Friday, June 5, 2009
Category Ukraine adoptions
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The first half of 2009 is almost over and we are excited that five children have come home with their families. Three of the children were older or children with special challenges, one child was an early school age girl and the other a three year old boy. Most of the families were in the country about six to seven weeks. Bethany has two additional families with documents submitted. We hope that they will travel this year.
There is a need in this program for adoptive families who can be open to children who are a bit older. There is also a great need for families who can be open to a very young child with Down Syndrome. We know that there are many of these children available for intercountry adoption. Ukraine is a one trip process with the opportunity to spend a few weeks with your child in his country before returning to the US. This is a good time for beginning the process of attachment and to learn about the culture and heritage of your child.
Up to this point in 2009, there has not been a quota on families or age of children to be adopted. Because of the large number of dossiers submitted for young children when the quota was lifted there is a rumor that the State Department for Adoption may limit the number of dossiers requesting children age 6 and under but this is not yet official. We would suggest that a family who would be open to a child up to the age of five or six years, expand that, if they can, to age seven to avoid this restriction if it occurs.
Additionally there is a law proposed to the Rada that intercountry adoptions be suspended between any countries where there is not an intercountry adoption bi-lateral agreement. It is questionable whether on not this will even be voted on. We have heard that a bill was passed that would enforce the more rigid restrictions on adoptive parents but it doesn't really change what already is in effect.
The US Embassy in Kiev is actively engaged with the State Department for Adoption in supporting the current adoption law. Their website is also a good source of information for adoptive parents. It is important to remember with Ukraine that there are often rumors about the adoption process and it would be good to check with your adoption professional before assuming they are true.
Bookmark :
The first half of 2009 is almost over and we are excited that five children have come home with their families. Three of the children were older or children with special challenges, one child was an early school age girl and the other a three year old boy. Most of the families were in the country about six to seven weeks. Bethany has two additional families with documents submitted. We hope that they will travel this year.
There is a need in this program for adoptive families who can be open to children who are a bit older. There is also a great need for families who can be open to a very young child with Down Syndrome. We know that there are many of these children available for intercountry adoption. Ukraine is a one trip process with the opportunity to spend a few weeks with your child in his country before returning to the US. This is a good time for beginning the process of attachment and to learn about the culture and heritage of your child.
Up to this point in 2009, there has not been a quota on families or age of children to be adopted. Because of the large number of dossiers submitted for young children when the quota was lifted there is a rumor that the State Department for Adoption may limit the number of dossiers requesting children age 6 and under but this is not yet official. We would suggest that a family who would be open to a child up to the age of five or six years, expand that, if they can, to age seven to avoid this restriction if it occurs.
Additionally there is a law proposed to the Rada that intercountry adoptions be suspended between any countries where there is not an intercountry adoption bi-lateral agreement. It is questionable whether on not this will even be voted on. We have heard that a bill was passed that would enforce the more rigid restrictions on adoptive parents but it doesn't really change what already is in effect.
The US Embassy in Kiev is actively engaged with the State Department for Adoption in supporting the current adoption law. Their website is also a good source of information for adoptive parents. It is important to remember with Ukraine that there are often rumors about the adoption process and it would be good to check with your adoption professional before assuming they are true.
