Agape Adoptions Ukraine Program
Ukraine Program
Agape Adoptions is pleased to advocate for the children of Ukraine. The Ukraine program is a very unique program and is a great fit for families open to placement of a toddler aged child, children with special needs, older children and sibling groups. If you are open to a child with a special need, the Ukraine program is a great fit. We work with a facilitator in Ukraine who works directly with the State Department on Adoption and Children's Rights (SDA), Ukraine's adoption authority.
Requirements
Parents Age: Parents must be at least 25 years old and there must be no more than 45 years difference between the child and the parent.
Marriage Requirement: Parents must be married at least 2 years.
Parents must be at least 15 years older than the adopted child and no more than 45 years older than the adopted child. Exceptions can be made for special needs children and sibling group.
Single applicants are not allowed
Children who are available
At this time, Agape Adoptions is working to place children with medical special needs. In Ukraine, the children are classified in three categories:
Children 14 months to 5 years
Children 5-9 years old
Children 9 and older
Medical special needs may include: cleft lip and palate, malformed/missing limbs, deaf, heart conditions, developmental delays, Hepatitis B positive, Hepatitis C positive, and HIV positive. Families are able to specify other types of medical needs.
Most of the children Agape Adoptions is advocating for are under the age of 6 with a diagnosed medical special need. The adoptive family’s homestudy must approve you for the type of child you are open to adopting and specifically approve the special needs you are open to and approved for.
Children are of either gender and can be of Roma heritage. Sibling groups are often available; such groups can be from 2 – 4 children, ranging in ages from 2 years to 15 years. Currently the SDA does not allow unrelated adoptions at the same time.
Process and Timeframes
Begin your adoption pre- placement report, assemble dossier documents, and submit immigration forms. The pre-placement report generally takes about 3 months to complete.
Submit dossier documents to Agape Adoptions as you have them completed. Detailed dossier instructions are provided after approval of application.
Agape Adoptions will complete the apostille process. This takes just a few weeks, and largely depends on how quickly the documents are submitted.
Upon completion of the dossier, Agape Adoptions will send it to our facilitator in Kiev, who will then submit the dossier with the adoption authority- SDA.
You will be invited to travel to Kiev about 1-2 months later to be matched with a special needs child, according to the details of your homestudy and adoption application.
Once in Ukraine, you will be matched with a child based on the parameters of your homestudy and through the SDA database system. You will not have information on your child prior to travel. Most families will spend 3-5 weeks in Ukraine completing their adoption.
Travel
Both parents are required to meet the child and be at the court hearing, but one parent can then leave. Parents can also decide if they want to do one trip or two trips, however with special needs adoptions, often the process in Ukraine can be expedited. Plan for a 3-5 week trip.
Families are met by an English speaking representative.
Ukraine does not require an entry visa for US citizens. If one spouse is not a US citizen, please check with the Ukranian Embassy for visa entry requirements.
Most families stay in a “flat”, which is like an apartment. Families can choose to stay in a hotel. Groceries and restaurants are readily available.
POST ADOPTION
Within 30 days of arrival home, you must register your child with the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington DC.
Two post placement reports are due within the first year. These reports must be completed by a Social Worker; the first is due 3 months after arrival and the second is due 10 months after arrival. These reports are sent to Agape Adoptions for processing and submission to the SDA.
Second and third year home- families must submit an annual report to Agape Adoptions for processing and submission to the SDA. These reports must be completed by a Social Worker.
Every three years following until the child reaches 18, families will submit one report to the Ukrainian Consulate in Washington DC, reporting on the welfare of the child.
COSTS
Total costs range from $21,000-$28,000 depending on how many children you are adopting. This fee does not include homestudy or immigration fees.
* None of the children you see here are available for adoption. We have received written permission from each child's parent to use their child's photo on our website.
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