Ukraine Adoption

Single parents unwelcome in Ukraine

Ukraine's Parliament passed a bill that awaits the president's signature that makes these unfortunate changes to their adoption laws:

-The maximum age difference between adoptive parents and adopted children cannot exceed 45 years;
- Unmarried foreign citizens cannot adopt Ukrainian children.

This is very disappointing news for the many single people who went through all the rigorous requirements, including medical appointments, homestudies, fingerprinting, etc. They have been waiting a long time for their appointments in Ukraine, just like the married couples.

Basically the Ukraine government is saying that it's better to keep children in orphanages until they max out at 16 and are put on the streets, than to allow single parents to give them a wonderful life of opportunities in the U.S. and other countries. It's a sad day for these parents but it's even worse for the children, especially the older orphans who will miss out on perhaps their only chance to have a healthy and happy life with a loving family.

As for the maximum age limit, it is unclear if this applies only to the younger parent or to both parents. Facilitators in Ukraine have different opinions on how to interpret this. Nonetheless, one more thing to push people away from adopting in Ukraine. Word is that 100,000 children live in Ukraine orphanages.

It's a sad turn of events, indeed.