Ukraine Adoption

Good timing, high hopes

There are big changes ahead in the adoption process in Ukraine. The country announced this week that the National Adoption Center will dissolve and a new center will open under the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports. There will be a two-month suspension on accepting new applications from families while these changes take place, though it is uncertain exactly when this will all happen. The U.S. Consulate's Office in Kiev told me in an e-mail that the U.S. has urged Ukraine to institute the planned changes as quickly as possible to allow for resumption of international adoptions.(I keep in touch with them because I remain curious about the process and have been encouraging others to adopt.)

We have heard from sources in Ukraine that this is actually good news and that the process may be streamlined and more fair across the board. We have read blogs about families spending many weeks trying to get a second appointment at the NAC when a first referral was not good (child's health not accurately reported). Then other families swoop in and out in 17 days and take their new child home with them. A reminder: we spent five weeks (!), didn't get the 30 days waived, and spent two more weeks in Ukraine. It was all worth it for our precious new daughter, but we spent much more time and essentially money than anticipated in Ukraine.

We hope this will be resolved soon -- and that those wonderful children we saw in Little Birch Tree orphanage and many others who were longing for families will be placed sooner than before, and that families won't be discouraged and give up.

Meanwhile, we are so thankful that we are done with the process and home with our awesome 2-year-old Tara Vika, who continues to blossom before our eyes. We received her official U.S.Citizenship certificate in the mail last  week. Welcome home,Tara.