- Coming June 27, 2005 to our CHI - Chicago Region -

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The “Summer Program”

 Last spring, seven Chicago area families were waiting for summer,  full of hope and  nervous anticipation.  They were waiting to meet the Russian orphans who would visit for three weeks in June and, hopefully, become so attached that they would be adopted later in the year.  They were waiting for Operation Hope to begin.  This would be the second year that Children’s Hope International, Chicago Region would participate in this grand match-making endeavor.  

Parents completed their homestudies and attended special preparation meetings.  Prospective siblings participated in separate workshop to explore their feelings and anticipate the emotions of their potential new brothers and sisters.  Language issues, orphanage life and good old sibling rivalry were all topics of conversation.  Families prepared photo albums and letters introducing themselves to their Russian children. The children, meanwhile, were busy learning important English phrases like “Where is the bathroom?” and “Thank you very much.”  By the time the nine children arrived, the excitement was almost unbearable.

 Karen Krusiec, then the mother of five; currently the mother of seven, recalls her family’s concerns as they prepared their home and hearts for Katya and Peter:  “We were worried about how we would communicate.  We hoped they wouldn’t be afraid.  Maybe they wouldn’t like us.  We were able to send photos and write letters telling them how much we were all looking forward to their visit. This was a great help.  When we finally met them, they recognized us as soon as we walked in the room.  They knew all of our names. They knew Rosie’s name.  (Rosie is the family dog.)  Katya put her arm around me.  You don’t do that with strangers.  We were beginning to become a family even before we actually met.

Debbie Sierminski had similar concerns. “I waited for Ilya with nervous anticipation.  Would he like me, would he like it here?  But we kind of clicked right away.  He had my picture with him and photos of our whole family He walked right in and checked out his room.  He looked in the fridge and settled in. It was like this is where he belonged.”

The Ruckersfeldts, Mom, Dad and five siblings, were preparing to welcome Galya and Anton.  They collected Russian recipes and practiced Russian phrases.  When the Russian children were invited to join this happy band, Galya was all for it.  Anton had to think it over a lttle before he could be brave enough to accept.  When the Ruckersfeldts traveled to Russia to collect Anton and Galya, they also adopted little sister Yulia who was too young for the Operation Hope visit.  Now the Rusckersfeldts are counted as Mom, dad and EIGHT siblings!

 There was some confusion due to language during the visit.  But interpreter Larissa Smith was available to families 24 / 7 and most problems were easily resolved over the telephone.  When Larissa asked little Ilya if he would like to be Debbie’s son and live in America, Debbie could only hear the phone conversation on her end.  What she heard was “Da…. Da…. DAAAAA!!!” 

By the end of the three-week visit, two of the families had discovered that this was not the best plan for them.  But the rest were looking forward to the next step.  With promises of “see you soon” the children returned to Russia.  Parents completed their paperwork, court appointments were arranged and the children began arriving home around Thanksgiving time.  Debbie Sierminski was the last to bring her son home. Their arrangements got caught in a Russian bureaucratic traffic jam.  Ilya finally made it home in February.

 * * *  OPERATION HOPE 2005 * * *

This June, 13 Russian orphans, aged 9 - 13 will visit the Chicago area in hopes of meeting their forever families.  The program, sponsored by Children’s Hope International, is formally called Operation Hope, but many families seeking information just call it the “summer program.”    Adoption from Russia typically requires that the parents travel to Russia twice.  With Operation Hope, the summer visit takes the place of the first trip.  This visit is funded by the CHI Foundation and saves families the cost of the first trip.  The real benefit of Operation Hope is that it is much easier to get to know your new son or daughter in the relaxed surroundings of your own home  than in a single room in a Russian hotel. 

This year, we have some wonderful boys ages 7 - 13 coming  to our area bringing all their boyish charms along with their hopes of finding a place as a wonderful son in a family full of love.

 Families (including single parents) who are seriously considering adopting a school-aged Russian child may contact our CHI Chicago Regional Office at 847 / 297-5504.    

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What Is  Operation Hope?

      Since 2000, Children’s Hope International has sponsored a summer program which helps older orphans from Russia find their forever families. Thanks to Operation Hope, over 140 kids between 7 and 13 years old visited the US and stayed with host families who were considering adoption. As a result, almost all of these wonderful children were adopted!

     Based on this overwhelming success, CHI  continues to host Operation Hope and bring  groups of older adoptable Russian children to spend their vacations with American families who are seriously interested in adoption.  A Russian legal guardian will accompany each group.

     The children will come to several regions across the United States. This will be a great  opportunity for them to experience the life American families often take for granted.  The host families will have a rare chance to get to know a few of the delightful older children available for international adoption in Russia.  We hope that all the children who come to the United States for Operation Hope will find the forever family meant for them!

     There are so many children in Russia hoping, often against all hope, that there are families out there who want to adopt them. 

     Together, we can make their dreams come true!
 

Who can participate in Operation Hope?

Families who are seriously interested in adopting an older child are invited to participate. 

Parents must be between 25 and 60 years old. Single women may host a child and adopt through Operation Hope.

What paperwork is required?

In order to participate, you must start your homestudy and provide parents’ autobiographies, three personal reference letters, police and child abuse clearance, and a statement of good health from your doctor.  All family members must participate in two CHI preparation classes prior to hosting a child.

What ages are the children?  Are they in good health?
These are healthy children who have been doing well in a Russian orphanage. They will probably be between seven and thirteen years old.

Are the children able to stay in the USA while the  adoption is finalized? 
The children must return to Russia after the visiting time is up.  Families may complete the paperwork and travel to Russia to finalize the adoption. Most families who host Operation Hope children complete their adoptions three to six months after the children have returned to Russia. 

    Children and parents are joyfully reunited at this point!

Is it possible to pre-select the child who comes to your home?

You may ask for a boy or a girl and indicate age preference.  CHI will try to match your wishes, but the orphanage decides which children are best able to make the trip.  Families will be given a photo of their child as we make final preparations for the visit.

What are the costs involved? 

Thanks to gifts to our CHI Foundation, Children’s Hope International will pay for the children to come to the United States and will  provide health and accident  insurance.  Families will be responsible for daily living expenses and hospitality for their guest child.
Families will be responsible for adoption expenses and travel costs as they finalize the adoption of their Operation Hope child.

Call 847 / 297- 5504 to request detailed fee schedule and application materials.

If you cannot host a child this year,
you may participate in   Operation Hope in the
following ways:

Tell your  family and friends about Operation Hope. 
Help us to help others to
participate.

 Join Operation Hope as a “backup” host family. 

 Support Operation Hope through our CHI Foundation
to help bring these kids to their forever families in the United States.

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Call 847 297-5504 to learn how you can participate in Operation Hope for summer of 2005.