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Here is the latest news….. It is what I expected. However it sounds like adoptions won’t be processed between April 3 and May 3.
So any family who hasn’t finished their adoption by April 3 may have to leave Ukraine and return in May. At least that is my opinion based on the translations below.
RUMOR ALERT: I did read on http://www.frua.org/chat_main.html that officials of the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Sports stated no adoptions will be processed during April.
I hope, I hope that I am wrong. I have several friends in Ukraine in the middle of the adoption process.
And Ukraine is continuing to push forward a program to move children out of orphanages and into foster care/group homes.
Important Notice to Adoption Community – March 29, 2006
Dear Members of the American Adoption Community Interested in Ukraine:
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 Children’s 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.)
The Embassy will continue to track the transition and other adoption-related issues closely, and will provide updates as appropriate by e-mail and on our webpage: http://kiev.usembassy.gov.
Any American adopting parents who would like to be added to our e-mail list are welcome to contact us.
Thank you.
Sincerely,Adoption Unit/Immigrant Visa Section
Consular Section
American Embassy
Kyiv, Ukraine
Tel: 38-044-4904422
Fax: 38-044-490-4570
adoptionskiev@state.gov
Here is the unofficial translation of the new adoption decree from http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/uk/newsnpd
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
Resolution ? 367
March 25, 2006Regarding the Creation of the State Department for Adoption and Protection
of Children’s RightsCabinet of Ministers of Ukraine orders the following:
1. To create the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children’s Rights as a governmental state executive authority.
2. To approve the enclosed Regulations on the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children’s Rights.
3. To amend the Resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers (see enclosed).
4. To cancel Resolution #380 from March 30, 1996 (On the National Adoption Center).
5. The State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children’s Rights is located at #14 Desiatinna Street, Kyiv.
6. Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine must do the following:
- dissolve the National Adoption Center (NAC);
- within the period of one week, the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Sports, should develop a transition plan for the transfer of all paper and electronic data from the NAC to the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children’s Rights7. This Resolution becomes effective on the date of its publication
Prime Minister Y.Yehanurov
Approved by Cabinet of Ministers
Another unofficial translation of a public notice from http://www.mms.gov.ua/news/413
March 28, 2006
In addition to adoption and guardianship issues, child placement to family-type orphanages and foster families, the Department will also be responsible for protection of children’s rights, freedom and interests, and prevention of children’s neglect and homelessness.
This Resolution has also approved the Department’s Regulations. It also states that the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine must dissolve the National Adoption Center, whose functions are being transferred to the newly created Department.
Within a month, the Ministry of Education and Science together with the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports must decide the question regarding transfer of adoption documentation from the National Adoption Center (Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine) to the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children’s Rights.
The transfer is expected to start on April 3.
The Department will be open and become fully operational on May 3 — by which time it should be completely staffed.
The Department will be headed by the Director, who will have three Deputies, including the First Deputy. The candidates for Deputy positions will be submitted by the Minister for Family, Youth and Sports and must be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. The same procedure must be followed for dismissal.
The Director is likely to be appointed in a week
