So here I am posting about the Ukrainian government body that processes adoptions again. This isn't unexpected because of the politics and the political parties.

Yuri Pavlenko, the former Ministry of Youth and Sports had his resignation accepted on November 29, 2006. The SDA (also known as SDAPRC and State Department for Adoptions and Protection of the Rights of the Child) is a department under this ministry. The SDA is the central adoption authority for all Ukrainian adoptions; domestic, international, step-parent.

Ludmyla Volynets, the director of the SDA, has resigned. Olen Remen, director of International Adoptions, has resigned.

Volynets reported to Pavlenko (not sure she directly reported to him). Remen reported to Volynets.

So what does this mean?

Some folks have gotten out their crystal balls and predicted this will be a good thing. A new director will be an improvement... paperwork will be processed in a more timely manner.

And once again the same-old, same-old wheezy rumor is flying around again. It goes SOME facilitators are favored by the Ukrainian government and can get adoptions processed easier, younger, healthier, etc...



Honestly, I think that people are people no matter where they live. Yes having a personal relationship could help an adoption process smoother. In the same way it helps a salesman sell a car or a project manager successfully build a house.

In other words

If you know the process and the people, you can move quicker then someone who doesn't.

But, this doesn't mean that Faciliator X has an IN, and everyone else is shut OUT.

The Italians think the Americans have a special advantage in filing their dossiers. The Americans think the French and Italians get appointments faster. The Spanish wonder why Americans are getting all the younger children.

Ukrainian adoption can seem arbitrary.. capricious. Why did the family with a 10am appointment receive a 6 year old boy referral? And the family with an 11am appointment received a 2 year old girl referral. Both families asked for a child under 3 years of age.

No one is 100% certain. The referral process isn't transparent. And so rumors fly.