I haven't heard of anyone getting an appointment past March 30. And the NAC web site is now down. It appears that a new law was passed on adoption processing. NAC's last day is April 3. The new Department on Adoption and Child Rights Protection gains authority over adoptions starting April 4, 2006. This makes sense based on a past news article.


In my Department on Adoption and Child Rights Protection, I mentioned a news article from Feb 6, 2006. Starting April 4, 2006, adoptive families will deal with the Ministerium of Family (sluzhba u spravakh nepovnolitnikh) in the oblast. From what I can tell this is like the Department of Family and Children Services in the United States. It makes sense to transition the national and oblast authorities at the same time.


So far no Ukrainian government official is talking about what this means to adopting families. If a family doesn't complete their adoption by April 4, will they have to leave and return? Or will the new Department on Adoption process these adoptions?


This family has appointment this month and are hoping for the best. I really hope all goes well for them.


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Here is another news article on life2orphans.org and the Human Touch Project.


But it is also about a family who adopted 3 children from Ukraine with cerebral palsy. I haven't met them face-to-face. But I know of them via email. It is interesting how interconnected the world can be. Anyway they are very nice folks...


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Last but not least... another change. Ukraine is trying to move away from orphanages to foster care and group homes.


Recently I heard about the push for guardianship. If I am understanding this correctly....... this is similar in nature to kinship foster care in the United States.


You know the child or are related to the child and can apply for guardianship. It seems like 80% of the foster care in my county is kinship foster care. And I understand the value. It keeps the child close to the home and environment that they know.


However rumor is that people are applying for guardianship, taking the money and leaving the child in the orphanage. And because the child is under guardianship they are no longer available for adoption.


Guardians received 600 gryvnas.


The concept of guardianship has been around for a while.

March 25, 2005

The help to the children which are under guardianship, from 6 to 18 years, will be 468 gryvnas.


From: Deputies confirmed the "budget of Timoshenko