IS YOUR WIFE THE SAME ONCE IN THE USA???

[MichelleandCraig 1]

I'm sure plenty of men would be in the crowd for those doing the burning....I don't think they would even need us..hahahahahahaha.

[pj1959us 0]

I wanna be in too. but I can't burn anything..I NEED that puppy!!!!

Not even for a s'more???!!!!

[Leafgal 3]

Oh I know your right there lol

BTW great hijacking job ladies

[MichelleandCraig 1]

hahahahah not even for a s'more!!! but hey thanks..I want one now!!

[Ken and Inna 0]

If you know so much why ask? I actually do the homework and do not create illusions in my head based off what I think I know. http://www.giftoflove.org/ukraine_program.htm

Ukraine Adoption Program and Ukraine Adoption Services

Ukraine is an independent country bordered on the east by Russia, on the south by the Black sea, on the north by Belarus and on the west by Romania, Hungary and Poland. The capital of Ukraine is Kiev where our adoption program is headquartered. International adoptions have been taking place in Ukraine since 1992. Following changes to its adoption laws, Ukraine has been open to international adoption, continuously, since 1997.

Some important points about adopting from Ukraine

The Gift of Love staff will work closely with you to complete the home study, CIS filing and international dossier. We will assist you with general oversight of all stages of the process, general education, as well as the extensive post-adoption report process upon your return home with you child(ren), which is required every year until the child reaches the age of 18.

According to the Ukrainian adoption law, adoptive parents must be generally healthy and financially secure. Although there is no specific minimum or maximum age, the Ukrainian officials believe that it is in the best interest of the child to have parents no less than 15 years older than the child to be adopted and are no more than 60 years old at the time of the adoption.

International Procedures

In international adoption it is very difficult to predict a specific timeframe for your adoption. Although the paperwork and procedures for adoptions from Ukraine are the same for each family, the timeframe does vary, as each family’s circumstances are unique.

Families dossiers are sent from Gift of Love to the Adoption Center in Kiev as soon as possible after completion. Once the dossier has been received, families are able to travel to make a decision about adopting a specific child(ren) after seeing the child(ren) in person and reviewing medical and developmental information. Pre-travel “referrals” are not available for adoptions from Ukraine, per Ukrainian law.

The official referral of a child(ren) is made in Kiev by the Adoption Center. From there, the family travels with an escort/translator to the town where the child is located. The decision to accept a referral is made after the child has been seen in person. After selecting a specific child(ren), your adoption can be completed in approximately 2-3 weeks. You will remain in Ukraine during this time and will travel to the US Embassy in Kiev to obtain your child(ren)’s immigrant visa. Both parents are required to travel to Ukraine for the adoption and court process, however, once that is complete, one parent may return home early, if necessary.

The process takes between 6-12 months from receiving your CIS approval (Form I-171H) to the time you are invited to travel to Ukraine and select your child. In Ukraine you then complete the adoption paperwork, have a court proceeding, obtain the child(ren)’s US visas and return home as a forever family.

Children Available

Children available for adoption range in age from 14 months and older. The adoption law of Ukraine does not allow families to adopt two children unless they are biologically related, meaning twins or siblings. The availability of twins or siblings is possible but the wait time in country at travel/selection could be longer and difficult to predict. Parents should be open to the youngest child being 18-24 months at referral. Some younger children, between 14-18 months may be available, but the time frame is not predictable. Parents must be open to either a boy or a girl. The majority of Ukrainian children are placed in orphanages because of economic reasons. Some children are removed from the home by the courts in Ukraine because of neglect.

Additional Information

Gift of Love works with in-country program representatives and translators who support our families’ documents throughout the initial stages and the families when traveling in country. A Gift of Love representative will meet you immediately upon your arrival in Ukraine, coordinate accommodations, arrange transportation and provide translation services and will be with you every step of the way throughout the process.

Please feel free to contact the Gift of Love office at any time for more details about the Ukraine program. Beth Schoeppner, Adoption Program Manager, is available to visit with you at any time over the phone or send you additional information, as requested.

Thank you for taking the time to visit us. We hope that you will find our information helpful in your search to learn more about the adoption journey to Ukraine and choosing the right adoption agency for you

I am sure this has something to do with it Ken, but my husband is from Egypt, and in the past 5 years, the cost of living went through the roof and now simple things have almost doubled, salaries have not budged, there is NO minimum wage and jobs are few & far between. They import most items so many many things (not frivolous things) are waaay out of reach. Remember Egypt is also Post-Socialist transistion.

HOWEVER even with these kinds of extreme economical problems, one would think with as you stated before, people would have children and then not be able to afford them, then possibly give them to an orphanage. This is not at all the case.

Assuming the model you have listed below as a possible cause for so many family-less children in the region (as you may have seen more information on this that i have), then it seems that maybe in this respect, they are more similar to the USA than other regions that have the same economic crises BUT do not have the hundreds of children without families.

i find this a quite perplexing situation, because the region is touted as being family oriented, but they cannot afford to keep their children? I dont know Ken. I can't see that as being the primary reasoning behind orphans in this region IF they are really as family oriented as you say. Something about morals has been mentioned too, earlier in this thread.

Its interesting that the US is being blamed for being non-family oriented, and we have numrous foster and "orphaned" children here due to poverty and the like, but the "breakdown" is not blamed on the change in our economy affecting our nation, but is blamed on women working and "COMPETING" with their husbands. However, according to your statement below -the "breakdown" in that region with respect to this one issue we are discussion is based on the breakdown of the economy, breakdown of family is not to blame. Interesting. Im sorry if this offends you, but it sounds like you are making some excuses for those that you love that are not being afforded to others.

Good question and I would be happy to answer this. Since the end of Socialism and the introduction of free enterprise...life has gotten much harder for them...prices are going up to European prices yet their salaries remain extremely low. Like $200 per month if you can find a job. Furthermore due to open borders and international investment realestate has skyrocketed...in short the cost of living is very harsh. The rule is they would never ever give up their children unless it came to the point they could no longer provide the essential basics like food. I ran into this on my last visit over there. the parents of this little girl did not want to give her up but they could not provide food for themselves or her and made the hard decision to give her to someone who could...the little girl screamed on the plan for her mommy and daddy all the way from Ukraine to Atlanta...it broke my heart that a family had to be torn apart because of the lack of basic things in life. There now you have my answer and if you do not believe me...please take a few and investigate it yourself and you will find out that I have answered you truthfully.

i have a very innocent question... please try not to pick it apart, I just want to know...

since i have seen over several times in this thread pointing out that these regions house people with more traditional values, family orientation, etc... why are there so many children for adoption in these same regions?

i can understand in the USA since as it has been said the breakdown etc ... families arent the 1st priority... well what is the excuse for the hundreds and hundreds of children without a family in these supposed family oriented regions?

I can only speak for my own experiences... the middle east just does not have the adoption crisis that other countries (siome listed in this thread) face....

[*Robert* 2]

Oh I know your right there lol

BTW great hijacking job ladies

Once again... *sniff* *sniff*... you guys forget your sidekick roi_aggie!!!

we can hijack with the best of them!!!

[MichelleandCraig 1]

awwwwwwww good job Roi. (*pats head) M.

[Welshcookie 17]

[ivona 0]

pfft, I wake up on this lovely morning to only two additional pages of amuzing read

great job, ladies and sidekicks

*goes hunting for some s`mores*

[Fandango 1,439]

Even angry feminists like hugs!

The irony is, I'm not a feminist. I'm a humanist.

I'm a FAN OF MAN!

*stops channeling Al Pacino*

[TracyTN 237]

Men are hella sexy! WHOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Well some men anyway. My fiance is is stone fox.

Emote for my hottie.

[Leafgal 3]

Aw Robert I am sorry, yes good job thanks for the help in the hijacking of the thread

Are you all packed yet? What time do you leave? Have a wonderful and safe trip, and bring your SO home.

Wish you both all the best.

[ceriserose 1]

*grin*

So, y'all miss me?

cerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrissssssssssssseee!

*tacklehugglies*

i miss you!

Yay!

I miss me too. Who am I again? (Soooo tired today.)

[almaty 19]

*grin*

So, y'all miss me?

cerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrissssssssssssseee!

*tacklehugglies*

i miss you!

Yay!

I miss me too. Who am I again? (Soooo tired today.)

go take a nap sister ceCrise

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

I just found this thread.

I can die happily now.