Ukraine Adoption

Adoption Program
CWA is one of the first agencies to be registered in the Ukraine under their new adoption authority. CWA submits the family’s dossier to the Ukraine State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children’s Rights (SDAPCR) for pre-approval. An invitation to travel to Ukraine is usually issued in 2-5 months. Parents travel to Ukraine to meet with officials of the SDAPCR. There parents will see file information/pictures of one or several children that match the family’s request. Parents then choose a child to go meet. If the parents decide to adopt that child, the adoption process is then completed. If the parents decline that child, they return to the SDAPCR and choose another child to meet, and this process stops if 2 referrals are declined during the trip. One parent may leave after the court hearing to return home earlier. In all the years of CWA’s work in Ukraine, we have never had placement of a child diagnosed with FAS.

The Children
The children live in orphanages and are eligible for international adoption once they are 14 months old. Both boys and girls are available (rarely sibling groups). If parents are open to adoption of siblings, they must have all CWA paperwork approved for 2 children. If siblings happen to be available when they are in Ukraine, then they can adopt siblings. There will not be any advance notice of the availability of siblings. Currently, Ukraine does not permit the adoption of 2 unrelated children, unless parents submit two dossiers and make an additional trip or two to Ukraine for the second child.

Parent Eligibility
Married couples age 23 and older are eligible to adopt from Ukraine. Prior divorce is acceptable and there are no restrictions on the number of children already living in the home. The age difference between an adoptive parent and child must be no more than 45 years.

Travel
The adoption process in Ukraine is quite easy. If you choose a 2-trip option, travel on the first trip lasts about 10 days and requires both parents. You return home and 15-25 days later, one or both parents will return to Ukraine for a trip of about 5 days to bring home their child. If you choose a 1-trip option, you can expect to be in Ukraine about 31 days. If desired, one parent can come home early. Families arrive in Ukraine are greeted at the airport by our American in-country director, escorted to their hotel or apartment, as well as to all official appointments.

Note: Due to the nature of international adoption, all information contained on this webpage is subject to change without notice.