UKRAINE

The Ukraine, part of the former Soviet Union, is a country struggling to maintain a stable economy and government. The official language is Ukrainian, but Russian is spoken by most citizens. The Ukraine borders the Black Sea, is roughly the size of Texas and is the home to approximately 55 million people.

The Ukraine offers a different adoption experience since Ukrainian adoption law prohibits the release of any information about orphans. Adopting parent(s) travel to the country, choose their child based on photos and medical information, and start the adoption process. They may have to make a second trip to the Ukraine to bring the child home.

Available children are 12-14 months of age, although infants with special needs may be younger at the time of adoption. Like other Eastern European countries, restrictions on the adopting parent(s) are few. Single women can adopt. Married couples and single women must be between the ages of 25-45, with exceptions up to age 50 done on a case by case basis. JOH works with a Ukrainian attorney who has been completing adoptions for Americans for several years.

The adopting parent(s) dossier is sent to the JOH facilitator where it is translated and registered with the Ukrainian Adoption Center in Kiev. After receiving an invitation from the Ukrainian government, the adopting parent(s) travel to the country. With the JOH facilitator, the adopting parent(s) review the cases of available children. Once a child is chosen the adopting parent(s) and the JOH facilitator travel to the region where the child resides. They meet the child, talk with the orphanage staff, and review any other medical information.

Once the family decides on a child, the Court hearing will follow. After the Court decision there is a waiting period of 30 days. The first trip, when you meet the child, can be up to two weeks long, and the second one (after the Court decision is final) is about 5-7 business days, unless the family decides to stay in the Ukraine during the waiting period. After the adoption decree is issued, the family will have the interview for the immigrant visa at the US Consulate in Kiev.  Families are well supported during their trip with the facilitator providing the adopting parent(s) with a chauffeur while in the country.

Any child coming from an institution should be considered "special needs". Developmental delays or emotional issues are possibilities with any child who has lived in an orphanage setting. Adopting parent(s) should familiarize themselves with the issues of institutionalized children before proceeding.

Time frames are approximations and each case can be different. Call for recent experiences.

For more information please email info@journeysoftheheart.net