Christian World Adoption » Ukraine

Ukraine Update

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:32:24 +0000

Ludmilla has learned this week that the pre-registration process (with just 5 simple documents) in Ukraine will be extended indefinitely at this point. We have had several families pre-register throughout the spring, summer and early fall. It is working out perfectly for them, to have an appointed date to have their full dossier ready for submission to Ukraine, and be able to prepare the documents with dates not more than 6 months prior to that appointed dossier submission date (as is required in Ukraine). This is a great opportunity for any family interested in adopting children from 18 months and older (toddlers).

For more information call 1.888.97ADOPT or request access to our on-line information site at http://www.cwa.org/InquiryForm.aspx

Ukraine Adoption Program

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:58:17 +0000

For families interested in adopting a child two years or older, Ukraine currently allows families to pre-register with the State Department for Adoption (SDA) with only a home study and power of attorney forms.

In other words, after you submit the appropriate initial documents, and after the Ukraine SDA reviews and approves your case, you are considered pre-registered and subsequently given a “full” registration date for your case. Most recently, the full registration date has been scheduled approximately six months after pre-registration. Families are receiving invitations to Ukraine to receive referrals 15-20 days later.

What does this mean for a family interested in adopting from the Ukraine? It means you can submit initial documents with some breathing room for completing the rest of your dossier because you know your upcoming registration date. By knowing your registration date ahead of time, you know exactly when the sum total of your dossier documents must be completed and submitted through CWA. Additionally, by knowing your registration date, you can determine your approximate invitation date. Thank you to Ukraine for understanding the complexity of international adoption, the impact on adoptive parents and for stepping in to make the process less cumbersome and more predictable at this time.

This is a temporary opportunity. We do not know when the process may revert to the previously established system. If you think adoption from the Ukraine is an option for you and your family, you can request more information on-line here, or submit your application on-line here.

Ludmilla Mikhailova
CWA Ukraine Program Director

Melissa’s Myth Busters

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:57:53 +0000

Melissa is a CWA seminar facilitator, home study provider, wife and loving mother to two adopted daughters. We first posted Melissa’s Adoption Myth # 1 on Facebook several weeks ago. Before posting Myth #2, I wanted to allow anyone who missed Myth #1 an opportunity to catch up. Myth #2 WILL be posted next week.

Myth 1: When you adopt a baby, they will have no issues or problems because they are young.

I love this one…as if babies are immune to their early experiences or that they are somehow numb. If we relate this to the old computer adage GIGO (garbage in, garbage out), our early adopted babies are influenced in great part by their early experiences (good or bad), and can behave accordingly (good or bad) later in life. Contrary to the myth, baby’s brains are more vulnerable. From before birth forward, God wired us to be relational beings, and baby’s brains are wired and ready to grow correctly through wonderful, nurturing, sensory-rich experiences. These experiences wire the baby brain for success later in life. When the baby brain does not get these wonderful experiences the brain then begins faulty wiring. Why…you may ask?

The human brain develops from the bottom up. The brain stem develops first, and then up until four years of age a child’s brain is 90% adult size. As Dr. Bruce Perry said, “The organizing brain is very malleable and responsive to the environment. This means that of all the experiences throughout the life of an individual, the organizing experiences of early childhood have the most powerful and enduring effects on brain organization and functioning!”

There is so much hope and help for our children. God’s miracle of the human brain is malleability. Is God calling YOU to help a child heal? From my personal experience, it is so hard, but truly one of the greatest miracles I’ve ever experienced.

God is in Control

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:15:52 +0000

Here at CWA we believe God is in control of our agency and your adoption (before, during, and after.) That’s why no matter how the devil tries to derail our work through economic uncertainty, delays, or fluctuation in the international adoption climate, we continue to trust in the Lord. Adoption is God’s idea and therefore worth pursuing!

Everyday we work with families struggling with financial fears, timing, discouragement, family dynamics, and more. Yet for every story of struggle, we hear two examples of how God uses these same struggles to help families grow in their faith and trust in Him. It is not unusual to hear about donations for the exact amount needed arriving at the just the right time. We hear how God uses a document or travel delay to ensure a families are available for a high school graduation, better ticket prices, family emergency or other important event that may otherwise have been missed.

The Lord has chosen you to embark on a journey of blessings and personal and family growth. Are you trusting Him, His perfect timing, and His provision; or are you fretting, worrying or otherwise allowing the devil to distract you from God’s joy in adoption? When you are feeling discouraged, turn to Proverbs 3:5-6 for encouragement:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Have a great Monday!