ChS: Children’s service

In Ukraine, the institution that initiates the adoption process is the Children’s Service (ChS).

Ukrainian citizens who reside in Ukraine on a permanent basis, and who intend to adopt a child, must register with the raion, city district state administration in Kyiv and Sevastopol, executive bodies of city, or city district (if any) councils at their place of residence.

The Children’s Service keeps records on orphaned children and children deprived of parental care. It supports the process of adoption and the placement of children into family-based care. It does its best to help every child grow up with the love of family.

SSC: Social Service Centre

Social Service Centres provide social services to families, children and youth who are in difficult life circumstances, and who need assistance and support.

The network of centres includes:

• republican (Autonomous Republic of Crimea) and oblast centres;
• Kyiv and Sevastopol city, raion centres;
• city, city district, urban-type settlement and village centres.

If you have decided to welcome a non-biological child into your family, you will be required to undertake special training in the oblast centre in your region. For instance, if you reside in Kalush in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, the training course for adopting parent candidates will be conducted by trainers of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Social Service Centre for Family, Children and Youth.

The State Service for Children

If you are a citizen of a foreign country or a citizen of Ukraine who permanently resides in the territory of another country, and you intend to adopt children from Ukraine — The State Service for Children is the first state body you need to contact.It is the central body of executive power, whose activities are coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine through the Minister of Social Policy. However, it should be taken into account that during the martial law in Ukraine, adoption of children by foreigners and citizens of Ukraine who temporarily or permanently live abroad is not carried out.

Court

The final decision on adoption, based on the application from adopting parent candidates, is made by the court. The application is submitted at the child’s place of residence (stay). After the court decision enters into legal force, thirty days after it is announced, the adoption process is deemed to be complete.