Category - Ukraine

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16

Jul

From Hosting to Adoption: Consider our Ukraine Program!

Ukraine has long been a popular country to allow the hosting of children who have been orphaned. Children participating in the hosting program range in ages from 6 to 16. Hosting can offer many families, as well as the hosted child, an opportunity of a lifetime! Children hosted from Ukraine reside in orphanages, so hosting ...

14

May

Traveling to Ukraine

by Karlene Edgemon, MS, LSW

Recently, I was fortunate enough to travel to Ukraine for international adoption purposes. What an amazing trip! It turned out to be so much more than I was expecting and I truly enjoyed meeting the friendly Ukrainians we encountered. If you are traveling to Ukraine for an international adoption, prepare yourself for a wonderful adventure! ...

2

May

Ukraine Adoption Story: The Phelps Family

by Caitlin Snyder

in Adoption Stories, Ukraine

Hello, we are Thomas and Ginger Phelps and we have 1 son, Titus who we adopted from Ukraine in March 2017. After many failed domestic adoption situations, we felt the Lord calling us to international adoption. We had many friends that had adopted internationally prior to us, which showed us the pure joy and blessing ...

11

Apr

I’m Visiting Ukraine – What Should I Eat?

by Karlene Edgemon, MS, LSW

Ukrainian Proverb: Eat good food, sleep well at night; God will keep your health just right. When you don’t know the language, the letters as written on a menu are very different from what you understand, and you’re not familiar with the local cuisine, dining out in a different country seems very difficult! However, I ...

28

Mar

Why Should We Participate in Hosting? Two Families Share!

in Hosting, Ukraine

Hello MLJ Adoption families! My name is Katelyn Smith and I recently began an internship with MLJ this past January. I will be helping the program director for Bulgaria and Ukraine, Lydia Tarr. I am excited to get to know and work with the families that are interested in these programs. Though advocating for adoption ...

21

Mar

Changes in Adoption from Ukraine

Adoption in Ukraine has changed over the past few years. Since the implementation of the Universal Accreditation Act, independent adoptions from Ukraine are no longer possible. Families wanting to adopt a Ukrainian child will need to choose an agency to partner with. Many families who have hosted a child from Ukraine, or are open to a ...

5

Mar

Ukraine Adoption Story: Meet Eric, Stephanie & Sveta

by MLJ Adoptions

in Adoption Stories, Ukraine

Eric and Stephanie, both teachers in our local school district, and Sveta, 5 years old, adopted from Ukraine in the summer of 2017. We lived in and traveled some around Asia for two years early in our marriage and saw what true poverty looked like for many kids, especially those without a place to call ...

20

Dec

Adopting from Ukraine – A 2017 Update!

by Caitlin Snyder

This past year started with another round of Ukraine Winter Hosting! MLJ Adoptions loved having the opportunity to introduce children who have been orphaned in Ukraine to families in the United States for several weeks during the winter and summer. Several families decided to move forward with adopting from Ukraine after participating in hosting! In ...

30

Oct

Adoption Connections Make the Difference

by Karlene Edgemon, MS, LSW

The success of any adoption depends upon the ability to connect, whether that is with your child, your local resources or your support team. Connections are so crucial when considering adoption and it is important to also connect purposely with your primary and home study agencies. Additionally, your primary agency’s ability to both obtain and ...

2

Oct

So You’re Traveling to Ukraine? Don’t Forget These Important Items!

by Camie Schuiteman

We have completed the first round of documents, court appointments, judges, stacks of paperwork, stamps, stamps, and did I mention stamps? Ukraine has a special affection with stamps; they really do make everything look official. I might ask to buy one for a souvenir! Our expedition, thus far, has exceeded our expectations and blown away ...

25

Sep

Finding Families for Children – the Struggles and the Rewards

in Hosting, Special Needs, Ukraine

Working in adoption the past eleven years has afforded me the opportunity to work with many adoptive families, and I have treasured the opportunity. I feel that I have connected many parents with the child or children that completed their family; however there are times when I need to be reminded that my job is about ...

28

Aug

The Wonderful Power of Love

by MLJ Adoptions

in Adoption News, Ukraine

Our Ukraine Summer Hosting Program just finished. Sixteen orphaned children, from different regions of Ukraine, will return to their country after spending their summer vacation with American families. I was the lucky one, who met the kids at the airport and who observed their “American” life through the weekly photo reports of the hosting families. ...

23

Aug

Three Reasons to Use MLJ Adoptions to Adopt from Ukraine

by Nicole Skellenger, JD

Selecting an agency to partner with you on your journey to adopt from Ukraine can be overwhelming. Sometimes it may feel like one agency may be located closer to your home, another one may have more experience in the country that you’re looking into. If your family wants to adopt from Ukraine, look no further ...

9

Aug

Ukraine Adoption Story: The Schuiteman Family

by Caitlin Snyder

in Adoption Stories, Ukraine

Meet the Schuiteman family! Dale is a senior pastor in Marion, Indiana. Camie is a home educator of 2 children still at home and an advocate of vulnerable children everywhere. We have been blessed with six children as of December 2016. Our oldest daughter and her husband are a Coast Guard family giving us two ...

7

Aug

Adopting from Ukraine – A Current Snapshot

by Caitlin Snyder

The year 2017 has been an exciting one for families adopting from Ukraine with MLJ Adoptions! Ukraine has long been a popular country for American families interested in international adoption. In 2014, a shift in U.S. law had a significant impact on families adopting from Ukraine; the Universal Accreditation Act now requires U.S. families to ...

22

May

Hosting Program Gives Older Children Opportunities!

by Nicole Skellenger, JD

in Hosting, Ukraine

Can you find me a family? Can you take me to the United States? These are questions we receive almost inevitably when visiting older children in orphanages. Many older children understand and desire a family. It’s painful to know that so often, we will not be able to find a family for the oldest among ...

13

Feb

Adopting from Ukraine – the Referral Process

What is the referral process like for families adopting from Ukraine? Ukraine issues a “blind referral,” which means that a family doesn’t receive a referral prior to travel. Instead, families are invited for an appointment with the Central Adoption Authority, the State Department for Adoptions and Protection of the Rights of the Child (SDAPRC), commonly referred to ...

21

Dec

Expedition to Ukraine- Helpful Tips

by Camie Schuiteman

Given my role as MLJ’s Financial Resources Coordinator, money was probably our top concern as we headed to Ukraine. Regarding how much to bring, follow the travel guide; we found it to be very accurate with no surprises. What a blessing! Also, don’t be shy about asking other families about their experience regarding expenses. We ...

13

Dec

Expedition to Ukraine: What We Love About the Country

by Camie Schuiteman

Croissants, croissants, croissants: chocolate-filled, chocolate chip, peach, cherry, banana, pineapple, blueberry, raspberry, cinnamon & raisin, whole grain, rye, without icing, drizzled with icing, covered in powdered sugar, and numerous mouth-watering, unknown others because I can’t read Russian or Ukrainian! Need I say more? Ukrainian food is delicious if you like meat, potatoes, and vegetables. It ...

5

Dec

Adopting from Ukraine – A 2016 Program Update!

by Caitlin Snyder

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 ...

19

Oct

Frequently Asked Questions about Adopting from Ukraine

by Caitlin Snyder

When families consider which countries they are interested in adopting from, the country of Ukraine is at the top of families’ lists for many reasons. In fact, U.S. families adopted over three hundred children from Ukraine in 2015¹. If you’re considering adopting from Ukraine, you probably have some questions, hopefully we’re able to answer a ...

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