Ukrainian adoptions are different from many other countries in the world. There is a lot less "certainty" in a Ukrainian adoption, but they do have a lot of "pros." We don't know what ages, or even for certain what genders our children will be. We have a general idea of what we'd like, of course, but we won't know for sure until we go. In a Ukrainian adoption, the adoptive parents don't know who they are coming home with until they actually travel and meet the children first. It is illegal in Ukraine to adopt a previously identified orphan. That means, nobody sends us a picture in the mail months beforehand for us to say, "Yes, we'll take them," or "No thanks." We will get to see the children for ourselves in the orphanage(s) before we make that commitment. This might scare some away from Ukraine - especially if you want to have the nursery all decorated before you travel, but we really like the process. We love that we get to interact and judge language, social and emotional behavior, and health in person rather than depend on a ten minute video or a small photo that might be received adopting from a different country. (I'm convinced that ANY child can be well-behaved for ten minutes! I want to see them and talk to them and play with them, and THEN decide if they are "ours.") If we were adopting an infant, it would be easier to accept a photograph referral, but since we're going for children a bit older than that, we think it is important to really "see" who we're getting first. The risk for emotional/psychological problems is a lot greater with an older child.

Another unique thing about Ukraine is that we can go without the help of an adoption agency. The might sound scary, but all it does is change who gets our money. We don't have to pay an agency to do the work that WE are going to have to do anyway. Once we arrive in Ukraine, their law says we are not allowed to use an agency anyhow. Any US agency who would help us, would also have to find an interpretor/facilitator for us while in UA. The difference is, WE are doing so ourselves instead of paying an agency 10-15,000 bucks to do it for us. If we used an agency, our adoption for two children could easily run us $35,000+. Ours for two children will be between $18-25,000. We are using Cathy Harris as our US facilitator, though there are several good ones out there. We chose her because we think there is safety in numbers, (she has helped more families adopt than any other facilitator out there). Also, we have personally known people who have used her and recommened her, and people who didn't and wished they had. Cathy isn't a social worker or adoption agency. She is an adoptive mother who knows the ins and outs of adopting from Ukraine "independently" (as in, without an agency.) She is an invaluable resource and we are so blessed to have found her. Cathy helps us with our required paperwork and requirements stateside, and she also arranges for our interpretors in UA. (The interpretors then arrange for our lodging, travel, meals, and doing all the footwork with the UA side of our adoption.) They will be our eyes and ears while we are there. Probably the BEST thing about using Cathy is her online support. The families she has helped adopt have formed a private discussion board and website with a GOLD MINE of information and support.

Once we get to Ukraine, we will go to the National Adoption Center in Kyiv. There, we will be shown pictures of children and will receive a referral. Depending on when this appointment is, we will then go to the orphanage of the referred children. If for some reason, we don't feel comfortable with choosing these child/ren, we go back to the National Adoption Center for another referral. (We're really praying that we will find our children right away. The more times we go back and forth to the NAC, the longer our trip will be, and the more expensive it will be.)

After our court hearing declaring the child/ren ours, we then go back to the Embassy in Kyiv to finish up the visas for the kids, etc. Then, we fly home! Our adoption will be final before we ever get home, and our child/ren will be U.S. citizens as soon as their feet touch U.S. soil. No post-placement visits are required months after our trip, it will all be official by the time we get home.