How to Host an Orphan From the Ukraine

What is hosting? Many organizations give orphaned children from the Ukraine an opportunity to experience American culture and family life. Once or twice a year groups of orphaned children are flown from Ukraine to the U.S. by a variety of organizations. These children have often been raised in institutions and have little experience with a family or with the benefits of life in the United States. If you have a heart for children and would like to experience another culture, hosting may be for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Read about hosting programs. The internet is the best resource for these programs. Some hosting programs are sponsored by international adoption agencies; others are sponsored by charity organizations. Organizations have different requirements and preparation for the hosting experience. Join an online group to read other people's personal experiences and ask questions. You will learn a great deal about what to expect with these programs (see Resources below).
2. Understand that you will be asked to pay a fee to participate in hosting programs. It is very expensive to coordinate the program and arrange travel visas and transportation. The fee you pay covers the cost of getting the child you host to your home and back to their country.
3. Determine your goals. If you want to adopt an older child, certain programs sponsored by adoption agencies may have more children eligible for adoption. (No agency can promise that you will adopt a specific child, however.) If you simply want the experience, programs ran by a charity organization may be more appropriate for you. The goals you set will assist you in selecting an appropriate organization with which to work.
4. Speak with specific programs. Learn what states and locations in the United States they allow to host children. Get references from other parents with whom they have worked. Check the Better Business Bureau to make sure they are a legitimate organization. Once you have done your homework, select a program in which to participate.
5. Complete your home study, as mandated by the organization sponsoring the child. In order to ensure the safety of the children visiting the United States, you will have a background check and meet with a licensed social worker. This process is a little scary, but you are not being judged. A home study is designed to ensure you are prepared to care for a child for the duration of the visit.
6. Learn as much as you are able to learn about institutionalized children and their issues. It could be a difficult few weeks if you are not prepared for a bit of adjustment.
7. Learn some basic Ukrainian. Get a phrase book. Cover the basics of food, toileting, sleeping and safety. Misunderstandings are bound to occur, but minimize them by having some basic communication tools.
8. Learn some basic Ukrainian. Get a phrase book. Cover the basics of food, toileting, sleeping and safety. Misunderstandings are bound to occur, but minimize them by having some basic communication tools.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk with families who have participated in hosting programs to learn more.
• Make sure you work with an ethical organization. Occasionally an unethical company will prey on naive individuals who are trying to do a good thing, but fail to research an organization.