Facilitator: Svetlana Sinitskaya has specialized in the field of adoptions since 1995, working successfully for the passage of the adoption law and promoting the idea of international adoption in Kazakhstan. Svetlana has facilitated the adoptions of over 1000 children living in orphanages throughout the country of Kazakhstan. Ms. Sinitskaya's international children's foundation, named "World Without Orphans", has been created to help orphans and children who remain without parental care. She is actively involved in concerns over the rights of children and aid to the children and families in need.

CHILDREN AVAILABLE:  Children of all ages are available.  “Infant” generally refers to children 8-12 months at the time of referral.  Most of the children available for adoption are Asian or Eurasian descent. The children live in orphanages and have been relinquished, orphaned or abandoned.   

REQUIREMENTS:  Couples and single women may adopt.  Applicants must be 50 or under to adopt an infant.  Families with other children in the home may apply. There are no requirements regarding length of marriage. Divorced persons may apply.

PROCESS:   Dossier processing takes approximately 4-8 months. Proposed child referral information is provided when available, including medical history and available social history. Travel is generally 3-4 weeks for the first trip and seven days to three weeks for the second trip; escort services available for this second trip.  Both parents must travel to the local region for the first trip for child visitation and court. The child’s visa interview is conducted at the U.S. Embassy in Almaty.

Karen Medve is *the* person I would want representing our interests if we were to pursue adoption again. She's wise, experienced, empathetic, responsive, completely on the ball and knows how to get things done in the adoption system.    - Beth and Rich Caplow, Boston, MA