Adoption in Ukraine: overcoming stereotypes and incomprehension
Every child has a right to have parents. 2008 was declared as year of the national adoption. However adoption in general still something unnatural, defective in our country, often causing incomprehension in society toward those who dared to make this step. In developed countries everything is in opposite way - foster families tell others about their adopted child, even on tv, they discuss problems with psychologist and they are not ashamed to say they've adopted a child.
The causes of incomprehension of adoption in Ukraine often hidden in myths and stereotypes like only infertile couples adopt kids. So these families are perceived as defective, inferior. While the statistics shows quiet large number of adopting families that already have their own kids. These families follow the principal "not a child for parents, but parents for a child"; their motives for adoption are love and compassion.
Therefore the major task of New Hope social workers is to overcome these stereotypes about adoption, to surmount barriers of incomprehension in churches and society in general.
As for the January of 2008, 72 families have participated the program "Orphan Care"; they adopted or took foster care over 181 children. New Hope feels its responsibility for the kids that were adopted through the "Orphan Care" ministry. The moment of adoption only a beginning of a new life; both child and parents need help. New Hope has initiated 12 home support groups in Ukraine. These groups are for the people with the same circle of interests - adopted children. Parents have an opportunity to learn and discuss new books on this subject, share experience, problems, feelings; they pray together, support and encourage each other.
