This notice clarifies the Resumption of Hosting Programs in Ukraine notice published on June 13, 2022.  The Ministry of Social Policy (MSP) of Ukraine has further explained that children who are orphans or deprived of parental care may only be hosted as part of organized groups of children by organizations and institutions authorized by their local state authority to provide recreation and rehabilitation for children.  The National Social Service of Ukraine (NSS) makes all decisions regarding the participation of children in hosting programs, and it has informed us that it will decline invitations for children who are orphans or deprived of parental care to stay with host families.

If an orphanage has been evacuated from Ukraine, the NSS is not authorizing any further travel for children to participate in a hosting program and will not authorize any children to stay with individual host families.  Evacuated children may only participate in hosting programs as part of organized groups of children at an authorized institution or organization in the country in which they are presently located.

Please refer to the published legislation outlining the current requirements hosting programs must follow during this period of martial law in Ukraine for further details.ter text here.