Child Welfare in Ukraine

John Sheetz, MSW
Peace Corps, Youth Development, May 2005 – April 2007

Bortnyky Boys Orphanage ‘Boys Town’, November 2007, January – June 2008, January – April 2009, returning visits in 2012 and 2014

Most children in the child welfare system of Ukraine are served by large state orphanages from the age of 6 to 17 that are categorized by aging infrastructure and shift care. I worked at a non-profit orphanage of 18-25 boys that was run family style. My initial project was to develop more life skills in the older youth. We had cooking classes, a bank with interest bearing accounts, a newsletter with editor, and computer lessons. Over time, it became clear to me that some of the youth had more profound behavioral issues and the staff-to-youth ratio was too high.

I researched and brought materials to teach the Boys Town Model to the orphanage that was named after this American organization. After some time, I decided that a better clinical knowledge of common disabilities and developmental delays would be helpful, and I returned to FSU for my MSW. While here, I engaged in mindfulness biophysical research to better understand correlations between behavior and health, received a scholarship to study refugee issues in South Africa with Professor Teasley, built new capacity with the Refugee Social Services of Northwest Florida through an internship, and served a graduate assistantship with the Beyond Borders exchanges through the Center for Global Engagement. I was also recognized for my work with a Global Citizen award through the Division of Student Affairs. I got involved with a US group that does local Orphan Visiting programs, and provided some translation and cultural interpretation services with families in Tallahassee, Florida and Thomasville, Georgia.

I currently serve on the local Refugee Task Force, and continue to consult with the orphanage in Bortnyky, Ukraine, and the Peace Corps Ukraine staff lead on Youth Development. I currently work as a therapeutic foster care trainer and licenser at Boys Town North Florida.  I hope to further the research field on the effectiveness of refugee resettlement services; Florida resettles more refugees than any other state. I also hope to return to Ukraine for more advanced training of the orphanage staff on the Boys Town Model and to help Ukraine develop a foster care system.