period is over. Adoption will always be a part of a child’s story, although it may not be the defining factor in their life. There are stages of adoption that families and children experience. Initially, it will be important to find activities that will promote attachment with a newly adopted child. Adjusting to one another takes time, there may be bumps in the road, post adoption blues, medical issues that arise and behavioral challenges. There will be a continual process of identifying ways to encourage understanding of and respect for their heritage. Becoming comfortable with talking about adoption and your child’s story will be important as they begin to ask questions. Your openness and comfort will impact how they view their adoption story.

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The Process

STEPS FOR ADOPTING INTERNATIONALLY

Means next step Means possible next step

Select a Hague Accredited Agency

Submit I-800A application with USCIS & get fingerprints done

Complete home study and all dossier documents; including USCIS approval if have not already done.

Choose a Country Program

Ceritify and authenticate dossier documents; send to country of intended adoption

Complete Home Study and prepare dossier documents.

Child Referral: You are matched with a child similar to the type of child you approved to adopt per your home study and USCIS approval. Review file with doctor and decide to accept referral

Waiting Child Referral: With some country programs you can be matched with a Waiting Child if there is a child who fits the description of what you indicated you would like to consider – this is considered your referral

File I800 paperwork with USCIS

Return to the US and complete post placement requirements of state of residence and country of adoption.

After appropriate certification and authentication of documents send to Country from which you are applying to adopt.

File I-800 paperwork with USCIS

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Complete re-adoption in state of residence

Travel to complete adoption Complete re-adoption in state of residencce

Return to US and complete with Post Placement requirements of state of residence and country of adoption

Complete re-adoption in state of residence

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Affording Adoption

Financing  your  adoption:  You  have  decided  you  want  to  adopt  but  not  sure  if  it’s  affordable?  

Τ ax  credits  can  help  you  to  afford  your  adoption.  Adoptive  parents  may  take  advantage  of  up  to  $13,170  in  refundable  tax  credits  to  offset  qualifying  adoption  expenses.  The  tax  credit  calculation  can  include  adoption  expenses,  court  fees,  attorney  fees  and  travel  expenses.    You  can  read  more  about  the  tax  credit  below:  Adoption  Benefits  FAQ  Related  Website:  www.AdoptionTaxCredit.com  -‐  Information  and  support  on  the  adoption  tax  credit.  We  strongly  recommend  adoptive  families  consult  a  legal  or  tax  professional  for  more  details  or  visit  the  IRS  website  for  further  details    

Some  States  offer  tax  credits  as  well.  You may be able to receive reimbursement of some non-recurring adoption expenses. You can check with your state tax office and contact your local IRS office if you need more information.

Corporate  Matching  Gifts  There  are  many  corporations  that  have  adoption  assistance  programs  (AAPs).  Check  with  your  employer’s  human  resource  department  to  see  if  they  have  an  AAP  or  other  adoption  assistance  benefits.    You  can  find  more  details    on  the  web  at  http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/what-‐we-‐do/adoption-‐friendly-‐workplace/  

Grants & Loans: (we have included a few for you here as well as a resource where you can learn about more options)

 1. A  Child  Waits  Foundation  http://www.achildwaits.org/Grant%20Program.htm A Child Waits Foundation’s Grant Program is designed to help children who are living in international orphanages to become part of a family. The grant program provides assistance

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to families who are pursuing adoption of these children. Loans are available for up to $10,000 for one child. Interested in assisting families who can financially support a child and repay the loan, but do not have the current funds to adopt.

2. The  Good  Morning  Adoption  Fund  http://www.goodmorningadoptionfund.com The Good Morning Adoption Fund is a 501c3 non-profit organization staffed entirely by volunteers. They raise funds to help qualifying adoptive parents afford the cost of adoption. All donations to The Good Morning Adoption Fund are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable by law. The Good Morning Adoption Fund works in cooperation with Wide Horizons for Children to provide $5,000 grants to waiting children. 3. Help  Us  Adopt  http://www.helpusadopt.org/index.html Help Us Adopt is a national non-profit 501c3 financial assistance grant program providing qualified couples and individuals-regardless of race, ethnicity, marital status, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability-with grants of up to $15,000 towards their domestic, international, foster, or special needs adoption expenses.

4. The  Orphan  Foundation    http://www.theorphanfoundation.org/about_the_foundation.htm The Orphan Foundation is organized exclusively for all charitable purposes that help orphans find adopting parents. These purposes include financial support for adopting families, education on financing adoptions, financial and educational assistance for orphaned children with special needs, and financial support for orphanages for the purpose of providing educational support. 5. Oxford  Adoption  Foundation,  Inc.  http://www.oxfordadoption.com/index.htm The Oxford Adoption Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation that was formed to help families to adopt internationally by providing low interest loans to assist with the expenses associated with the international adoption process. 6. Parenthood  for  me    http://www.parenthoodforme.org/grants/

Parenthood for me provides financial and emotional assistance, along with educational tools for those starting families through adoption and medical intervention.

7. Gift  of  Adoption  Fund,  Inc.    http://www.giftofadoption.org/aboutUs/missionVision.html

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The Gift of Adoption Fund, Inc. works to inspire adoption by providing grants to qualified parents-giving children who need families a permanent home and a chance to thrive.

8. Lifesong  for  Orphans  http://www.lifesongfororphans.org Lifesong offers matching grants (range from $1,000-$4,000) which encourage the adopting couple’s church family to financially and prayerfully support the adoption. Also offers Interest Free Loans to help families overcome the high cost of adoption. 9. Lifetime  Adoption  Foundation  http://www.lifetimefoundation.org/adoption_grant.html Lifetime Adoption Foundation provides adoption grants to qualified families who have applied and are pre-approved to contract with Lifetime Adoption Center via their domestic adoption program. The grant may be applied towards domestic adoptions of African American newborns and children, sibling groups of all races, special needs, and older children. 10. The  National  Adoption  Foundation    https://fundyouradoption.org/about-naf/history/ National Adoption Foundation focuses specifically on the financial needs of the adoption community and the challenges faced by families in the adoption process.

11. Show  Hope  http://www.seaoffaces.org/grants.htm Show Hope gives adoption grants for Christian families.

12. The  Sparrow  Fund  http://www.sparrow-fund.org/about.html The Sparrow Fund assists adoptive families to remove obstacles to adoption, offering financial assistance. 13. Affording  Adoption  Foundation  http://www.affordingadoption.com Affording Adoption Foundation, through fundraising efforts and donor support, helps to close the gap between families considering bringing a child home and actually bringing the child home. 14. Hebrew  Free  Loan  Association/  DOMOI  Foundation  www.hflasf.org/apply/loans-we-offer/adoption/

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Hebrew Free Loan Association provides loans of up to $10,000 for Jewish families who wish to adopt.

For  the  following  options  you  should  consult  with  a  Financial  Advisor:  

Home  Equity  Loan/Line  When  you  own  a  home,  you  have  equity  in  it;  you  can  look  into  one  of  the  many  equity  credit  options  available  to  you..    Credit  Cards  Using  the  credit  you  have  available  on  your  credit  cards  is  another  option  for  funding  your  adoption.  If  you  have  good  payment  history  as  well  as  a  good  credit  score,  you  could  contact  your  credit  card  company  about  any  options  they  may  have  available,  like  lower  interest  rates.      Unsecured  Line  of  Credit  Many  credit  lenders  extend  Unsecured  Lines  of  Credit.  This  type  of  loan  is  typically  based  on  your  creditworthiness  and  requires  exceptional  credit  in  order  to  qualify.  

401  K  Many  401k’s  have  a  loan  provision  in  them  where  you  can  borrow  a  certain  percentage  of  your  vested  account  balance.  Check  your  Summary  Plan  Description  or  ask  the  401k  designated  Plan  Administrator  if  the  plan  allows  for  loans  and  how  much  you  could  borrow.    The  nice  thing  about  this  is  you  pay  yourself  back  with  a  reasonable  rate  of  interest rather than paying it to a credit card company or bank.

Additional Adoption STAR information: http://www.adoptionstar.com/Affording_Adoption_at_Adoption_STAR_rev_11_18_10.pdf Informational Sites: http://www.resources4adoption.com

https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/for-families/financial-resources.html Note: Adoption STAR is not in direct relationship with any of the agencies or links above. Please be aware of the potential for scams, and never pay any “application fees” or other fees in advance of services provided.

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Bulgaria is a beautiful country with a rich history dating back to the 7th century. Located in Southestern Europe, Bulgaria is bordered by Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey and the Black sea. The language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian (Български). It is a Southern Slavic language with about 12 million speakers mainly in Bulgaria, but also in Ukraine, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Greece, Romania, Canada, USA, Australia, Germany and Spain. Bulgarian is mutually intelligible with Macedonian, and fairly closely related to Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Slovenian.

Adoption STAR partners with St Konstantin and Elena Foundation to assist families in the process of adopting from Bulgaria. Together we believe that the Bulgarian adoption program provides a wonderful adoption option for those interested in adopting a child or children from Eastern Europe. We estimate that the process can take 1-3 years from application to completion. Eligibility Requirements set by Bulgarian law

• Parent must never have been deprived or had parental rights revoked.

• Married couples or single women (Two persons who are not married cannot adopt

together)

• Same sex couples are not eligible.

• Adoptive parents must be at least 18 years of age; there is no upper age limit at this time.

• The adoptive parent(s) must be fifteen years older than the child adopted. Age difference

shall not be required when a couple is married and one spouse is within the age range.

Children Available

• Bulgarian children available for international adoption are often between 1 and 18 years and typically live in state governed orphanages as the result of abandonment, termination of parental rights. There are cases where children who are

All About Bulgaria

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younger than 1 year old can be adopted, but this is not common. • Adoption of multiple children simultaneously is possible (sibling groups). • Children with a variety of special/medical needs can be adopted. • The majority of children or of Roma/Romani or Turkish heritage, with dark eyes, olive

skin and dark hair. Other children may be Caucasian. • The birth parents of the children who are available for adoption have either signed over

their parental rights or the court has terminated these rights. How long does it take to adopt?

Process from assignment to adoption completion may take one year or longer The wait time is often reduced if you are open to a child of either gender, a child older

than 5 years, and/or a child with medical conditions. We expect the wait time for a child considered “as healthy as possible” with out known special needs to be about 3 years.

Once you have accepted your referral the adoption takes place about 3-6 months later in Sofia, Bulgaria.

How is a child assigned to me? The Bulgarian Government does not process prospective adoptive parents' applications in chronological order. Priority is given to persons willing to adopt a child with known special needs. The Adoption Council within the Ministry of Justice reviews the registries of prospective parents and available children, including all relevant documentation, and proposes a match. The MOJ provides the adoptive parents through their accredited agency photographs of the child and information about his/her medical condition. If the family declines to adopt a specific child, the Council should be informed within two months and a match with a different child will be offered. To note that if prospective adoptive parents decline to adopt a specific child, they must notify the MOJ within two months of the referral. There is no penalty when a referral is declined. When adopting a child with known special needs then it is possible to match with the child prior to completing the dossier. TRAVEL Two trips are required. Both parents (one if single), must travel to Bulgaria to meet the child. On the first trip you first meet the child then sign the commitment paperwork. Typically it can takes 3-6 months after the first trip to make your second trip, where you will bring your child home. No Visa is required for travel to Bulgaria. Costs The total inclusive cost of an adoption from Bulgaria is around $31-$35,000.

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BREAKDOWN OF AGENCY AND FOREIGN FEES

Item Cost

Application Fee $425

Home Study (NY, FL, OH) $1450-1650

Home Study (Out Of State) Varies State To State

Placement Fee

$10,000

(2 payments of $5000)

Post Adoption Retainer & Report Fee $500 (retainer)

$750 (outside NY, OH, FL) $1670-2070 (NY, OH, FL)

Post Adoption Support Fee $500 Foreign Service Fees (may vary due to the exchange rate)

7,000/8,000Euro

Filing of USCIS paperwork $720

Fingerprinting $85/person

Airfare to Bulgaria $1000+/per adult person

Food and Accommodations in Bulgaria $300 +/day

American Consulate Fees $400

Medical Exam Included in foreign service fees

Wiring Fee $140 Mailing Fees

$300

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• Country Fees are never to be considered a stable or set fee as it is not determined nor in the control of Adoption STAR. Adoption STAR makes every effort to stay current as to fees but third party and country fees may change without notice or reason.

• Foreign Service Fees, USCIS fees and post placement fees are increased in the event of sibling adoption.

Why Bulgaria? Bulgaria is a steady program with a set procedural outline that is followed for all adoptions. The adoption program also offers many options for parents. More than one child can be adopted simultaneously through the Bulgaria program giving families the option to consider adopting a sibling group. There is no additional fee for any number of children adopted (siblings), as long as they are located at the same orphanage. Families can also consider the adoption of a child with known medical or special needs at any time during the process. There are many children in need of a loving family and ready to be matched with families today, making the Bulgaria adoption program a promising option for many families. Looking for more information? For more details about adoptions from Bulgaria please contact Adoption STAR. You can also find updated information at the U.S. Department of State Intercountry Bulgarian adoption page: http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=bulgaria Adoption STAR discloses to client(s) and prospective client(s) that the following information is available upon request and makes such information available when requested:

A. The number of Adoption STAR adoptive placements per year for the prior three calendar years, and the number and percentages of those placements that remain intact, are disrupted, or have been dissolved as of the time that the information is provided;

B. The number of parents who apply to Adoption STAR to adopt on a yearly basis, based on

the data for the prior three calendar years; Are the children pictured on Adoption STAR website available for adoption? No children whose photos appear on the Adoption STAR or on any Adoption STAR printed literature are available for adoption, unless otherwise noted. A Little Bit About Bulgarian Culture (from our in-country facilitators)

• The official language is Bulgarian and the alphabet is Cyrillic.

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• Bulgarians generally respect those who are open, strong, capable, good humored, loyal to family and friends, and forthright.

• Clothing is neatly dressed, wrinkled items are rarely seen in public.

• Bring an odd number of flowers as a present, unless going to a funeral.

• When you want to try a friend's food, eye it up.

• Do not shake hands or kiss over threshold.

• Breaking something unintentionally is for good luck.

• "Spilling water" is a very old but still widely practiced tradition. Spilled water brings you luck. At new beginning and at the beginning of a trip or journey, water is spilled in front of the person and they walk over it and the symbol is that their way shall run smoothly as the water in the river does. Spilling water is practiced not only at home by families but as such events as official inaugurations, opening of a new building, or on the first day of school.

• Nodding head means "No" and shaking head means "yes".

• Anyone waving at you is rather signaling, “come here” or “step inside”, than “good-bye”.

• Tobacco is a major crop in Bulgaria, so smoking is almost a patriotic duty .

• Electricity is 220 volts AC and round two-pin plugs are used, so bring an adaptor.

• Bulgarians regard putting your handbag on the floor as a sure sign that you will lose all your money.

• Seeing a spider in the house or laying out extra cutlery by mistake means that you will have a guest.

• Time – two hours ahead of GMT, seven hours ahead of EST. Bulgarian summer Time lasts from the beginning of April to the end of September.

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Hungary Adoption Program The Hungarian adoption program provides a wonderful adoption option for those interested in adopting a child or children from Eastern Europe. We estimate that the process can take 1-2 years from application to completion. Located  in  Central  Europe,  this  central  European  country  is  about  the  size  of  Indiana.  The  Capital  of  Hungary  is  Budapest.    Hungary  is  six  hours  ahead  of  EST;  four  hours  ahead  of  GMT.  Hungarians  call  their  language  Magyar.    Lunch  is  the  major  meal  of  the  day  in  Hungary. Eligibility Requirements Race, religion, length of marriage, or prior divorces are a non-issue for adoption requirements. Married couples are given priority. The adopted child should be younger then

other children in the home. Prospective adoptive parent must be open to

a child up to 8 years (this is set by the Central Authority, but does not mean that a family will be matched with a child this age)

No established income requirement as long as the home study demonstrates that they have the financial resources.

AGE Requirements: Parents should be no more than 45 years older than the adopted child. - up to 45 yrs can adopt children aged 0+ - 46 yrs and more can adopt children aged 1+

- Exception: If one person in the couple is under 45 and the other is over, they can still adopt a child 0+ - As long as one person in the couple is under 45 yrs, the other person’s age does not matter - If both people are 60+, then they may adopt a child 15+

The Children

• Children ages 0-12 years, but up to age 16 • Many of the children have Roma/Romani heritage • Sibling groups are available for adoption for interested

couples • Children with known medical/special needs can be

adopted

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• The children have all been cleared by the Hungarian government to be adopted outside of Hungary (an attempt was made to place the child with a family in Hungary)

• The majority of children living in care have been abandoned by their birth parents: Financial, drug/alcohol problems, death, and unstable family situations are some of the reasons why these children have been orphaned

How long does it take to adopt?

Adoptive parents may wait many months or even years until the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor refers them a child; much depends on the PAP’s requirements for their prospective child, and if that child is available for adoption

Process from assignment to adoption completion may take one year or longer The wait is longer for healthy children under 3 without siblings Sibling group referrals or children with medical needs are often assigned more quickly 35-40 days total to complete the process in Hungary

How is a child assigned to me? Adoption S.T.A.R. will contact you when they learn of an available child or children referred to your family by our in Country facilitator who works with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Travel  Only  one  trip  is  required  for  a  30  -‐  40  day  stay.    After  the  first  week  the  adoptive  family  is  given  temporary  custody  of  the  child.    Both  parents  are  required  to  travel.    On  occasion  it  is  permitted  for  both  parents  to  stay  for  the  first  10  days  to  meet  and  get  to  know  the  child.  While  one  parent  is  required  to  remain  in  Hungary,  the  second  parent  will  need  to  return  at  the  end  of  the  30  or  40-‐day  period  to  sign  the  final  adoption  papers. Costs The total inclusive cost of an adoption from Hungary is around $31,000-$35,000.

BREAKDOWN OF AGENCY AND FOREIGN FEES

Item Cost

Application Fee $425

Home Study (NY, FL, OH) $1450-1650

Home Study (Out Of State) Varies State To State

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Placement Fee

$10,000

(2 payments of $5000)

Post Adoption Retainer & Report Fee $500 (retainer)

$750 (outside NY, OH, FL) $1340-1640 (NY, OH, FL)

Post Adoption Support Fee $500 Foreign Fees (may vary due to the exchange rate)

$16,000

($300 submission of dossier/$8000 Acceptance of Referral/$7,7000 In-Country expenses)

Filing of USCIS paperwork $720

Fingerprinting $85/person

Airfare to Bulgaria $500-$700+/per adult person

Food and Accommodations in Bulgaria $120-$170 +/day

American Consulate Fees $750-$800

Medical Exam $100

Wiring Fee $140 Mailing Fees

$300

• Country  Fees  are  never  to  be  considered  a  stable  or  set  fee  as  it  is  not  determined  nor  in  the  control  of  Adoption  STAR.  Adoption  STAR  makes  every  effort  to  stay  current  as  to  fees  but  third  party  and  country  fees  may  change  without  notice  or  reason.  

• Foreign Service Fees, USCIS fees and post placement fees are increased in the event of sibling adoption.  

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Why choose Hungary? Hungary is an affordable Eastern European adoption option. Parents receive referrals before they travel to Hungary. Only one trip is required and the adoption will be finalized in Hungary. What is the process?

• Complete home study and form I-800A to receive approval. • Gather documents for your dossier and submit them to Adoption S.T.A.R. • Adoption STAR will submit your dossier to our In Country facilitator for translation and

submission to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor • Receive petition approval, which marks the beginning of the adoption process (wait time). • Adoption S.T.A.R. will receive the child referral from in Country contact • The Hungarian government will issue the appointment date. • Prepare to travel to meet your child (submit I800, make travel arrangements, etc.). Prior to

the court date, the Hungarian government requires both parents to meet with the child. Initial meetings between the child and parent will take place over a 7 day period.

• A court hearing is conducted. Parents make a decision during this time whether or not they wish to make an adoption commitment to the child.

• If an adoption commitment is made, parents will stay in Hungary for 30 days and be with the child, typically in Budapest. The Hungarian government believes it is imperative for the child to form a bond with the parents before the adoption is finalized. Though 30 days may seem long, making a life-long commitment to adopt the child truly makes this month a very important time to ensure a bond is solidly formed. (Keep in mind most adoptions in other countries have lengthy in country stay as well.) It is recommended to have the entire adoptive family (all household members) in country to form this bond. Families with children already in the home often use this time as a vacation to learn a different culture, a priceless experience.

• Finalization of the adoption, translation of documents, and obtaining the child’s passport occurs in 4 to 10 days.

• After the adoption is approved, parents will take their child for a Visa physical exam and subsequently obtain a Visa for the child at the U.S. embassy in Budapest.

• Congratulations, your adoption is complete! The entire in country stay is estimated at 40 to 45 days of which you will have your adopted child with you for almost the entire period. This period is great to prepare the child for travel home and brings comfort to them and a time to adjust for all of you.

• Return home with your child! • Post Placement : Hungary requires adoptive parents to submit post adoption reports about

the child after two and after twelve months. These reports include photos and provide as much information about the child’s life since adoption.

Who does Adoption STAR work with in Hungary?

Hungary's Adoption Authority Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Department of Child and Youth Protection (Szociális és Munkaügyi Minisztérium, Gyermek- és Ifjúságvédelmi Főosztály)

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Address: 1054 Budapest, Hold u. 1. Phone: (36-1) 428-9921 gyif@szmm.gov.hu www.szmm.gov.hu

George Markus, Adoption STAR’s In-Country Facilitator. Looking for more information? For more details about adoptions from Hungary please contact Adoption S.T.A.R. You can also find updated information at the U.S. Department of State Intercountry Hungarian adoption page: http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=hungary The Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Travelers’ Health Website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationHungary.aspx is another good website to check out as it contains a wealth of information on health issues pertaining to international travel, including information on destination countries, recommendations regarding immunizations, and travel notices. Adoption STAR discloses to client(s) and prospective client(s) that the following information is available upon request and makes such information available when requested:

B. The number of Adoption STAR adoptive placements per year for the prior three calendar years, and the number and percentages of those placements that remain intact, are disrupted, or have been dissolved as of the time that the information is provided;

C. The number of parents who apply to Adoption STAR to adopt on a yearly basis, based on

the data for the prior three calendar years; Are the children pictured on this page available for adoption? No children from Hungary whose photos appear on the Adoption S.T.A.R. website or on any Adoption S.T.A.R. printed literature are available for adoption. A Little Bit About Hungarian Culture:

The visitor traveling the country will also notice the ubiquity of the Hungarian colors: red, white and green (piros, fehér, zöld).

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Women and men shake hands during an introduction. However, among friends, Hungarian women often greet themselves by giving one kiss on each cheek, starting from the left. Men shake hands, although among family members they sometimes kiss each other in special occasions.

Continental table manners are followed in Hungary, holding the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left while eating.

Often Hungarians introduce themselves by their last name first and usually use their titles. Keep in mind that a “Doctor” can be either a medical doctor, a lawyer or a holder of a Ph.D.

Festivals are a big part of Hungarian culture. Some Hungarian Festivals include:

• Hungarian Fringe and Spring Festival

• International Guitar Festival

• Hegyalja Festival

• Sziget Festival

• Budapest Festival of Folk Arts

• Ozora Festival

• Valley of the Arts

• Budapest Baroque Festival

• Budapest International Wine Festival

• Budapest Contemporary Drama Festival

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Resources for the Road Adoption STAR blog & Resources web page: https://www.adoptionstar.com/article/ http://www.adoptionstar.com/the-agency/resources/ Adoption Articles, Podcasts and general information: www.creatingafamily.org www.adoptivfamilies.com http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/index.php www.emkpress.com Support: There are on-line support groups and blogs, which may be useful for families during the wait. However, families must also enter these sites with caution since they are often not moderated and information may not be reliable. Adoption STAR is also happy to connect you with other families who have completed or are in the process of International Adoption. Medical: search engines that provide reliable information on medical needs. www.webmd.com http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ http://adoptmed.org/articles/ www.mayclinic.com http://www.childrenshospital.org/mychildhas.cfm?topic=A US Immigration and Hague Convention Information: www.adoption.state.gov www.uscis.gov