As I mentioned in Ukrainian Adoption Email Lists: Flame Wars email lists are good places to get support and experience a sense of community.


I was sooooooo excited when I got my 171-H, but my friends and family just didn't understand why I was so emotional over a piece of paper. My email friends "virtually" jumped up and down for me when I shared the news.


One of the largest (3,310 members) Ukrainian adoption email lists is Adoption_from_Ukraine. It was started by a Canadian named Sonia Kondrat in 1998 in eGroups. Yahoo purchased eGroups in 2000. Adoption_from_Ukraine has been at www.groups.yahoo.com since then.


Sonia adopted independently (without an adoption agency) from Ukraine. And she later opened a Canadian adoption agency. Some agency families may perceive that independent families are more welcome on this email list. But I have never found this to be true. It is loosely moderated, which allows everyone to express their opinion.

Adoption_from_Ukraine email list includes people who live in Canada, France, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, United States and Ukraine. (I am sure that I missed a few countries.) It is interesting hearing the how Ukrainian adoption experience differs or doesn't differ.


I joined Adoption_from_Ukraine prior to my adoption. And I remain on the list because I enjoy the company. I don't post as often as I used to.


The Eastern European Adoption Coalition has an email list called UKRAINE-L. I left this email list after my adoption, so I don't know much about it. But when I left in 2000, it was heavily moderated.


Other places for English Speakers....


Adoption.com's Ukrainian Adoption Forum has gotten better since registration was required. There are fewer trolls and it provides a supportive community.



Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption has a chat board that requires registration. I like this one because I get to see posts on Eastern European adoption. I typically use the "Last Days" view (look at posts for the last day or 3 days or week).



If you speak French you may find adoptionUKRAINE of interest. Canadians and French citizens gather here.


If you speak Spanish you may find AdopcionenUcrania of interest. And Spanish adoptive parents started a group known as Web de los adoptantes de Ucrania


If you speak German you may find russland-adoptionsforum of interest. They are focused on Russian adoption, but if you are looking for home study help or dealing with post adoption issues, it may be a useful place to visit.


If you speak German you may want to visit the Ukraine adoption forum here.


If you speak German you may also find Yahoo's Adoptionsforum of interest. It appears to be focused on adoption from foster care. But I joined groups like this even though I was adopting from Ukraine. The best advise I received before my adoption was from experienced foster parents.

The ADOPTION FORUM serves exchange of experience. Everyone from the adoption triangle (adopted, foster parents, origin parents) is welcome.

If you speak Hebrew you may be interested in this forum.


Some additional email lists are located here (Christian, Expat, Older Children, State Based)


Post adoption email lists are here.