The title of this is strange... Jeri is adoptive mom, not foster mom. Great letter and pictures Jeri. I adopted my darling daughter from Ukraine in 2000. The JCICS press release mentions that 900 out of 5760 children adopted from Ukraine don't have annual reports filed. This is 16%. http://www.jcics.org/Ukraine%20Press%20Release_Feb06.pdf Maybe it is 16% of the children but only 10% of adoptive families. Many families have adopted 2 children.

Alex and his adoptive mother Jeri were kind enough to invite me to their home for a Ukrainian Christmas celebration when we were taking the steps toward becoming parents. Alex was the very first child that I met from Ukraine and it was his sweet smile that kept us encouraged through the process. In April 2002, we adopted a little boy named Alexsei from Pryluky. He has a bilateral cleft lip/palate and he is our little miracle. Parents, if you haven't done so, please file your reports!

We adopted our son in Feb. 01, though we, by the new Ukrainian Law do not have to do our annual report every year-only every 3 years, we choose to send one to NY every year. Please, those of you who have not filed, do. You signed and said under oath that you would.

It's nice to see they fixed the title.

It’s too bad that a few selfish people are causing the rest of the potential adoptive parents in the U.S. grief. International adoption is a stressful enough thing to go through, I feel terrible for Americans and I am glad to be a Canadian.

There are many many children in the Ukrainian care system, many more than Ukraine can take care of now. Every month a child spends in an orphanage, his brain is damaged more and more because of no maternal care. Please Ukraine, if you cannot take care of the children, it is not a shame, let them have warm and loving families abroad, who will teach them the pride of their origins but also give them good living conditions and LOVE them more than their birth parents did.

I hope adoption from Ukraine will soon be made possible again : lots of kids are longing for a warm and loving family. I hope those who have a role to play in the decision-making process will remember how wonderful it was for them to grow up among people who loved them so much !

Just a little word to support you and your action. Don't close adoption in UKraine. please. Children need Love.

Good action! Don't close adoption in Ukraine. Votre enfant est magnifique!

Merci pour ce bel article et ces magnifiques photos! Nos enfants portent avec eux l'héritage ukrainien et viennent enrichir notre culture et non pas effacer leur culture quand ils rentrent dans nos vies et dans nos coeurs. Tous les enfants ont besoins d'un foyer pour grandir harmonieusement, ne fermer pas l'adoption en Ukraine! Marie-Joëlle

Dans l'intêret des enfants qui attendent en Ukraine et ailleurs une famille pour apprendre à grandir, à construire leur avenir, je vous transmets tout mon soutien.

Bravo pour votre action. Avec tout notre soutien

Bravo ! Quelle belle preuve d'amour! Que tous ces enfants d'Ukraine qui attendent l'amour n'en soient pas privés...Il faut que l'adoption internationale soit rouverte en Ukraine. Avec tout notre soutien !!!

Juste un petit mot pour vous dire: ne fermez pas vos portes.Vos enfants ont droit au bonheur.je suis tellement heureuse d'etre d'etre devenue maman grace à l'adoption. Mon fils chante chaque matin à son reveil.Nous n'oublierons jamais son pays d'origine. SVP, laissez une chance aux enfants qui attendent desesperement une famille. Bravo pour votre article. Avec mon soutien.

Mes deux enfants viennent d'Ukraine et je ne pourrais pas les aimer plus si je les avais faits moi-même. Je serai éternellement reconnaissante à l'Ukraine de m'avoir permis de les adopter et d'avoir installé un sourire sur leurs petits visages qui étaient si tristes lorsque je les ai rencontrés.

Bravo pour cet article, et nous espérons du fond du coeur que l'Ukraine va réouvrir ses portes à l'adoption internationale, car il y a tant d'enfants qui attendent une famille. Nous sommes dans cette attente, et croyez bien que nous ne demandons qu'une chose, c'est de faire le bonheur d'un enfant Ukrainien, de le choyer, de l'aimer et lui donner une famille.

Notre petit garçon adoptif Nikolas est tellement heureux qu'il fait la joie tout autour de lui. Il est fier de présenter son papa et sa maman à chaque nouvelle tête. Il grandit et s'épanouit tous les jours. Nous sommes tellement triste de savoir que trop d'enfants n'ont pas de parents présents immédiatement pour les soigner, les consoler et les faires rires. L'adoption c'est la naissance d'une famille tellement désirée. Pourquoi privé ce

Mon petit Vladimir est arrivé en France à l'age de 8 ans! Il souhaite tellement un petit frère ou une petite soeur, et ne comprends pas les problemes actuels! Continuez votre action pour aider tous ces enfants à trouver une famille!! Veronique

We have adopted a 5 yo boy in ukraine in 2003 and are waiting to adopt a sister for him. He has been waiting since Sept05 for the NAC to accept new dossiers and give us an appointment. We have fulfilled all requirements. Our son has terrible delays but is healing here in Europe, so WHY not accept new applications from trustworthy families ? Liliana

Le bonheur de nos deux fils, arrivés en France grâce à l'adoption internationale est le notre. Ne fermez pas les portes de l'adoption internationale, n'interdisez pas à tous les enfants en attente dans les orphelinat le droit à une famille et à un avenir meilleur. MBravo pour votre article. Marie-Laurence

nous vous soutenons --- courage ne fermez pas l'adoption internationale

Quel beau petit garçon ! Je souhaite de tout coeur que ce qu'il se passe en Roumanie ne se répende pas partout en Europe de l'Est. Depuis le décés de Lou, notre fille unique, seule l'adoption pouvait nous permettre de lui donner un petit frère et c'est chose faite depuis 3 mois. Nous avons retrouvé le gout à la vie grace à Yoan qui vient de Russie. Ceux qui pensent que l'adoption internationale est un commerce ne savent pas de quoi ils parlent. Il ne

Bravo pour action et votre ténacité. Il faut tous continuer à se battre pour l'adoption internationale et permettre aux enfants qui attendent dans les orphelinats de trouver enfin la stabilité et un avenir dans une famille

We adopted our son Jackson in July 2004. I am saddened by the current state of adoption in Ukraine for Americans because of some miss filings. We are still planning on adopting either a brother or sister for Jackson as we all want this very much. Jackson is a delight to all that meet him and has been a tremendous blessing in our lives and we could not imagine him not being with us. We are also in constant contact with our Ukrainian friends. We intend to complete our 2nd adoption in 2006.

We adopted our little boy in Russia. We are now in the process of adopting a second child but international adoption is now living very difficult days. Do not stop international adoption. The children need a chance to have a family to be loved, cared, educated, to be able to have control of their future life, to have choices, to be self confident. It is so wonderul to see our son every day, waking up with a large smile, kissing us, going to school, discovering things, having a real child life.

Bravo pour ce magnifique article. Nous sommes les heureux parents d'un petit prince Ukrainien, qui fait le bonheur de toute la famille. Nos enfants s'adorent et se le disent tous les jours. Ne fermez pas l'adoption internationale en Ukraine, tant d'autres enfants méritent le même bonheur !!

I am in a process of adoption as a single, and I support your action and your fight. Children need love and more than that, but they need a family, a real family, even if this family is not his blood family. Courage. Chance.

Nous sommes en cours d'adoption en Russie. Votre t?moignage sonne profond?ment juste, je souhaite tr?s vivement qu'il aide ? promouvoir et ? d?fendre l'adoption internationale, notamment en Ukraine et en Russie. C'est vraiment une chose magnifique, ces enfants qui renaissent et s'?panouissent dans leur nouvelle vie en famille !

Nous vous soutenons. Courage

Nous sommes en attente d'une adoption en Ukraine et nous constatons que tout le monde se mobilise et c'est tant mieux! Il faut continuer pour que l'Ukraine ne ferme pas et pour que tous ces enfants aient la chance de connaître une famille.

Nous avons eu la chance que notre dossier soit enregistré avant la fermeture du NAC et espérons pouvoir bientôt rencontrer notre petit prince ukrainien. Il faut se mobiliser pour l'amour des enfants. Il faut que l'Ukraine et tous les autres pays rouvrent à l'adoption internationale pour le bien être des enfants avant tout.

Nous attendons anxieusement d'être parents de peur que l'adoption International ne se ferme, nous espérons un jour retrouver le sourire dans notre coeur en acceuillant un enfant qui à le droit d'avoir une famille. Nous vous soutenons dans votre action. France

the ukrainian government is trying to establish family type homes for ukrainian children now in big orphanages.This is a great idea. but how many children can it help really? At 18 years old, they are thrown out on the streets, 75% have no jobs, 25% will steal, 50% of the girls will be prostitutes. So why not let them be adopted in loving waiting families in Europe or the USA? They will have a brillant future and will later work to help Ukraine from their new country. Anna

There will always be those who do not honor their commitments. That is human nature. The majority do. We adopted our Romani son from one of the poorest orphanages in Ukraine in Oct 2000. We too have made contact with his birth family and try and help. At times our reports have been late, but we have sent each one that was required. Certainly it is worth the risk of a few missed reports for the majority who find loving homes, is it not? We KNOW what happens to those children left behind.

Avant tout on ne peut que remarquer à quel point cet enfant à l'air choyé et heureux.. Il faut permettre de continuer pour rendre à des enfants et à des familles le même regard...Il est malheureux que certains rapports ne soient pas rendu mais il est terrible de penaliser ces enfants pour la négligence de quelques personnes...

Tout mon soutien pour que ces enfants puissent avoir comme le vôtre une famille et autant d'amour.

Hey Everyone, please go to the forum and find the thread started for Caring for Orphans and International Adoption. It will be a great place to keep all of these discussions together.

We're ready and waiting to submit our dossier to adopt 2 children from Ukraine. Because we are American, those two kids are being deprived of a family. Let's focus on the future and put more emphasis on providing a family to these kids who are being punished for the irresponsibility of others, again. Sue Barber

I really hope the Ukraine allows many children to be adopted. There are so many wonderful kids waiting, so many great homes and people who will cherish them. We are so excited now that we have decided to adopt. We will do everything we can to make a happy, healthy fullfilling life for them. We will celebrate their heritage and teach them to respect it. We would be honored to adopt from Ukraine! One of the greatest joys in life is to be part of a family. I wish that for every child!

We adopted our son from Donetsk region in 2003. While he was already a pretty remarkable child, he has only gotten better. I wished I could have taken home with us all the children in his groupa, because they all wanted families so badly. Please do not punish the children and those families who want to adopt because of a few irresponsible people who do not honor their commitments. It is the children who suffer, not those who do not honor their commitments. Consider what is more important.

We adopted a sweet, shy 2 year old girl last year from the baby orphanage in Kyiv. We will always make sure that she understands the history of her great country. We just sent in our first annual report. We hope Ukraine will begin to accept dossiers from American families when the ministry opens the news center in May. Our daughter is thriving in her new life, and she will know Ukraine as well. Please, let's help the children who still need families. They are waiting.

Beaucoup de courage à vous pour la suite

My heart aches for the day I will be allowed to bring home my Ukrainian son. He is over 10 and so falls into the catagory allowed at the moment. BUT two sisters are not 10. So, all three sit in an orphanage and wait - as we have waited - hoping the new ministry will allow us to bring them home. Please Ukraine, don't make all the children wait until they are 10 to be adopted.

Bravo pour ce que vous écrivez. Votre fils est magnifique et on comprend que vous aimez ce pays. Souhaitons que de nombreux enfants puissent avoir la chance de vivre la même chose que votre fils.

we adopted a wonderful girl from Ukraine in Feb 06. We will always have part of our hearts there forever now. We love Ukrainians and we ache for the kids who age out of the orphanages and foster homes there and are sucked into the wirlpool of drugs and prostitution. Continue to allow these kids to be adopted and loved. Ukraine statistics show 66% of girls are involved with porn or prostitution within 3 yrs of leaving orphanages. 75% of boys have been arrested at least once within 3 yrs.

DON'T GIVE YOUR CHILDREN ASSHOLLES SPEND MONEY ON YOUR CHILDREN INSTED ON ANTIRUUSSIAN PROGPAGANDA

DON'T GIVE YOUR CHILDREN ASSHOLLES SPEND MONEY ON YOUR CHILDREN INSTED ON ANTIRUUSSIAN PROGPAGANDA

TURKS USED TO SEND CHILDREN FROM BALKAN {SLAV ORTHODOXS}TO TURKEY WHAT DIFFERENS IS BETWEEN THIS ANGLOSAXON AND TURKS IS???????????????????????

On March 24, 06 we brought home Nikolai, our 13 year old Ukrainian son. He is warm, sweet, funny and smart. I can't imagine life without him. We were fortunate that our hearts' desire conformed to the government's age requirements. I pray that soon all children will have the opportunity Nikolai was offered. The director at his internat told us that the adoption was like "winning the lottery". I can only say that Nikolai is truly one in a million and WE are the lucky ones.

Ukraine is one of my favorite countries because they gave me my son in 2002. He is the most kindhearted, loving, and affectionate child I know. These are true Ukrainian traits as it matches the people we met while there. I pray Ukraine will continue adoptions to families outside their country so others can feel so proud of their child. His heritage is of an utmost importance to us. He knows where he was born and from whence he came. I can't imagine life without him. He was truly chosen!

We are waiting to adopt from Ukraine. We hope to bring our little Ukrainian angel home soon. We have waited for God to give us a sign and that was when we found the option to adopt in Ukraine. We have redone many documents that have since lapsed our first dossier. We will do whatever it takes to bring our child home. We can wait and do the work, but what breaks my heart most is that children are waiting to come home...

We have adopted twice from Ukraine. First in 2000 and again in 2003. We have 2 beautiful Ukrainian sons and we feel honored and blessed to be their parents. Thank you to Ukraine for allowing us to adopt these wonderful boys. We had 2 great adoption trips and love Ukriane and want our boys to love and know their country and heritage. It is our dream to see Ukraine open again for US citizens to adopt. We met many wonderful children who need the love and nurture of a family.

We adopted our son a few years ago, and we have been waiting to adopt again for two years. If Ukraine does not open up soon, we will have to redo our homestudy for the third time. This is very expensive, and this is money we will not have to spend on our childrens well being, but on unnecessary paperwork that has not changed from the first time we did it over 2 years ago. Please help us, please open back up and give us a chance to give our son his new sibling.

My whole life there was a special place in my heart for a little boy, and after giving birth to three wonderful girls, Ukraine was gracious enough to allow us to adopt the most precious, kind, and happy boy in the whole world. We love him and will always be grateful to Ukraine for freeing him from the lonely sadness of the orphanage. Please reopen adoption for Americans; the children are waiting for their forever families. Adoptive parents, please file your annual reports for their sakes!

I am an American whose father was 100% Ukrainian and have many relatives living in the Ukraine. I pray that the Ukraine understands that all children need love, and there are many peopel like myself, with so much love to give and a home to offer. I hope the Ukraine has a system where those children that don't get adopted can go to a two-year trade school to help the Ukrainian economy grow. I can't wait to visit my homeland and pray for Ukraine to accept new dossiers very soon.

We sent our dossier to the Ukraine in December 2004. We were finally registered in July 2005 and are still waiting for an appointment to adopt 2 children. We have paid for our medical certificates 3 times over already and for all the other documents 2 times. We do this because we want to be parents to these children so much. PLEASE issue appointments for the end of May and June for us and families like us. Don't make us and THE CHILDREN WAIT anymore!

We began working on our Ukrainian dossier in January 2005, and have spent almost $5000US just on paperwork so far. We have family history in Ukraine, and want nothing more than to share this heritage with an adopted daughter. Please, please begin accepting dossiers from American families again-- there are so many dedicated parents out here that are waiting for years and spending so many thousands of dollars to give Ukrainian children loving homes while respecting their heritage!

We were very sad to hear of the closing of adoptions for the US. We decided that Ukraine was the country we wanted to adopt our child from after meeting several families at a gathering. The children were so beautiful, happy and full of life. We started our paperwork in 04, when a major stroke paralyzed my husband's father. We did not get our paperwork in until Sept. 05, and missed the cutoff by a few weeks. We have been married for 12 years and it has become our dream to adopt from Ukraine.

My husband and I came to Ukraine to help disadvantaged children (orginally those of the streets, but this has now expanded). We are trying to foster here and have just been turned down. All you people are waiting to adopt, we have just had it suggested that we adopt. My husband is nearly 60 and I am just a few years behind, so are much too old as the children suggested were about 3 years old. There is no sense in this as I have heard of many others like yourselves. Please don't give up.

Please take a look at this picture slide of children after adoption. It is more than annual reports, it is love and family. http://www.onegottesfamily.blogspot.com/ This was put together and will be presented to the officials from both DC and NY embassies at this weekend's Adoptive Family event at the Ukraine resort in the Catskills. (Soyuzivka)

I believe Ukraine should cut off all foreign adoptions... and provide support to Ukrainian families so they can afford to adopt the children. Off course, the children should be allowed to live with parents in stable homes, and Ukraine must do that first, before stopping foreign adoptions. I know foreign parents are 'proud' of their child's heritage, but this doesn't translate into anything important. The children do not speak their native language, and end up with no connection to Ukraine. Ukraine is already depopulating...this trend must not continue. I have made a study of people learning the Russian language (and I believe it applies to Ukrainian as well)...I applaud the fact that adoptive parents are among those who 'try' to learn Russian. But they are not among those who succeed. Ties to Russia are always severed by an adoption. Always. Always. Writes us again in a few years...time passes, concerns change.

my last post was partly confused...I have made a study of Russian and Russia, language learning by foreignors...and I believe it applies to Ukraine too. Foreign learners of Russian, include foreign spouses of native Russian speakers, parents of adopted Russian children, students, intending immigrants, etc. So, let me say, of these groups, parents of adopted children, while an identifiable group of 'learners'...the rate of success is 0%. That's not a type, I've never met a single one that learned Russian. spouses of native Russian speakers, about 1% success rate. students about 20% success rate. more than 50%, would include people who need it to work, or who have moved to Russia. I know lots of children adopted by Americans...they speak english, 100%, and are 100% american, and have some small pride in their heritage, although they don't even visit Ukraine, and are more concerned about whether to go to Padre Island or Bahamas for spring break. truth.

Robert I am not sure that that stereotype holds for all [parents. I have my reservations about international adoption also... Manly because of the abuse that some children can get into. yes I agree children are best in their maternal and cultural home. But I must admit that reading many of the above posts does demonstrate that many of the adoptive parents are supportive and caring of the children that have the privilege to adopt. Having worked with Ukrainian children in a voluntary capacity over the years I greatly value Ukrainian/Slavic culture which I consider to be more rich then my own culture although at times they are intertwined. I agree with many of the comments above I think lodging annual reports and remaining in contact with the Ukrainian authorities is a very good way to develop understanding and better education both for the sake of Ukraine and the adoptive parents.

Min you I susposed we only hear of the successful adoptions, which is encouraging, as these parenebts truly understand and value the gft they have been nestowed and taken responibility for. The network of adoptive parents support groups are a postive contribution to all communities be they located in one country or co-exist across the world. Sadly we only hear about the cases that do not go as well for what ever reason, lack of understanding, community support or parenting skills when things go terribly wrong. I think puting a statistic such as 16% or 10% is not the correct way to address the problem. International/inter cultural adoption takes on an etxra level of responsibility. Any effort on behalf of the adoptive family to encourage and learn more about the adopted childs culture is to be encouraged as is family reunification. I am pleased also to read more uis bing done to encoiurage adoption back in Russia and Ukraine as the economic circumstances allow.

False reports and stereotyping does not help or assist either the adoption agency, child or parents. I believe also that would be parents should first consider adoption at home within their own community and preference should be given to international adoption when one of the adoptive parents is from a similar background or culture to the child they adopt. My comment above in all honesty is a generalisation and of course there are always exceptions to the rules. In the end it is what is best for the child. It is up to the authorities in both the birth country and the adoptive country to provide as much support as is humanly possible without having to resort to lies and misinformation. A strong community support network such as demonstrated above is essential in any adoptive/foster parent situation.