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As of early 2013, Russia has over 650,000 children who are registered orphans. Of these 370,000 are in state run institutions while the others are either in foster care or have been adopted. Reports have ranged saying that between 66-95% of all of these children are considered social orphans, meaning that one of more of their birth parents are still alive.

Historical Background

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was an increase in the number of orphans. In 1995, there was a reported 300,000 children in the orphanage system. Although difficult to accurately count, there are an estimated 1 million to 5 million homeless youth. The number of orphanages has increased by 100% over the past decade to 2,176.

Transitions out of State Institutions

Children are sometimes returned back to the programs, this isn't always because of the adoptive parents but sometimes children will find it difficult to adjust to living outside of the orphanage and will request to return. In 2011 it was estimated that as many as 4,600 children were returned by their adoptive or foster parents.

At the age of 18, children have to leave these programs. Approximately 15,000 children leave Russian orphanages each year, usually at the age of 16 or 17. They are given housing, benefits, and a stipend, but are not really given any advice or direction on how to transition into world. The education that they are given is often lacking. Some institutions only provide the children with six grades worth of schooling. This takes away the opportunity to go onto higher education and many will go into vocational schools that only offer a few trades to study in. Statistics have shown that of these youth only 4% are admitted to universities,50% fall into a high-risk category, 40% become involved in crime, 10% commit suicide, 33% stay unemployed, and 20% become homeless.

Adoption Ban

In 2010 a woman from the United States sent her 7 year old adopted son back to Russia. She attached a note explaining the behavioral problems he had been having and that he was mentally unstable. Due to this Russia's Foreign Minister created a temporary ban to all foreign adoptions. In late 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a bill that prohibits Russian children from being adopted by American citizens. Those in favor of the bill attributed the need for it to the cases of abuse that have been caused by American adoptive parents. They felt as if the punishment for these parents have been mild for the extent of their crimes. For cases where children had been tortured and have died, only 19 times have the parents been convicted of for violent child treatment. Russia's proposed plans to compensate for the loss of American adoptions are to encourage domestic adoptions, boost aid to foster families, facilitating adoption procedures, and raising benefits for foster children.

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There have been reports over the years that the conditions in the orphanages are not providing proper mental and physical care. Researchers have stated that children 3 and under lose one IQ point for every month spent inside. Children adopted from Russia are also more likely than any other country to have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Doctors visiting some of these institutions have even reported seeing toddlers sitting alone, rocking back and forth, staring blankly, or even banging their heads against walls.

State of the Wards

The Development of Russia's Child Protection and Welfare System

Orphans in Limbo

Statistical Snapshots: Russia's Children at Risk

Russian Orphans in the U.S.