For families interested in adopting from Ukraine, 2016 started off on an exciting note! MLJ Adoptions re-introduced our Ukraine Winter Hosting Program, which started in December 2015 and ran through mid-January 2016. Seven families participated, which allowed seven children to experience the love of a family, maybe for the first time in their lives.
Once the program ended, we had two families who decided to pursue the adoption of the children they hosted. One of the girls who participated in the winter hosting program was part of a sibling group of four, so the Winter Hosting Program allowed five children from Ukraine to join forever families in 2016!
This summer, twelve children came to the United States from Ukraine to participate in our Ukraine Summer Hosting Program. During the four weeks that they were with their host families, some children went camping, others to amusement parks. Most important, all of the host children had a healthy family environment modeled for them. While not all children who participate in a Ukraine Hosting Program are adopted, the time they spend with adults who care about them shapes the rest of their lives.
In total, eight children from Ukraine came home to three forever families this year. Two families adopted sibling groups; one sibling group of three children, and one sibling group of four children. The youngest child adopted from Ukraine this year was four years old, while the oldest was 17. Five children were boys and three were girls.
Our families waited between two and three months from dossier submission to receiving their invitation to travel.
This winter, seven children are traveling to the United States from Ukraine to participate in our Winter Hosting Program. We are excited that these children will have the opportunity to experience the love of a family. We are also hopeful that the families who participate may choose to move forward with adopting from Ukraine, or brainstorm ways to get more involved in caring for the orphan globally.
As we celebrate an awesome year in our Ukraine Program, we are excited to see more families participate in the hosting program next year, and hopefully see more children join their forever families!
If you’re interested in learning about adopting from Ukraine, or are interested in our Ukraine Summer Hosting Program, please contact us.
Caitlin Snyder
Caitlin Snyder works as the Director of Marketing and Outreach for MLJ Adoptions. Working in international adoption has given Caitlin the unique opportunity to pursue both a passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people and a profession at the same time.
Caitlin Snyder
Caitlin Snyder works as the Director of Marketing and Outreach for MLJ Adoptions. Working in international adoption has given Caitlin the unique opportunity to pursue both a passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people and a profession at the same time.