So you have decided to adopt internationally. And you have decided adopt from Ukraine with the help from an agency.

(50% of Americans adopt from Ukraine via an agency and the other 50% adopt independently.)

If you can, you need to remove your emotions from the picture. Research, research and then research agencies some more. Ask for negative references. Knowing how an agency dealt with a difficult situation is more telling then knowing how they dealt with happy news.

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Question: Can you adopt an infant from Ukraine?

Answer: Healthy infant under 14 months? No.

If you are open to adopting a child with serious health issues, then it is possible.

And by serious health issues I mean cancer, missing limbs (hand, fingers, arms, legs) or arthrogryposis.

Question: How does a child become available for international adoption?

Answer: To be adoptable in Ukraine, a child must be registered... more

I thought that I had found most of the interesting Ukrainian adoption books. Well.... I found a few more.

Starting with a classic. I cannot believe that I failed to mention this one. It is a great book for adoptive families that are just getting started and exploring their options. It is used as a reference book for many adoptive families.

The Russian Adoption Handbook: How to Adopt... more

Part 1 is here. In part 1 I was looking for unbiased sources of adoption information that would help me decide what country to adopt from. By this point in my research I had already decided against foster care adoption and private adoption within the US.

After I discovered the NAIC, I found the US State Department's adoption site. They have fact... more

Picture: Natasha at 2 years of age. This is her NAC photo from 1999.

Recently on FRUA (Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption) a family posted the following questions.

Why are you adopting from Ukraine? What made you choose this country over all of the others?

From: Why Ukraine? Thread

I started to answer the question and then realized I was getting... more

I adopted my darling daughter Natasha in 2000. Prior to adopting I researched the many medical, emotional issues that are commonly found in orphanage children.

(If you have decided to adopt from Ukraine, I would suggest your next step is to investigate the various medical issues.)

I decided to be open to Hepatitis along with items like crossed eyes, developmental delay (everyone has to be open to this one), cleft palette. I had a longer list that I will have to hunt up.

Anyway, this blog is about why I was willing to be open to a Hepatitis diagnosis. Here is a 2002 email that I exchanged.

Here are my thoughts. I am not a doctor.

Yes I... more

I decided to post this type of "process" blog even through adoption is mostly shutdown for Americans. I live in hope that the situation will improve. Or it may help a family considering adopting a child older then 10 years old. Adoptions for children older then 10, handicapped or sibling of previously adopted child are still allowed for American citizens.

Here are some web sites that typically have up-to-date information on Ukrainian adopton for US citizens.

Ukrainian adoption http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_343.html or http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_369.html#u

US... more