Coming to Terms with Ukrainian/Russian Identity During the War: An American Social Worker’s Perspective.

Conflict in Ukraine has disrupted the lives of millions of people, including orphaned children. Yet, the consequences of the war in Ukraine extend beyond the Ukrainian border. The current crisis also impacts Ukrainian adoptees in the United States. Social workers are in a position to help children and families dealing with the effects of the crisis. My narrative adds another voice to the academic conversation from the perspective of a Ukrainian adoptee and a licensed clinical social worker working on coming to terms with multicultural identity as it pertains to the war in Ukraine. Additionally, it guides social workers who may be working with current or future adoptees in a therapeutic space by emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive and trauma-informed services to address the intersection of institutionalization, adoption transition, and the impact of the current crisis in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]