I am going to review some history in Ukrainian adoption as it relates to facilitators.
Cathy Harris runs a business out of Florida. She started helping with Ukrainian adoptions back in 1999.
She fills a role that is sometimes called “state-side” helper.
She clearly states that she isn’t an agency or attorney. She charges a fee to provide advise and support on creating the dossier. She also provides an email list for support. And she hooks parents up with a facilitator that has a known track record.
She has adopted 5 children from Ukraine. In my book, she is the main reason that independent adoption took off for Ukraine in 2000.
Cathy Harris is one of the few folks who provides statistics and families’ stories about Ukrainian adoptions.
Another reason why independent adoption took off was Diane Sadovnikov. She founded Sense Resource Center, a business based in Virginia in 1999. Later in 2003 she changed it from business to adoption agency.
These 2 women showed that independent adoption was doable. Since 2000 about 50% of American families adoption without an adoption agency.
Another option is to work directly with the Ukrainian facilitator. Here is one example. Noticed that they provide referrals to “state-side” helpers. Some of these helpers asked you to donate to an orphanage of their choice. Some ask for $1,000.
Here is another example of working directly with a Ukrainian facilitator.
Look at this way… you contact and work with the “state-side” helper first. Or you contact and work with the “facilitator” first. Similar but different.
Or you can just select a facilitator and do all the paper chasing by yourself. The US Embassy in Kyiv lists all the dossier requirements.
To research Ukrainian Adoption Facilitators, you want to try and find negative references. You want to know how the agency/faciliator dealt with negative issues. This is more telling then an adoption where everything went fine.
Google for things like ukrainian adoption facilitator
Here is a link to a very unhappy person that I discovered…. Focus on Children SUCKS
You may find this web site of interest. They have collected a list of Ukrainian agencies and facilitators.
If you are interested in adopting children with Down syndrome you should visit Reece’s Rainbow.
How to Select a Ukrainian Adoption Facilitator
How to Select a Ukrainian Adoption Facilitator
Options
Take Your Time
David Bentley