Adoption Services International: September 2012

Friday, September 28, 2012

Consider Ukrainian Adoption of an Older Child: 24,000 Orphaned Children Waiting for Loving Parents

There are over 26,000 children in Ukraine waiting for adoption.
24,000 of these children waiting for loving adoptive families are
older than 5 years or have health problems. As this article about
Ukrainian adoption in the Kyiv Post confirms, it is great that
Ukraine's programs to encourage adoption by Ukrainians is
working. However, you can see by the numbers that there is still
a massive unmet need for adoptive parents for Ukrainian children,
especially those over 5 years of age. Please consider how you
could help.

Kyiv Post Published today:

Ukrainians adopt two times more Ukrainian children than
foreigners, Deputy Social Policy Minister Lydia Drozdova has
said.

At a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday, the deputy minister
said that the alarming tendency of more Ukrainian children being
adopted by foreigners than by Ukrainian citizens had been
reversed.

According to the Social Policy Ministry, Ukrainians adopted some
1,300 children, while citizens of other countries 530 children in
the first eight months of this year.

According to Drozdova, the number of foreign parents who adopted
Ukrainian children in 2011 fell by half compared to 2005.

In addition, the deputy minister said most people wanted to adopt
children under five years of age. According to Ukrainian
legislation, foreigners can adopt children older than five or
children with health problems, she added.

Drozdova also stressed that there are 26,000 children waiting for
adoption in the Ukrainian database, including 24,000 children
older than five years and those with health problems.

At the same time, more than 1,600 Ukrainian parents are currently
in the queue for adoption, and 80% of them want to adopt children
under five years of age.

"We need to raise the culture of adoption in the society, and to
address this issue not in the interests of adults, but in the
interests of children," she said.

Kyiv Post Sept. 27, 2012, 6:51 p.m. - byInterfax-Ukraine

If you or someone you love would consider welcoming an older
Ukrainian child into your family through adoption, we can help.
Whether you are just exploring the possibilities, or roaring to
get started, we can help educate you and take you through the
Ukrainian Adoption process quickly, affordable and successfully.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

Ukrainian Adoption Firm: What To Do While Waiting: Part 4: Prepare For Your Referral Meeting

Part 4 of our What Adoptive Parents Can Do While They are Waiting
for Their Ukrainian Adoption. Enjoy!

Preparing for your referral meeting at the SDA in Ukraine

So, all of a sudden, you have nothing to do but wait! There is a
lot you can do to make waiting for your adoption productive and
much less painless and insure that you will thank yourself for
what you did during this waiting period after your adoptive child
or children come home from Ukraine.

Enjoy part 4 of our series:

· Understand very clearly which illnesses or issues you
feel comfortable with and which you will not accept.

· Know your limitations and stick by them. Remember
adoption is forever.

· Go online and research conditions and characteristics
you may be presented with when choosing a Ukrainian adopted
child.

· Meet with a pediatrician and discuss common issues in
international adoption such as fetal alcohol syndrome and learn
the characteristics to look for.

· Have your adoption agency or adoption facilitator run
through mock referral interviews based on their actual experience
so you know, as much as possible, what to expect.

· Prepare a notebook you will take into the Ukrainian
referral meeting with you. List notes you do not want to have to
remember.

Adoption Services International unites loving US families with
Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination of western
quality service (including a maximum guaranteed adoption fee),
personal adoption experience, affordable local cost and 20 years
Ukrainian experience. If you or someone you know would like to
welcome a child into their lives, as my husband and I did, or
just learn more about the Ukrainian adoption program, Adoption
Services International can help.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

While Waiting For Your Ukrainian Adoption - Part 4: Prepare For Your SDA Referral Appointment

As steps in your Ukrainian adoption process go, your referral
meeting in Ukraine will be one of the most intense, surreal
experience in your life. Waiting during your Ukrainian adoption?
Time to prepare for this meeting!Part 4 of our What Adoptive
Parents Can Do While They are Waiting for Their Ukrainian
Adoption. Enjoy!Preparing for your referral meeting at the SDA in
UkraineSo, all of a sudden, you have nothing to do but wait!
There is a lot you can do to make waiting for your adoption
productive and much less painless and insure that you will thank
yourself for what you did during this waiting period after your
adoptive child or children come home from Ukraine.Enjoy part 4 of
our series:· Understand very clearly which illnesses or issues
you feel comfortable with and which you will not accept.· Know
your limitations and stick by them. Remember adoption is
forever.· Go online and research conditions and characteristics
you may be presented with when choosing a Ukrainian adopted
child.· Meet with a pediatrician and discuss common issues in
international adoption such as fetal alcohol syndrome and learn
the characteristics to look for.· Have your adoption agency or
adoption facilitator run through mock referral interviews based
on their actual experience so you know, as much as possible, what
to expect.· Prepare a notebook you will take into the Ukrainian
referral meeting with you. List notes you do not want to have to
remember.Adoption Services International unites loving US
families with Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination
of western quality service (including a maximum guaranteed
adoption fee), personal adoption experience, affordable local
cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience. If you or someone you
know would like to welcome a child into their lives, as my
husband and I did, or just learn more about the Ukrainian
adoption program, Adoption Services International can
help.www.adoptionservicesinternational.cominfo@asi-adoption.com908-444-0999

24,000 Ukrainian Orphans Available for International Adoption

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

While Waiting For Your Ukrainian Adoption- Part 4: Prepare For Your SDA Referral Appointment

Part 4 of our What Adoptive Parents Can Do While They are Waiting
for Their Ukrainian Adoption. Enjoy!

Preparing for your referral meeting at the SDA in Ukraine

Enjoy part 4 of our series:

· Understand very clearly which illnesses or issues you
feel comfortable with and which you will not accept.

· Know your limitations and stick by them. Remember
adoption is forever.

· Go online and research conditions and characteristics
you may be presented with when choosing a Ukrainian adopted
child.

· Meet with a pediatrician and discuss common issues in
international adoption such as fetal alcohol syndrome and learn
the characteristics to look for.

· Have your adoption agency or adoption facilitator run
through mock referral interviews based on their actual experience
so you know, as much as possible, what to expect.

· Prepare a notebook you will take into the Ukrainian
referral meeting with you. List notes you do not want to have to
remember.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

Ukraine Adoption Needs International Adoptive Parents for 24,000 Waiting Orphaned Children

Ukrainians adopt two times more Ukrainian children than
foreigners, Deputy Social Policy Minister Lydia Drozdova has
said.

At a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday, the deputy minister
said that the alarming tendency of more Ukrainian children being
adopted by foreigners than by Ukrainian citizens had been
reversed.According to the Social Policy Ministry, Ukrainians
adopted some 1,300 children, while citizens of other countries
530 children in the first eight months of this year.

According to Drozdova, the number of foreign parents who adopted
Ukrainian children in 2011 fell by half compared to 2005.In
addition, the deputy minister said most people wanted to adopt
children under five years of age.

According to Ukrainian legislation, foreigners can adopt children
older than five or children with health problems, she added.

Drozdova also stressed that there are 26,000 children waiting for
adoption in the Ukrainian database, including 24,000 children
older than five years and those with health problems.

At the same time, more than 1,600 Ukrainian parents are currently
in the queue for adoption, and 80% of them want to adopt children
under five years of age."We need to raise the culture of adoption
in the society, and to address this issue not in the interests of
adults, but in the interests of children," she said.

Kyiv Post Sept. 27, 2012, 6:51 p.m. - by Interfax-Ukraine

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Lots of Super Fun Things You Can Do While Waiting For Your Ukrainian Adoption Appointment!

What Adoptive Parents Can DO While Waiting: Part 2: Super fun
preparation for adopting a child:

• Prepare a bedroom for your new adopted child or children

• Register at children's stores. Even though you may not know the
age or sex of your adopted child, as soon as you know you will
need a lot of clothes and accessories. Your friends and relatives
are likely as excited as you are about your new adoption. Let
them help you get what you will need. As soon as you know sizes
and what not, you can get online in Ukraine and post what you
need at the stores where you are registered.

• Find consignment stores in your area that sell children's
clothing and mention these in your communications or adoption
shower announcements. The majority of children adopted
internationally will grow very fast once they have a wonderful
diet and lots of love. This means they will grow out of things
quickly! You and your loved ones will get a lot for the money and
most of the clothes are only lightly used.

• There may be a friend or someone at your church with a ton of
hand-me-down clothes you would love. Ask around and when you know
sizes, you can email them from Ukraine.

• Prepare for an adoption shower or welcome party for your newly
adopted child. Prepare a guest list. Get invitations. You can do
this online through a service
likewww.sendoutcards.comorwww.vistaprint.com. Plan when you will
do this and where. You want to be sure your adopted child has
time to settle in before a big event.

• Choose an adoption announcement and discuss wording with your
family. Again, have a list of all you want to send this too as it
might differ from the shower list. Discuss when you want to send
your adoption announcement. You can have a lot of fun with these
and personalize with photos and personal information about your
adopted child.

• Start thinking about teaching your Ukrainian adopted child
English. Bringing some ABC books is a great idea. Even better,
make one with A is for Aunt May, M is for Mama, etc. you can use
your city, your last name and things and places you like. Also,
include necessities such as toilet and foods.

• Many families alert their local newspaper when they get home
and place an adoption announcement and new family photo in the
paper. Contact your local paper to find out in advance the email
for the person you need to contact. Discuss if you want to do
this and perhaps prepare a draft so it is ready to go from
Ukraine or when you get home and don't have time to write it up.

• Plan some activities for you and your adopted child for when
you get back, especially activities which will capture these
first moments and memories. Making a plaster of the adopted
child's hand or foot prints are fun, as is finger painting.

• Find a photographer to take photos of your newly adopted child
and new family photos. You will be amazed by how fast your
Ukrainian adopted child will grow, change and develop, even in
the first few months. Document all these memories for the future.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

The Most Valuable Investment You Can Make While Waiting for Your Ukrainian Adoption

The most valuable investment you as a parent can make for your
Ukrainian adoption

The adoption process, and Ukraine is no exception, is filled with
rushing after paper work - adoption home study, USCIS adoption
processing, endless fingerprints and finally, your Ukrainian
adoption dossier. Then, all of a sudden, you have nothing to do
but wait! Since the adoption process is so filled with emotion -
excitement, anxiety, worry, impatience…and so many more, it is
easy for this waiting period to make you crazy. But, there is a
lot you can do to make waiting for your adoption productive and
much less painless and insure that you will thank yourself for
what you did during this waiting period after your adoptive child
or children come home from Ukraine.

• Learn the adoptive child's language. In Ukraine, most children
available for adoption will speak Russian. Your ability to
communicate intimately with your adopted child from the first
moment you meet them will go a long ways to making an immediate
connection. Remember how overwhelming the adoption process if for
you and must be for them. Make it as easy as possible.

• Learn the language so you can understand your child's needs:
when are they hungry, thirty, tired, or need to go to the
bathroom?

• Speaking a bit of Russian will also help you bond with your
adopted child, by removing a major communication barrier.

• You will enjoy your time with your child more if you can
understand each other. It will reduce frustration.

• Bring a Russian/English dictionary with you so an older adopted
child can point to words you don't know.

• Learn the language to help you get around easier during your
stay in Ukraine.

• You don't need to be fluent. Memorize key phrases and if you
can learn the alphabet, you will be surprised that many words, if
you can sound them out, you will be able to guess the meaning as
they sound similar to English words.

• Each person learns differently. There are free and paid
programs on the internet, you can hire a tutor in person or on
Skype, or buy a book to follow. Just remember, anything you do is
much better than nothing.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

Ukrainian Adoption Firm: Part 3 What To Do When Waiting For Your Adoption - Prepare Your Family!

Prepare your immediate and expended family for the Adoption
journey and the addition of a newly adopted child:• Spend time
with your spouse and any existing children.• Discuss how
things may change when you bring home an adopted child or
children.• Speak about all their potential feelings and
concerns and make note of them so you will remember when you come
back with your adopted child to be as sensitive as you can to
them.• Make sure they understand that the initial few weeks
will be intense and busy.• Prepare friends and family for all
eventualities so their expectations are realistic: what if you
come home with a child that has a correctable condition like a
cleft pallet? What if you come home with an older child? What if
you cannot find a child that meets your needs? If you are
considering adopting a special needs child, be sure to let them
know. In all cases, you need their support.• Discuss with your
spouse what adoption information about you adopted child you will
share with your family and how you will deal with inevitable
questions about your adopted child's birth parents and history as
well as your adoption experience. Ask your adoption agency or
adoption facilitator for guidance.• Make sure everyone who
might contact you while you are in Ukraine for the adoption
realizes the time difference! You will need your sleep and will
not enjoy being woken at 2 in the morning. Ukraine is 5 hours
ahead of EST. Insist everyone set one clock to Ukrainian time!•

Read our articles on awkward questions for adoptive parents.
They can seem funny, but we guarantee you will hear most of them.
Share them with your spouse and children or even close family and
friends. Your family will learn a lot and grow close through this
process of sharing, and be ready with answers you all feel
comfortable with.• Prepare yourself to be overwhelmed when you
come home.• Ask friends and family to provide meals for the
first weeks.• Everyone close to you will want to rush over and
meet your new adopted child, make sure they understand that this
is a huge and overwhelming adjustment for your new arrival and
introductions will need to be made slowly and gradually and they
should not be offended. Explain that it will help them bond
better, not only with you, as adopted parents, but with all those
they meet.• Make sure you have a support system in place
before you come home. You will need to take naps. You will need a
break. Have someone close to step in and give you this time for
yourself.Adoption Services International unites loving US
families with Ukrainian children. We provide a unique combination
of western quality service (including a maximum guaranteed
adoption fee), personal adoption experience, affordable local
cost and 20 years Ukrainian experience. If you or someone you
know would like to welcome a child into their lives, as my
husband and I did, or just learn more about the Ukrainian
adoption program, Adoption Services International can
help.www.adoptionservicesinternational.cominfo@asi-adoption.com908-444-0999

Ukrainian Adoption Firm: What Parents Can Do While Waiting: Part 2: Fun Preparation for Adopting

Ukrainian Adoption Firm: What Adoptive Parents Can DO While
Waiting: Part 2: Super fun preparation for adopting a child:

• Prepare a bedroom for your new adopted child or children

• There may be a friend or someone at your church with a ton of
hand-me-down clothes you would love. Ask around and when you know
sizes, you can email them from Ukraine.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

What Adoptive Parents Can Do While Waiting For Your Ukrainian Adoption? Part 1

This is part 1 of a series. Enjoy!

The most valuable investment you as a parent can make for your
Ukrainian adoption:

• Learn the language so you can understand your child's needs:
when are they hungry, thirty, tired, or need to go to the
bathroom?

• Speaking a bit of Russian will also help you bond with your
adopted child, by removing a major communication barrier.

• You will enjoy your time with your child more if you can
understand each other. It will reduce frustration.

• Bring a Russian/English dictionary with you so an older adopted
child can point to words you don't know.

• Learn the language to help you get around easier during your
stay in Ukraine.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

Ukrainian Adoption Firm Provides Guaranteed Adoption Cost for Adoptions in Ukraine

Everyone has heard horror stories about international and
independently facilitated Ukrainian adoptions costing
significantly more than the adoptive parents anticipated and the
Ukrainian facilitator quoted. Whatever the explanation,
additional unplanned adoption expenses take advantage of adoptive
parents when they are most vulnerable. They have already chosen a
Ukrainian child and fallen in love. At this point in the
Ukrainian adoption process it is impossible for adoptive parents
to say, "No, we won't pay, it is over our agreed budget."The
adoption process anywhere as well as international adoption and
the Ukrainian adoption process can be one of the most emotional,
stressful and exciting experiences in the adoptive parents'
lives. Adoption Services International, a firm providing
independent Ukrainian adoption facilitation, assures parents
choosing Ukrainian adoption a guaranteed price for their
Ukrainian adoption. "At Adoption Services International, we want
to eliminate much of the uncertainty in the Ukrainian adoption
process and give parents adopting in Ukraine as much peace of
mind as possible. With Adoption Services International there will
be no "surprise" extra adoption expenses, hidden adoption fees or
unanticipated adoption costs. Any expense over Adoption Services
International's guaranteed cost is our responsibility to pay."
says owner Susan Kibler, "With our own employees in the Ukraine
since 1995, we are that confident in our Ukrainian adoption
abilities and know the costs of adoption in Ukraine extremely
well, we want to pass on that confidence in our Ukrainian
adoption process to adoptive parents considering adopting
internationally."This "not to exceed" adoption cost limit for
Ukrainian adoption is usually between $12,000 and $14,000
(depending on U.S. State fee and postage differences). It
includes all costs related to the Ukrainian adoption,
documentation, postage, filing fees, home study, Ukrainian
adoption court costs, translation and facilitation in Ukraine,
etc. - every cost related to your Ukrainian adoption down to
fingerprinting - including Ukrainian adoption costs both in the
U.S.A. and in Ukraine. It does not include discretionary spending
such as souvenirs, food, lodging and travel, which varies with
adoptive parents' expectations and requirements. "We help budget
for discretionary expenses based on family needs. Our experience
and contacts can often provide quality accommodations and travel
for reasonable prices." says Kibler.Adoption Services
International is a completely transparent independent Ukrainian
adoption firm offering Ukrainian adoption to parents throughout
the U.S. Their compensation structure consists of a set
professional service fee paid in stages throughout the Ukrainian
adoption process - not all in advance. Adoption Services
International offers parents a high quality of western support
and service throughout the Ukrainian adoption process, while at
the same time providing costs equal or less than those of
individually subcontracted Ukrainian facilitators, and the legal
security of the U.S. legal system. Adoption Services
International pays all costs above and beyond the guaranteed
adoption cost.Adoption Services International works closely with
adoptive families before, during and after the Ukrainian adoption
process. They handle all stages of the adoption process for
Ukraine, from preparing all your documents in the U.S. through
the time you bring your newly adopted Ukrainian child or children
back to your home.Contact Adoption Services International for
further information on costs, fees, timing and factors that
influence these areas, and how we can educate and help you
successfully adopt independently from Ukraine.908-444-0999

info@asi-adoption.comwww.adoptionservicesinternational.com

Friday, September 14, 2012

Washington DC Ukrainian Festival September 15 and 16, 2012

Come celebrate and join in the fun!

Doors Open Saturday at 12:00 noon.-dusk OPENING CEREMONIES at 1
pm

PROGRAM Includes:

ISKRA Dance Ensemble - from NYVASYL POPADIUK Violinist Virtuoso -
from Ottawa, CanadaCARPATHIA Dance Ensemble - from Washington
DCMOSAIC Ukrainian Band - from Toronto, CanadaSOLOMIA GOROKHIVSKA
Violinist - Soloist from Washington DCANDREI PIDKIVKA- Ukrainian
Panpipe from Washington DCSOLOMIA DUTKEWYCH Soloist- from
Washington DCTELNYUK SISTERS Soloists - from UkraineSPIV-ZHYTTYA
Vocal Group - from Washington DCKUPAVA Youth Dance Ensemble -
Washington DC

ACTIVITIES:

All-Day Concerts and Performances (Main Stage by the Lake)Market
Place (Ukrainian crafts, paintings, jewelry,
clothing,music/videos, books and much, much more)Activities for
Children (trampoline, moon bounce, play area,popcorn, cotton
candy, face painting, etc.)Ukrainian and American Food
Concessions -- Picnic Area by the LakeKozak Beer Garden -
featuring assorted Ukrainian Beers and LiquorsSep. 15, 8:30 pm
Ukrainian Zabava Dance - $10 admission + cash bar & food

Last year we welcomed thousands of people!!!

For Further Information

on Sponsorship, Advertising, or Vendors please Contact:

Office: (301) 384-9192Andree Filipov - (301) 622-0838

afilipov@verizon.net

Festival Address:15100 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD
20905

If you or someone you love is considering adoption, contact
Adoption Services International to find out more about the
relatively short waiting period and low cost of Ukrainian
Adoption.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

Twin Cities Ukrainian Heritage Festival Sunday, September 16, 2012

The Twin Cities Ukrainian Heritage Festival is held every year to
celebrate all things Ukrainian in our community and to
demonstrate Ukrainian-American contributions to community life in
the Twin Cities area and beyond. We invite all our
friends--Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian alike--to join us on this
fun, celebratory day!

The first Twin Cities Ukrainian Heritage Festival was held in
1999, and was organized under the initiative of Mr. Mykola
Mehyts. Since then it has been a dedicated group of volunteers
who have worked hard to keep the festival going and growing.

Each year at the festival there are carnival games and other
activities for children, Ukrainian food, an outdoor beer garden
with Ukrainian beer, and a live concert program both inside and
outside of the Ukrainian center. There is also a varenyky
(pierogi) eating competition and a competition for Festival
Royalty. The Festival Royalty receive pride of place on the
Ukrainian community float for the annual Northeast Parade,
Aquatennial Parade, and Columbia Heights parade each following
year! Also for the first time in 2011 the festival introduced the
Ukrainians Got Talent competition.

The festival concert program is a regular hit that both
represents the extraordinary talent that exists in our local
Ukrainian community as well as featuring Ukrainian performers
from outside our TC area.

In years past there have been guest performances by singers Ihor
Bohdan and Annychka, both from Lviv, Ukraine. Roma Vasylevych,
also from Lviv but now resident in the TC area, has regularly
performed at the festival. Like Ihor Bohdan, Roma holds the title
of ?????????? ?????? ??????? (Zasluzhenyj artyst Ukrajiny =
Honored Artist of Ukraine), the highest honor awarded to artists
by the Ukrainian state. Another native Ukrainian now resident in
our TC area who has performed at the festival is virtuoso concert
violinist Taras Umrysh. Ethnic Dance Theatre, an award-winning,
TC-area based professional folk dance ensemble has performed from
its Ukrainian repertiore at our festival and, of course, our own
TC-area Cheremosh Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble is a yearly hit!
Also, the Twin Cities-based Ukrainian Village Band (UVB) made its
debut at the festival in 2007.

All of this is in addition to the wide variety of excellent
performances by other members of our community!

Discover with us the richness of Ukrainian culture in our Twin
Cities area!

Put on your Ukrainian Shirt!Rally your Ukrainian Spirit!Join us
at the TC Ukrainian Heritage Festival!

If you or someone you love is considering adoption, contact
Adoption Services International to find out more about the
relatively short waiting period and low cost of Ukrainian
Adoption.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

Au Pair for Ukrainian Adopted Children is a Rich and Rewarding Childcare Solution

Many adoptive families look for ways of exposing their children
to their native culture and heritage. With an international Au
Pair your adopted children and your entire family can benefit.
The following article is by our guest writer Polina Kravets, the
music, sports, soccer, piano, and area Representative for Go Au
Pair in Philadelphia and New Jersey.

By Polina Kravets

Many adoptive parents have no access to their kid's culture and
learning about culture is hard, especially when you don't have
somebody from that culture to help you out. The international
nannies, Au Pairs may help parents learn their children's culture
and heritage.

An Au Pair program offers what other forms of child care can't:
it introduces and exposes adopted children to their birth culture
and gives them a sense of connection to their heritage and
cultural exchange. These benefits extend to the whole family. It
is why an Au Pair program can be the best childcare solution for
the adoptive families.

Go Au Pair agency recruits Au Pairs from over 60 different
countries including Ukraine, so families may find an Au Pair from
their adopted children's country. An Au Pair has knowledge of
their kid's birth culture and may teach the whole family.

Since an Au Pair is native speaker, she is able to maintain or
teach the children their native language. Simply singing songs
or telling the fairy- tales or stories are all great ways to
provide children with some exposure to their native culture. She
may teach kids about their heritage, celebrate holidays together,
have birth country dinner nights, teach birth country dances or
games, visit the library or book store and look at books from
their culture. The Au Pair also helps whole family broader
exposure to their children native lifestyles, food, customs and
culture.

Many adoptive families choose an Au Pair because of the nature of
this amazing program. The Au Pair brings to the kids her love,
long-term friendships and the heritage. An Au pair helps
children to not only discover their heritage, but also gives the
kids a foundation of pride of their culture. The culture of
child's country and heritage will definitely enrich the family
life.

My name is Polina, I am originally from Ukraine and came to the
USA in 2000. Since that I have been working as a translator for
an adoption service and as a counselor for an addiction facility.
Now I work as a Local Area Representative for Go Au Pair in the
Philadelphia and NJ area.

I am a certified counselor and I received my MBA from LaSalle
University. Some of my hobbies include reading, blogging,
traveling and volunteering in my community. Cultural interactions
have always been a passion of mine, which blends well with my
experience in teaching, counseling and working with people of all
ages, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds. My own
experiences of coming as a foreigner to the United States, as
well as being a parent, gives me great insight and understanding
into the Au Pair program.Assisting families with quality
childcare and helping young people from all over the world adjust
and have a positive experience are some of the few things that
make my job - a pleasure.

Adoption always was in my heart. I started volunteering and
helping orphans from the time when I visited a Ukrainian
orphanage and met kids for the first time. They stole my heart
and since then adoption has been a big part of my life. I truly
believe that adoption is a win-win situation for the child and
the adoptive family.

Polina KravetsLocal Area Representative Philadelphia & NJRead
my bloghttp://goaupairphiladelphia.wordpress.com/

pkravets@goaupair.com(215) 860 0595

Connect with Go Au Pairgoaupair.com1.888 AUPAIR.1 (888 287 2471)

http://www.goaupair.com/philadelphiahttp://www.facebook.com/goaupairhttp://goaupairphiladelphia.wordpress.com/

www.adoptionservicesinternational.cominfo@asi-adoption.com908-444-0999

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Our own adoption journeys.

This photo reminded me of my own adoption journey.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Collection of Ukrainian Socialist Realist Paintings to Go on View for First Time

A wonderful activity to share the culture of your adopted
Ukrainian child if you are in the NYC area.

Collection of Ukrainian Socialist Realist Paintings to Go on View
for First Timeat Ukrainian Institute of America September
14-October 7, 2012

An exhibition of more than 40 Soviet-era Ukrainian paintings from
the Collection of Jurii Maniichuk and Rose Brady will be
presented for the first time at the Ukrainian Institute of
America, 2 E. 79thSt., in New York City. These realist and
socialist realist paintings, spanning the 1950s-1980s, have never
been seen by the public since they were exhibited in Ukraine
during Soviet times. An opening reception will be held on
September 14, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Ukrainian Socialist Realismexplores the evolution of the official
art genre in the post-Stalin-period. The works range widely from
portraits and landscapes to factory and farm images to scenes
from daily life. A few illustrate historic events, such as
Mykhailo Khmelko's monumental 1961 work "Motherland Greets A
Hero" (15 feet x 7 feet), which depicts Nikita Khrushchev and a
crowd of well-wishers greeting cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin after his
first flight into space. The collection features leading painters
from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Kherson, and Mykholaiv,
including Serhiy Hryhoriev, Viktor Shatalin, Asgat Safargalin,
Yevdokia Boldyrieva, Yuri Zorko, Natalia Korobova, Vladimir
Kuznetsov, Mykhailo Weinstein, and many others.

Jurii Maniichuk assembled his collection, which includes over 140
paintings, while working in Kyiv in the mid-1990s. Born in 1955
in Lviv, Ukraine, Maniichuk graduated with a Ph.D. from Kyiv
State University and was a professor of law before emigrating in
the late 1980s. He became an American citizen in the early 1990s,
returning to Kyiv as a legal consultant to the government after
Ukraine attained its independence. Maniichuk collected official
Soviet art at a time of great economic uncertainty, when the
socialist realist style was discredited and artists were so short
of resources they painted new works over old canvases.

TheUkrainian Socialist Realismexhibition is in memory of
Maniichuk, who died unexpectedly while visiting Kyiv in 2009.
Since his death, the collection is owned and administered by his
wife, Rose Brady. Some 50 paintings from the Maniichuk-Brady
collection will be on view, on a rotating basis, on the fourth
floor of the Ukrainian Institute of America until 2018.

For more information, contact the Ukrainian Institute of America
at212-288-8660or emailprograms@ukrainianinstitute.orgor Rose
Brady at347-803-0026 or emailmaniichukbradycollection@gmail.com.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your mother told you to.~ Author Unknown (but I'm pretty darn sure she's a mom of teens)

2012 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

Each year, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption announces a
list of employers with the best adoption benefits in the nation.

Rankings are based on the maximum amount of financial
reimbursement and paid leave for employees who adopt. Honorees
include the top 100, the top 10 by size and the top five in each
industry.

To register for the list, complete our adoption benefits survey
during the call for entries time period. To propose or establish
adoption benefits, order our free toolkit.

America's Top 10

1. The Wendy's Company2. Ferring Pharmaceuticals3.RBS Citizens
Financial Group4.HanesBrands5.Barilla America, Inc.6.Liquidnet
Holdings, Inc. (tie)6. LSI Corporation(tie)6.UBM(tie)9.Boston
Scientific10.Bloomberg(tie)10. Putnam Investments (tie)

See detailed lists of the nation'stop 100, leaders by sizeand
industry.

www.adoptionservicesinternational.com

info@asi-adoption.com

908-444-0999

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Celebrating the Culture of Your Adopted Child

14 Ways to Focus on Culture: Adopted Children and Their Roots

By Carrie Craft, About.com Guide

Take time to get to know all about your adopted or foster child's
homeland and culture. Celebrate and embrace the differences in
your family.

Here are some ideas to help you get started on this wonderful
growing experience.

1. One day a month, have a special dinner that would be a
traditional meal in your child's home country. Check out these
resources:

• Ya Tibya Lublu: Recipes of Love for Orphans of Eastern Europe•
Fun Things to Do With Children's Adoption Books

2. Seek out and celebrate holidays that are significant to
his/her culture. For example, in Russia May 9th is Victory Day
which is very similar to our Veteran's Day.

3. Learn a new language! Growing up I had a friend who was
Polish. His family had a rule that while at home only Polish was
spoken. This was one of the ways his family was able to keep
their culture alive. There are many videos to help kids learn
languages and make it fun as well as games, books, and
flashcards. Don't know how to get started?

• Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Bilingual Children

4. Display maps of the country in his/her rooms or their
country's flag. How about a collection of dolls in traditional
dress? Art? Make culture something they see every day.

5. Learn through a neat Web site called Multicultural Education
Through Miniatures. Here you will find pictures of dolls dressed
traditionally, stories to go with the dolls and will learn how
the dolls were made.

6. Game night! Play games from his/her country. Great for family
bonding and a wonderful way to learn.

7. Create crafts that are symbols of home. At Christmas time try
this book - Christmas Crafts from around the World - reviewed by
the Family Crafts Guide.

8. Read bedtime stories that are folk tales common to their area.
Try these stories -Cultural Bedtime Stories for Interracial
Adoptive/Foster Families

9. Our daughter always enjoyed singing before bedtime. Her
favorites were Old McDonald or songs from Sunday school. Consider
learning a song or two that is popular for children to sing from
their country. Play music that is popular in his/her country
during nap or quiet times.

10. Lean about animals from his/her country. Make a picture book
for the child. If the child is old enough he/she could create
their own books. Cut out pictures or draw your own.

11. Make a book about his/her country. You could include a
picture of the flag, map of the country, picture of the leaders,
or common animals.

12. Join a group of adoptive families who have adopted from your
child's country as well.

13. Visit museums and libraries to learn more about your child's
birth country.

14. Plan a family vacation back to your child's homeland. Read
about Madhu's trip back home to India with his adoptive mom.

Some of my suggestions from my experiences with my son and other
children adopted from Ukraine:

1. Buy a national team football jersey. Alex is so proud of his,
he wears it every time it is cleaned. My husband and I also have
Ukrainian shirts and we like to all wear them together when we go
out to an activity together.

2. Get a little Ukrainian flag or symbol for the back of your
car. Alex points out every car he sees with such a sticker with
such excitement and pride. (www.yevshan.com)

3. We have Russian TV with some Ukrainian channels we enjoy
watching together. We have kept up his Russian language. Luckily,
I am fluent, and we also go to Russian camp each Saturday.

4. We watch and cheer for all the Ukrainians at sporting events
and had a blast during the Olympics.

5. We have rented TV shows on food and things to do in Ukraine.
He loves them.

6. We have done Ukrainian crafts like Pysanka, Gerdany, Ceramics,
etc. They make proud keepsakes.

7. There are adoptive family get-togethers throughout the
country. We attended one at Soyuzivka in the Catskills in NY.
Wonderful opportunity to share adoption stories and let the kids
just play. Check with the Embassy or Consulate closest to you
from your child's native country.

8. My husband loves international music and Alex adores watching
music videos for traditional Russian and Ukrainian folk songs.
They are very entertaining!

Enjoy and celebrate your child's heritage!

www.adoptionservicesinternational.cominfo@asi-adoption.com908-444-0999

Monday, September 10, 2012

Motherhood is not for the faint-hearted!

Motherhood is not for the faint-hearted. Frogs, skinned knees, and the insults of teenage girls are not meant for the wimpy.~ Danielle Steel

Thank you Dawn at Creating a Family!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

How A Certified Coach Can Assist Parents In Navigating The Adoption Process

Support is essential when you adopt, both for parents and your
new adopted child or children. Adoption is a major change for
parents, adopted children and any children already in the family.
I recommend to all parents they have an objective advisor to
offer non-judgmental support.

I am thrilled to have a guest author on our web site today. Kathy
Vervan Bugglin is an Adoptee Coach specializing in working with
adopting parents (before, during and after adoption) and adopted
children. Kathy provides a confidential and safe opportunity to
explore issues and concerns. Kathy helps individuals and families
in a group or individual setting focus on how to work through
issues and concerns and move forward.

Enjoy! - Susan Kibler

By Kathy Vervan Bugglin, CPC, ELI-MP

The adoption process brings a wave of thoughts and emotions for
all involved. As a parent seeking to adopt, how often are you
focused on the experience and enjoying each moment of the process
vs. being focused and worried about the process?

The benefits of working with a certified coach are vast. One of
the most important aspects is the confidential and safe
environment that is provided so that parents can explore their
concerns and fears. Each parent chooses the agenda, what it is
that they desire to move forward through and the coach focus' in
on that agenda as well as what their intuition is calling forth
based on their expertise and training.

Coaches are engaged in the process of assisting parents to
release any negative emotions or energy surrounding the adoption
process. Also, coaching allows parents to focus on the "how" of
the situations instead of the "why" which transpires into moving
through the process with grace and ease. When parents work with
a certified coach they can be confident that the coach is
objective and non-judgmental which provides the comfort for all
involved to be open and honest about their fears and struggles.

When siblings are involved in the process additional thoughts and
emotions come into play. Ensuring open and clear communications
are another way in which hiring a coach can be beneficial.

Discoveries during this time can ensure trusting and secure
relationships between all members of the family now and in the
future.

Parents have the ability to come from a place of confidence and
peace with all the choices before them. Adopting a child or
children should be a fun and memorable time for all involved. A
time filled with excitement, opportunity and most importantly
love.

Coaches' partner with their clients encouraging them to use their
thoughts and emotions to foster positive action plans.

If a coaching relationship interests you, please contact me,
Kathy Vervan Bugglin
atwww.TheAdopteeCoach.com,Kathy@TheAdopteeCoach.comor (908)
797-4893. I have various programs available or can customize one
specifically for your needs.

If you are considering adoption and would like to learn more
about our supportive independent Ukrainian adoption, please
contact us at Adoption Services International at:

www.adoptionservicesinternational.cominfo@asi-adoption.com908-444-0999

Friday, September 28, 2012

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Friday, September 14, 2012

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Monday, September 10, 2012

Motherhood is not for the faint-hearted. Frogs, skinned knees, and the insults of teenage girls are not meant for the wimpy.~ Danielle SteelThank you Dawn at Creating a Family!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Motherhood is not for the faint-hearted. Frogs, skinned knees, and the insults of teenage girls are not meant for the wimpy.~ Danielle Steel

Thank you Dawn at Creating a Family!