Ukraine adoptions are the latest to come under international adoption scrutiny. According to a Feb. 24 article on newKerala.com, the Ukrainian government has indicated an intent to "conduct an investigation into living conditions and health of children adopted by foreign citizens." In a letter to Ukrainian foreign ministries, officials expressed concern about receipt of the reports required after a Ukrainian adoption is finalized. These reports are intended to keep officials apprised of the wellbeing of the children who were adopted internationally. This probe follows news from Dec. 2012 around a ban on Russian adoptions by United States citizens. The ban resulted from concerns regarding the welfare of children adopted by U.S. families, said Russian officials.
Adoptive families agree to provide these required reports until the child reaches 18 years of age. Adoption agencies ensure that families are aware of this Ukraine adoption requirement at the onset of the adoption process.
Ukraine adoptions by U.S. families are not uncommon; according to the U.S. Department of State, 8.889 Ukraine adoptions were finalized between 1999 and 2011. 640 of those adoptions were completed in 2011, the last year for which complete statistics are available from the U.S. Department of State.
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