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For Adoptive Parents
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- receiving family file
- reviewing dossier for completion
- translation and notarization of dossier
- registration family's file with the adoption centre
- tracking of dossier through the approval process at the adoption centre
IN-COUNTRY SUPPORT ASSESSMENT:
1. meeting families upon arrival at the airport
2. assisting families with accommodations and in-country travel
3. providing English speaking escorts while the families are in Ukraine
4. escorting families to and assisting them at their adoption centre interview
5. assisting the parents in meeting legally adoptable children and helping them in bonding process with the children
6. translating medical records and other information that discusses the children's life histories prior to and during their orphanage stay
7. referring families to doctors familiar with how to conduct developmental assessments on young orphanage children
8. providing the adoption centre with the necessary documents of the child(ren) selected for adoption of families
9. preparing the family and child files and assisting families at the court hearing
10. assisting families obtain post-adoption birth certificates and travel documents including passport
11. assisting families obtain legalized and authenticated documents
12. assisting families schedule all necessary appointments
13. preparing the family file in compliance and according to the Consulate Standards
14. assisting families with obtaining required medical exam before leaving Ukraine
15. providing family with required documents and assisting them in the departure process.
History of Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe and the second largest country in Europe after Russia. Ukraines declaration of independence, approved by a popular vote on December 1, 1991, was a major factor in the USSRs collapse later that month. The population of Ukraine is estimated at 48,050,000, giving the country a population density of 80 persons per sq km (206 per sq mi). Some 68 percent of the population lives in cities and towns. The largest cities in Ukraine are Kyiv, the countrys capital and economic, cultural, and educational center; Kharkiv, noted for its engineering expertise, machinery plants, and educational institutions; Dnipropetrovs'k, a center of metallurgical and aerospace industries; and Donets'k, known for mining and metallurgy. Odesa(Odessa), on the Black Sea coast, is the countrys largest seaport.
Ethnic Ukrainians make up 73 percent of the population of Ukraine. Russians are the largest minority group at 22 percent. Jews (considered both an ethnic and a religious group in Ukraine) and Belarusians each account for about 1 percent of the total. The Ukrainian diet depends heavily on rye bread, potatoes, and borsch (beet soup). Pork and pork products, especially sausage and salo (a type of smoked bacon), are favored meats. Consumer goods are now more available than in the Soviet period, but few people can afford them.
The economic circumstances have unfortunately led to an ever increasing number of orphans. Many orphanages struggle daily to provide for the basic needs of each child. There are thousands of children now available for adoption.
Ukraine Adoption
More boys are available than girls. Boys classified healthy are readily available from 2 years of age and girls from about 3 to 4. Younger children are available from about 6 months but are classified with medical conditions (medical conditions range in severity). Adopting a child from the Ukraine is a wonderful way to build your family and provide an available child a loving home.
On March 25, 2006 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved Resolution #367 creating the new adoption authority under the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Sports. The new Ukrainian adoption authority is named the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Childrens Rights. The text of the Resolution is available in Ukrainian at the Cabinet of Ministers website: http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/uk/newsnpd.
(Please see the unofficial English translation of this document below.)
The Ministry of Family, Youth, and Sports has posted a brief public notice regarding the implementation of the Resolution on its website at: http://www.mms.gov.ua/news/413 (Unofficial translation of this notice is also listed far below.)
Ukraines Requirements for Adoption of a Healthy Child
Applicants to adopt must be at least 25 years old and no more than 55.
Applicants must be married for at least one year.
There are no restrictions for having other children in the home.
State Department for Adoption and Protection of Childrens Rights (SDAPCR)
SDAPCR is the only legal Ukrainian authority for adoptions. It maintains the database of adoptable children available for both domestic and international adoptions.
SDAPCR processes the documents submitted by adopting parents and enters them into their database. Once an application is approved, the prospective adopting parents will receive an invitation to visit the SDAPCR.
The SDAPCR will communicate with facilitators after an application is filed.
The Children
Economic factors lead to most relinquishments of children. Parental rights may also be terminated in the case of neglect or drug and alcohol abuse. Ukrainian children who have been registered with the Kiev-based SDAPCR for fourteen months are available for international adoption.
The child identification process is done during adopting parents' visit to the country. No referral is given.
Children are occasionally available for adoption as young as 14 months of age, however more children are typically available in the 2-3 age range and older. We cannot guarantee the age of a child/children that will be available on your appointment date. We will work to help you meet your preferences for adoption as closely as possible.
Although adopting sibling groups is possible, there is no guarantee a sibling group will be available at the time of your appointment.
Travel to Ukraine
Both adoptive parents are required to travel to Ukraine to adopt their child. However, one parent may be able to leave before the adoption is completed. The average length of stay in Ukraine is from 2 to 3 weeks.
While meeting a child at the orphanage, adoptive parents will be shown his/her medical history. Adoptive parents also have the option of requesting an additional medical check-up of the child.
Once the adopted child enters the U.S., he or she automatically becomes a U.S. citizen.
Most common diagnoses
Listed below are some of the most common special needs diagnoses and a brief description of each.
Cleft Lip
A cleft lip is a condition that creates an opening in the upper lip between the mouth and nose. It looks as though there is a split in the lip. It can range from a slight notch in the colored portion of the lip to complete separation in one or both sides of the lip extending up and into the nose. A cleft on one side is called a unilateral cleft. If a cleft occurs on both sides it is called a bilateral cleft.
Cleft Palate
A cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth has not joined completely. The back of the palate (towards the throat) is called the soft palate and the front (towards the mouth) is known as the hard palate. A cleft palate can range from just an opening at the back of the soft palate to a nearly complete separation of the roof of the mouth (soft and hard palate). Cleft lip and cleft palate are correctable birth defects.
Club Foot
Clubfoot is a genetic foot condition that is twice as likely to be seen in males as females. The deformity can be mild or severe and it can affect one foot or both feet. These deformities are caused by the position of the foot in the womb and are usually corrected with minimal intervention. In the infant, clubfoot itself is not painful. The heel of the foot turns inward, the foot and toes point down and curve inward. There may be creases above the heel and in the middle bottom portion of the foot. The bones are abnormally shaped and the tendons, muscles, and ligaments are tight. Treatments include casting or possible surgery.
Minor Heart Defects
A congenital heart defect is a heart deformity present at birth, such as a hole between heart chambers or a narrowed valve. Depending upon severity, a congenital heart defect can make it harder for the heart to pump and deliver oxygen-rich blood to the body. With time, the heart can weaken and symptoms may develop. The majority of patients with heart defects have no symptoms and do not require treatment. It is estimated that about 25% of heart defects present in infancy require medical treatment or surgery.
Missing Limbs
An estimated 1 in 2,000 babies are born with all or part of a limb missing, ranging from a missing part of a finger to the absence of both arms and both legs. The exact cause of congenital amputations is unknown. However, most birth defects have one or more genetic factors and one or more environmental factors. The accepted method of treatment is to fit the child early with a functional prosthesis because this leads to normal development and less wasting away (atrophy) of the muscles of the limbs present.
Birthmarks
About one in every three infants has some type of a birthmark. Twice as many girls as boys have birthmarks. Many of these birthmarks do go away but, of course, some do not and may continue to grow in size. For appearance or cosmetic reasons, medical treatment may be necessary if the birthmark does not go away by itself. Birthmarks are basically an overgrowth of blood vessel tissue in a specific area on the body. It is not completely known why blood vessels grow too much in one particular area of the body but it does occur during the prenatal development.
After a temporary suspension of dossier acceptance, Ukraine is currently OPEN to adoptions by foreign citizens and Ukraine is accepting dossier submissions from the US. However, the limitation of 558 dossier submissions (see notice below) for the calendar year 2007 continues to impact the number of adoptions from Ukraine.
Paperwork fees are changing.
Effective July 30, 2007, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase fees for both the I600 (Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative) and I600A (Application for Advance Processing or Orphan Petition), from $545 to $670. The fingerprint processing fee will also increase, from $70 to $80.
The USCIS will give all prospective parents one free extension of I600A and fingerprint approval, which automatically expires after 18 months if the adoption has not yet been completed. Previously, adopting parents were required to pay a second round of I600A and fingerprint fees when requesting an extension.
uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/FinalUSCISFeeSchedule052907.pdf.
Adoption Law Isn't Changed 06/13/07 Ukrainian adoption law still hasn't changed. Ukrainian President Yushchenko vetoed bill 2562. This bill would have made adoption by single men and women illegal. And would have restricted adoptive parent's ages (+45 rules).
http://eng.for-ua.com/news/2007/06/14/113035.html
On April 16, 2007 the State Department for Adoptions and Protection of the Rights of the Child resumed acceptance of new adoption applications from U.S. citizens. All the rules and requirements have remained in place. http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_3230.html
Notice on New I-604 Requirements 4/6/07 The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has advised U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to begin using the new version of Form I-604, Determination on Child for Adoption (previously referred to as "Request for and Report on Overseas Orphan Investigation").
The new version, which went into effect on October 30, 2006, requires consular officers to certify that the adopted child fits the suitability criteria noted in the home study report, Visas 37 cable/I-600A approval notice, or approved I-600 as appropriate for age, gender, special needs, number of children, etc.
Since Ukraine does not allow pre-selection of children eligible for inter-country adoption, most American prospective adoptive parents do not know the exact age, gender, health condition and sometimes even the number of their prospective adopted child (children)).
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine recommends that adoptive parents initiate the process of obtaining an amended USCIS approval as early as possible.
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_3214.html
Quota for 2007: Number of Dossiers to be Accepted 3/23/07 According to the U.S. State Department SDA issued Decree #16 on Feb. 24, 2007, giving the numbers of adoption dossiers which SDA will accept from abroad during 2007. The top three are the U.S. (558 dossiers), Italy (494) and Spain (380).
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_3184.html
Single Parents Unwelcome in Ukraine: Changes in Adoption Requirements for Ukraine 3/23/07 Parliament of Ukraine passed bill #2562 On Legislative Amendments to Ukraine's Laws (regarding adoptions). This bill introduces the following major changes to current Ukrainian legislation: the minimum age of prospective adoptive parent must be at least 21 years old; the maximum age difference between adoptive parents and adopted children cannot exceed 45 years; unmarried foreign citizens cannot adopt Ukrainian children. The law is not retroactive.
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_3175.html
Approved: Regulations on Acceptance of Adoption Documents from Foreign Citizens 3/05/07 On February 25, 2007 the Decree #313, issued by Minister for Family, Youth and Sports Victor Korzh, became effective. This Decree approves an official document that describes current inter-country adoption procedures and requirements of the central adoption authority of Ukraine - the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Rights of the Child (SDAPRC). Read the entire notice here: http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/amcit_adoptions_notice_0305_eng.html
A dossier is comprised of all the documents necessary to complete your international adoption. Each document must be notarized and have a state seal. It is granted by the Secretary of State's office.
Documents required for adoption dossier:
USCIS Approval (I-171H Form)
Completed Home Study with License
Marriage Certificate (Can be a copy)
BCIS (Bureau of Criminal Investigation Services) State Level Clearance
Passport copies
Employment letters(1040/W-2)
Petition for Adoption
Letter of Obligation
Power of Attorney
Medical Reports (Please use the official Ukrainian government form)
Home Deed.
Secretary of State listing by state.
http://www.vitalrec.com/usmap.html
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