March 1, 2004
The U.S. Embassy has received a significant number of complaints concerning certain adoption agencies and facilitators assisting American adopting parents with adoptions from Ukraine.
We strongly urge American citizens contemplating international adoption to retain the services of a reputable adoption agency licensed by one or more U.S. States. Adopting parents should question their agency about the qualifications and experience of any facilitators that agency might use in a foreign country and the degree to which the agency assumes responsibility for the actions of its agents or facilitators. We would encourage adopting parents to consider carefully their decision to use a particular agency if that agency asserts that it is not responsible for the actions of its agents or facilitators.
Embassy employees cannot endorse individual adoption facilitators or agencies. However, the American Citizens Services (ACS) unit of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv does keep records of complaints against agencies and facilitators that are submitted to us by adopting parents. Once adopting parents have chosen a U.S. adoption agency or local facilitator - often after researching the subject on the internet, or through personal referrals - they may contact the Embassy (kyivadoptions@state.gov) to inquire about the facilitator/agency. Although Embassy personnel cannot make recommendations or offer private legal advice, our ACS staff will be able to inform as to whether ACS has received any complaints about the particular facilitator or agency selected.
In addition, there are numerous web sites on the Internet that adoptive parents can check for information, including complaints, regarding adoption service providers. Please note, however, that the Department of State cannot endorse nor assume any responsibility for the content of these Web sites.
Adoptive parents should check with the State licensing agencies and consumer protection agencies, such as the Better Business Bureau, regarding the qualifications of and possible complaints against adoption agencies. Contact information for State licensing agencies is available from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse at NAIC.
Adoptive parents may also check with the various national organizations of adoption agencies here.
Information regarding these organizations is also available on the NAIC web site at http://www.calib.com/naic/database/nat/srchorgs.cfm.
If adoptive parents believe that there is possible illegal activity involving the agency in the U.S., the parents should contact the local office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI would then determine if there are grounds to investigate the agency's activities in the U.S.
If unethical/illegal practices have occurred in Ukraine, American adoptive parents should report the facts to our Embassy and to appropriate Ukrainian authorities.
American citizens services,
U.S. Embassy Kyiv, Ukraine