Contact List:

Steering Committee:
Lara Parreira
Gay Plungas
Gina Pollock
Ruta Skucas
Lisa Stancik
James Tomalonis

Links Section

	LITHUANIAN ADOPTIONS INFORMATIONAL YAHOO GROUP
	LITHUANIAN ADOPTIONS FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
	LITHUANIAN GOVERNMENT'S ADOPTION SERVICE
	LITHUANIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Linkejimai! Greetings! The Lithuanian Adoptive Parents Association (LAPAS) provides social, cultural, charitable, and educational opportunities to families formed through international adoption from Lithuania. We also provide support and information to those exploring adoption from Lithuania.

The members of LAPAS firmly believe that it is crucial to the healthy development and identity of internationally adoptive children to maintain connection to their roots, language, culture, customs and faith. We highly encourage adopting families to study the history and culture of Lithuania, to become active in local Lithuanian communities and to undertake the effort to learn some of the language, customs and traditions of Lithuania before adopting a child.

In addition, LAPAS offers numerous chances throughout the calendar year for families to share customs, attend cultural events and access resources for the study of language and history.

Please take your time reviewing our website and feel free to join us on our discussion groups!

Baltimore Lithuanian Festival The Lithuanian Festival Committee of Maryland is pleased to announce the 37th annual Lithuanian Festival, to be held at the Catonsville Armory, 130 Mellor Avenue, Catonsville, Maryland. The dates are Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. both days. This festival is considered by many as..."The best little ethnic festival in Maryland." This year's theme is One Thousand Years of Culture! The year 2009 comemorates one millennium since the first written mention of the name of Lithuania in the Quedlinburg chronicles, a town located north of the Harz mountains of German.Admission is $4.00 per person, with children under 12 Free. Take yourself, and the whole family out to a most unique event! Discover the sights, sounds and tastes of Lithuania at the Catonsville Armory. The Armory is handicap accessible and there is plenty of free parking! Lithuanian adoptive families will be meeting up to celebrate together. For more information on the Festival, please contact: Maryte Patlaba at 410-646-0261 For more information on the adoptive family gathering, please contact Gina Pollock rmprhp@yahoo.com

Sixth Annual Lithuanian Adoptive Families Gathering! We will be meeting again on Saturday, August 8, 2009 from noon to 8 pm at the home of James and Karen Tomalonis in Mill Hall PA (central PA). More details to follow soon.

LAPAS membership is open with no charge, please contact Gina Pollock rmprhp@yahoo.com for information.

Join us!

US Hague Accreditation Updates

Congratulations to the following agencies on their recent accreditation to perform Hague country adoptions:

Bethany Christian Services
Family Tree (Temporary for 1 year)
Our Children's Homestead
Sunny Ridge Family Center, Inc.
The Open Door Adoption Agency

Information on the COA and Hague accreditation can be found at: www.coanet.org

The Order of the Specification of the Procedure for Granting Authorization to Foreign Institutions in respect of inter-country adoption in the Republic of Lithuania On 3 June, 2005 the Minister of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania approved the Order of the Specification of the Procedure for Granting Authorization to Foreign Institutions in respect of inter-country adoption in the Republic of Lithuania. This order established the procedure for granting authorization to foreign institutions in respect of inter-country adoption in the Republic of Lithuania. As a result of this Order, only those institutions accredited by the Lithuanian Government will be permitted to assist families in adoption from Lithuania.Also, families may no longer pursue independent adoptions from Lithuania. A current list of authorized instituions may be found on our Agency page at left. Please do not use an agency not listed there, it is illegal for agencies to "umbrella" their accreditation in Lithuania and your adoption may be adversly effected.

Limitations on dossiers for children under 6 years imposed By order of the ministry on July 17, 2006 authorized foreign institution will be limited to submitting 2 new dossiers per calendar year by familis requesting a child (children) under 6 years of age . This requirement will not apply to families wishing to adopt a child with special needs.