MOSCOW -- The headline across The Moscow Times on Monday proclaimed that US adoptions may be in jeopardy, and that has many American families fearing they may have to start the process all over again.
The US State Department says the threat to halt adoptions has yet to be confirmed. Still, the news has many couples riding an emotional roller coaster while they wait to learn whether or not they will be able to begin or expand their families.
"When you're over there, you see how many kids really need a good home -- and then they make it more difficult for families to do what they do, which is make a family," according to Jeff Miles, who adopted two Russian children with his wife, Jodi.
After a mountain of paperwork, four trips to Russia and a small fortune in expenses, the Miles family is now complete.
In the past two decades, Americans have adopted more than 50,000 Russian children. But after a Tennessee woman sent her adopted son back to Russia alone with only a note pinned to his jacket, the country has been tightening its rules and grilling prospective parents.
Over the weekend, Russia's foreign ministry announced it would suspend all US adoptions, citing concerns over the safety of the children.
According to Amy Brendmoen, of the Children's Home Society and Family Services in St. Paul, Minn., information out of Russia often comes in bits and pieces. While there are rumors that some judges are refusing to sign off on adoptions, agencies in the US are moving forward with business as usual.
"Right now, it's just wait and see -- and hope that this is just a rumor and we can continue," Brendmoen said.
