[RLH2484]

Im new to the boards, new enough to say this is the first post im writing, but ive been lerking for about a week reading thu everything,and i still have many unanswered questions, or at least ones i may not have caught on to completely! Therefore, im hoping some of you many have personal experiences to guide me on my way. Im not looking to adopt internationally right away seeing as how i need to get myself alot more settled and age a couple years. Im entertaining the idea and getting as much research done as i can to insure i know as much as possible for when that time comes! With all that said, so far im leaning twards Ukraine and Russia and definatly and older child 5 +,(mostly id like Eastren European, i hear they are the eastest to go thru becasue of the amounts of children, ive heard it takes longer for the smaller countries? Opinions?) Im leaning more so to Ukraine for the options the provide with viewing multiple children if i have that correct? Also i was wondering about finding an agency, what behaviors to expect becasue of language barriers, older children conserns and also i am VERY interested in the hosting programs they offer to illiminate one time of travel anyones done this??, the company I am most interested in right now is World Links in Pa which is not far from me (any other agencies come recommended from north eastern pa?) and was wondering if anyone has heard or used them and if they could send me some feedback on there opinions they have a hosting program and the adoption programs which i like? Also, personal views on what to expect when u get to the contry, how did you deal with the nerves and butterflies. Did anyone have bad experiences with a country? Thanks for any help i know i jist asked a wide variety on questions, im sure ill have more indepth questions the more and more i read!

[momraine]

One of the things to consider in Ukraine is it can be one long trip of three weeks or so, you must be sure that you can take that much time off work, some people cannot. Remembering that you will also need sometime once you get home with your child. I suggest you do a little reading on attachment issues as well. You are very smart to be researching now. There is so much to learn, and this is a great place to learn. Many adoption agencies also have informational meetings and classes. Keep reading and keep asking questions.

[Max'smom]

Just a quick reply here: Ukraine actually may not be the country for you anymore - the information you have is rather out of date. Ukraine is currently closed to Americans (because parents have not been filing post-adoption reports with the Ukrainian embassy and concerns were raised about the welfare of the kids). Also, you can't pick and choose among a lot of kids first because far fewer are being abandoned or taken away from their parents by the state and also, because you are now only given one referral at a time and you may have a longish wait before you see another referral. That system you heard of where PAPs went to the childrens' home and ended up seeing lots of kids at once may have been somewhat true very early on, in the early nineties, before international adoptions picked up and when the country was at its worst economically, but even then, a lot of the kids at the childrens' homes you "saw" were not eligible for adoption and were just living there while their moms tried to get over an illness or a spell of unemployment. When Ukraine opens up, you may be only able to adopt kids over the age of 10. There is a lot of talk in Ukraine that the younger kids would be better taken care of in European countries, ie not in the US, where there have been some very creepy cases lately of abuse of adoptees. I'm sure you will be able to figure this out when you do more research! Good luck!

[waitinginnj]

Many people work with agencies that are not close by. Most of the work is done via email or fedex anyway. Find the best agency for the country that you want to adopt from. Differentiate agency rules versus legal rules.

There are several people on the Russian board who have adopted older children 5 and up. You may want to reach out there.

Good luck.

[intladoptionblog]

Adoption situations in countries can change a lot over the course of a few years, so your best bet is to keep on top of the info as it comes out while you're thinking and planning.
Unless you're really in love with one specific part of the world, I'd suggest you try to remain flexible if you're looking some years down the pike. Global events can have the adoption world, like the rest of it, turn upside down easily and in a very short period of time.

[charlotte16]

Right now, Ukraine will be accepting dossiers from paps who are interested in adopting children over the age of ten. Also they will accept dossiers for special needs kids(serious needs). The ministry that is in charge of adoptions will be opening very soon(within the next couple of weeks) and we have yet to see what, if any, changes may take place. It is rumored that things will be easier and not as corrupt with the new ministry. Ukraine can be tough because your stay in country has been 4-5 weeks. I hope that this may change once the new dep't. opens. I have heard a rumor that they may make the 10 day wait more optional fro the judges, which would be great...but we will have to wait and see. Hosting seems like a very good option if you are interested in an older child.