Q & A #1 & 2 - Referrals

Q: What happens when you get a referral?

A: We will get a referral from our agency who will contact us by phone or email (or both if we don't immediately respond). 

There are two type of referrals:

1. A blind referral - we will be given no information other than being told there is a child available that the Russian Ministry of Education feels is a good match for us.
2. An informative referral - age, gender, minimal pertinent medical details and, hopefully, a photograph or two.

Not many areas in Russia still work with blind referrals, but our agency has received them in the past and it is a possibility. If we were to receive one we, ofcourse, would be thrilled and leave as soon as possible.

We expect to receive an informative referral. As we've mentioned before, we did not specify a gender preference as we don't have one, either a boy or girl would be amazing.

Once a referral is received we will need to (very quickly) consult an International Adoption Specialist (which is a specialization in Pediatrics). They will review the brief medical information and review the photo(s) for any markers of genetic issues (Trisomy 21, overt Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, etc) and then inform us of his/her medical opinion within 48 hours. Once we receive that we will advice our agency that we will either accept or refuse the referral.

If we accept the referral the agency will advice the proper people in-country in Vladivostok and we will receive an Invitation to Travel.

The travel date will be quick, within 2 weeks, so we will be scurrying to get ready.

If we need to refuse the referral, we will advise the agency of the medical reason why and return the the waiting list. We hope this will not happen.

Q: Why would you refuse a referral?

A: In Nova Scotia, the Department of Community Services approves you for certain things when adopting a child. These include but are not limited to:

1. The number of children;
2. Age (or age range) of the child(ren);
3. Gender of the child(ren) (if applicable); and
4. Medical conditions you are approved to accept or medical conditions you are not able to accept.

If you want to accept certain things, multiple children, certain medical conditions, etc. then you must be assessed, interviewed and approved for it by the province.

Our parameters are:

1. Single child - we only have 1 spare room so we are only able to adopt 1 child. Each child in an adoptive home must have their own bedroom.
2. Age range - 0-2.5 years of age at time of referral
3. Either gender
4. In our case we were assessed to not accept certain medical issues, but we choose not to announce what they are in order to protect the privacy a potential referred child.

* PLEASE NOTE* Any referral or child of ours will not have their medical information posted. We believe in privacy for our child, and it would not be our information to share. That choice belongs to the child when they are old enough to decide for themselves.