[sak9645]

Unfortunately, it is my understanding that Ukraine does not permit the official use of adoption agencies or facilitators. (The term "agency", in the U.S., refers only to a licensed organization. The term "facilitator" refers to an unlicensed individual or organization.)

Some people do use agencies or facilitators "behind the scenes" to help them prepare the necessary paperwork, arrange travel, find a guide, and so on. However, these agencies or facilitators CANNOT represent them when they go to look at books of available children or, having selected some possible matches, when they go to meet the children. Do be aware that, if you do not see a child whom you feel you can parent, you may have to go home without completing an adoption. The National Adoption Center is committed to find homes for the most difficult to place children, and you may, at least initially, be shown books featuring only much older children or children with significant disabilities. Without an agency, it may be hard for you to negotiate to see books featuring the younger, healthier children, if that is your preference.

Personally, I think that this approach is not a good one, as agencies with extensive experience in helping match children with families equipped to parent them, and in helping families negotiate the maze of paperwork for adoption and immigration of the children perform a truly valuable service.

If you do decide to go this route, make sure that you do a lot of homework with regard to the health issues of internationally adopted children, the adoption process in Ukraine, and U.S. immigration requirements for adopted children.

At this time, Ukraine is not accepting applications from anyone whose paperwork indicates homestudy approval only for a healthy child under age 6, according to the U.S. State Department. Ukraine believes that it has enough domestic families for such children. You can read the advisory on adoption.state.gov.

Sharon