ATLANTA (February 9, 2004) -- GCIV is hosting nine distinguished guests from Russia, all involved in child welfare and the adoption process. They will be in Atlanta February 10-13, to gain an understanding of the U.S. adoption system, including legislation, placement, monitoring, legal rights of adoptive and birth parents, and support and counseling services. They would also like to examine the U.S. child welfare system, specifically programs and services for foster children and orphans.

While in Atlanta, they will be visiting the Office of Adoptions at the Georgia Department of Human Resources to learn about the State's role in promoting and supporting the adoption process. They will then go to Dekalb County Juvenile Court to see the legal side of adoption in the United States. Then, they will visit Roots Adoption Agency, to discuss the organization's effort to increase opportunities for African-American children in Georgia's foster care system. Also included in the program is a meeting with the
Office of the Child Advocate to find out how the State actively protects children from abuse and neglect. Their last professional appointment will be at the Child Welfare Institute, where they will learn about efforts to improve education in the field of child welfare training. Finally, the group will enjoy home hospitality with local families who have adopted Russian children.

About GCIV

GCIV is a community-based nonprofit organization founded in 1962 to promote relationships between Georgians and citizens of other nations. A member of the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV), GCIV arranges professional programs, cultural orientations and home hospitality for hundreds of distinguished international leaders who travel to Georgia every year as part of the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor and Community Connections programs.