Ukraine is The 5th Most Popular Source of International Adoptions by US Families

According to the U.S. Department of State, Ukraine is now the
5thmost popular international source of adoptions by U.S.
families after China, Ethiopia, Russia, and South Korea. It
claimed that position in 2010 displacing Guatemala.
Interestingly, Guatemala was the #1 source of internationally
adopted children into the US in 2008. Currently, the U.S. State
Department is not processing adoptions from Guatemala at all. The
Guatemala program was halted over concerns of corruption and
major irregularities. Vietnam has also been closed by the US
Department of State.

Changes in Ukrainian Adoption Laws:

Many have expected a sharp drop in adoptions in the Ukraine since
Ukraine changed the age of an adopted child available for
international adoption without special needs to 5 years of age
and older towards the end of 2011. In speaking with Olga
Ivanchenko, Vice Consul at the Consulate General of Ukraine in
New York City in charge of adoption and citizenship, she states
that the level of dossier submissions from perspective
international adoptive parents has remained stable.

Reasons for Continued Interest in Ukraine as a Source of
International Adoptions:

I believe there are several reasons for this.

First, the age limit for adoptive parents was removed. Now
parents of any age may adopt in Ukraine and there is no upper
limit.

Secondly, parents may still adopt a healthy child under five
years of age from Ukraine if a sibling is also adopted who is 5
or older. This exemption is encouraging more and more U.S.
families to adopt siblings. I think this is great for the
families and for the adopted children - maintaining the family
bonds.

Finally, problems and changes with other popular programs such as
China (where the wait for healthy children is over 5 years) and
Russia (that has added significant hurdles and costs) will
encourage parents to look for other sources of adoptable children
like the Ukrainian adoption program. This is visible in the huge
drop in adoptions in these countries in 2011. Closing Vietnam and
Guatemala will also play a role.

Check
outhttp://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/adoptionstatsintl.htmla
great private site that has compiled adoption statistics from
around the world. Hopefully, many families that were focusing
their considerations on Russia and China will look to Ukraine.

It is also interesting that the number of girls and boys adopted
from Ukraine is almost exactly equal, while there are more boys
available for adoption.

With 24,000 children available for international adoption in
Ukraine, there is great opportunity for the program to grow in
the future.

Below you will find the year on year adoption statistics for U.S.
adoptions from Ukraine.

UkraineYearly Adoptions

2011

640

2010

450

2009

610

2008

490

2007

613

2006

463

2005

824

2004

794

2003

692

2002

1094

2001

1240

2000

658

1999

321

If you or someone you know is considering adoption and would like
to learn more. Please check out our website
atwww.adoptionservicesinternational.comby email
atinfo@asi-adoption.comor by phone at 908-444-0999.

We would love to help you!