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 | Adopting from Ukraine
by Kim Bernstein and Erica Pelaccia |
Since the moratorium lifted in 1996, international adoptions from Ukraine increased each year peaking to 1,233 in 2001 and down to 702 in 2003. Most children are 14 months or older at the time of adoption because they must first be placed on a central database for one year before becoming available for international adoption. On occasion, some exceptions are made for children with significant medical diagnoses.
One of the most unique features about Ukraine adoption is that by law, it does not provide for families to preview information on a child before travel. Consequently, families will be faced with making a decision about accepting a child while in the country. The Ukrainian government does not permit intermediary or adoption agencies to be officially involved in the in-country adoption process. They believe it is in the best interest of the child not to disseminate personal information through a facilitator or an agency. They believe that the best match is made when the family is involved in the process in person. The reality is the government allows families to work with agencies that can direct them to facilitators in country to act as translators, drivers and lawyers, and have expertise in navigating the system and advocating on their behalf.
While it may seem appealing to a family to “choose their child,” our experience is that it raises additional challenges and demands more preparation for a family before traveling. Families need to be prepared to make an informed decision through the preparation of their agency and consultation with a medical professional who is knowledgeable about international adoption medicine. In addition, if the family is requesting a young, healthy child, younger than 3 years old, there may be only one child presented to the family available for adoption during their appointment at the National Adoption Center. This can be drastically different from the family’s hopes that they would select their child after reviewing profiles on many appropriate children. There are many children older than 8 years old or with significant special needs available for adoption.
Adoption Requirements:
The requirements for a family hoping to adopt from Ukraine are flexible for married couples. There are no specific guidelines in the law regarding maximum age or number of children already in the home. Preference is given first to Ukrainian families, then married couples, and lastly, single applicants. Singles are permitted to adopt from Ukraine by law, however practice has shown during 2004 that singles have a difficult time adopting, unless they are open to a child older than 8 years old or with significant special needs. Wide Horizons For Children, is not accepting single applicants at this time due to the difficulties encountered.
Process:
After the homestudy has been completed, the family submits their completed dossier and application to the National Adoption Center in Kiev. Recently, the NAC has been scrutinizing dossiers closely and refusing to register them until every detail of the documents meets their latest guidelines. Once the dossier is accepted by the NAC it is given a registration number and soon after will be assigned a travel appointment. In Wide Horizons For Children’s experience, this usually happens within five to seven months of submission of the dossier to Ukraine.
At the National Adoption Center, families are presented with profiles of children who are available for adoption. Many of the children will not fit the type of child requested by the family. Often only one profile presented will meet the type of child — based on age and health — being requested by the family. The family then agrees to meet the child. Permission is granted by the National Adoption Center to the family to visit an orphanage and to meet this specific child.
The family will be able to review the child’s medical information at the orphanage with the orphanage director and doctor. Families may ask questions, spend extended time with the child, and if concerns still remain, get a second opinion before accepting the child. If the child is declined, the family must return to Kiev to obtain a second appointment at the National Adoption Center. This can often delay the process by at least a week.
Once the family accepts the child then the match is officially approved by the National Adoption Center and a court date will be scheduled. It is mandatory for both parents to be present at court. In each region the judge has the right to enforce or waive the 30-day appeal period. If the 30-day appeal period is not waived most families return to the United States until the 30 days have passed, then return to complete the remaining steps of the adoption. If the 30 days are waived, the adoption decree and travel documents are issued and the family returns to Kiev with their child to complete their final paperwork for U.S. Immigration including a medical exam and an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Kiev. Families are required to register their child with the Ukraine Consulate or Embassy that has jurisdiction over their state within 30 days upon returning to the United States. The extended post-placement requirements include yearly reports for the first three years, and then every third year until the child is 18.
How We Prepare Families to Adopt from Ukraine:
While independent adoptions can occur in Ukraine, we believe families are better prepared and have a smoother in-country process if they work with an agency. This is our bias, and we know that many families who adopt independently have positive experiences. We believe the model of families traveling without information on a child and the agency having no official in-country role necessitates exceptional preparation for the family. The agency plays an important role in the following areas:
• To help with dossier preparation.
• To provide the latest information on the requirements, status and process — as it changes regularly.
• To prepare a family for realistic expectations of the matching process, meeting and accepting your child.
• To set up arrangements with knowledgeable translators, drivers and other on-the-ground services.
• To call and support the family during what can be, at times, a challenging process.
• To offer extensive travel meetings and a written travel guide.
• To encourage families to connect with a physician who specializes in international adoption medicine prior to travel to workout a contact plan while in Ukraine.
Wide Horizons For Children has seen many successful placements when families have realistic expectations and are well prepared for the adoption process.
Kim Bernstein, MSW, LICSW, is the Ukraine program supervisor for Wide Horizons For Children and Erica L. Pelaccia, MSW, is the Ukraine program coordinator. For information on the agency’s Ukraine program or other programs, call (781) 894-5330 or visit www.whfc.org.
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