(Update information is in bold below)
The U.S. Department of State advises that:
The Court in Ethiopia has temporarily stopped accepting cases involving abandoned children from non-governmental orphanages in Addis Ababa.
Currently neither MOWA nor the First Instance Court is accepting any abandonment cases from any non-governmental orphanages in Addis Ababa, pending an inquiry.
Apparently, children from orphanages outside of Addis Ababa are not affected by this suspension.
We will update this advisory as more information is learned about what is happening in Ethiopia.
May 14, 2009
We have received many inquiries as to whether families will be able to travel to China in order to complete their adoptions as a result of widespread concern about the spread of swine flu.
The information is changing daily, however, at this date we know the following:
1. Sunrise Families who arrived in Beijing this week were kept on the plane until everyone had their temperature taken and filled out a health questionnaire (after that everyone was allowed to leave the airport).
2. However, if anyone on the plane has flu or cold like symptoms, it is probable that everyone will be placed in quarantine. The Vancouver Sun (May 14, 2009 states as follows:
"If even one person on a flight has swine flu or even just cold symptoms when it arrives in Shanghai or Beijing airport, everyone [on the flight] could be quarantined for days, so it's a concern if you are planning to go for a week," said Julia Jiang, a senior consultant at Vancouver-based Canada Swan International Travel, which specializes in trips to China."
3. As far as we know, no further appointments for adoption are being scheduled in any of the provinces in China. Appointments already made for families are going ahead.
4. It is possible that the federal Civil Affairs Department may order the provinces to cancel all remaining appointments. This would be a bad scenario for adopting parents who have traveled to China at that point. They would have to return and lose the cost of that trip.
5. Any family who does not have an appointment to travel to China for adoption at this time, will not receive one until the Chinese government's concern about swine flu has abated.
In a world of decreasing international adoption opportunities, there is now a short window of time for applications to adopt a Bulgarian child.
On March 19, our Eastern Europe Program Manager attended a conference in Sofia on the development of intercountry adoption in that country.
The waiting children of Bulgaria are of Turkish and Roma backgrounds. As children are not legally eligible for adoption until they are over one year of age, most children are around two and older when received for adoption. The longest wait (9 months - 2 years) is for a child under three. Adoptive parents requesting a child over 3 can expect a much shorter wait (5 - 9 months). Adoptive parents make two trips to Bulgaria. One to meet the child before accepting the proposal and the second trip to receive the child after the adoption is completed.
The children live in orphanages and receive good care. Each child has a personal history folder which the adopting family has full access to while visiting the child on the first trip. Events such as the child's first steps are recorded. Most orphanage directors are doctors, and orphanages have embraced a model of care that plans for all areas of a child's development: social, physical, and intellectual. Older children are integrated in the community by attending a regular school. Orphanages are generally clean, but old and in need of repair.
April 17, 2009
The Government of Canada has passed legislation that took effect on April 17, 2009. For a full analysis of the amendments and their potential impact, please read "How the 2009 Citizenship Law Applies to Adopted Children"
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Parents adopting overseas have to choose between the direct overseas citizenship route and the permanent resident visa route. This decision is becoming more complicated as a result of the following problems:
1. Clients who have chosen the citizenship route are telling us that the wait for Part I approval from Sydney, Nova Scotia is getting longer. Originally they were told it would take 4 weeks, then 8 weeks, then 12 weeks, and now at least 16 weeks for Part I approval.Progress (March 6, 2009) |
2. Canadian Embassies in foreign countries are inconsistent about the time it takes to issue citizenship approval for the child. Some Canadian Embassies are granting citizenship in the same time it takes to get a permanent resident visa. Other Embassies are saying it will take two or more months longer to grant citizenship than the permanent resident visa.
Adopting parents are not going to want to stay in a foreign country for an extra two months to obtain citizenship.
Progress (March 6, 2009) Of course, Canadian families are not usually "in-country" during this time for Ethiopian adoptions. A huge problem arises for families who are adopting from countries which require their presence for the adoption. Delays of this length would be devastating. |
We will post updates to this alert as new information comes available. In the meantime, parents thinking of using the citizenship route should file their Part I application in a timely manner, allowing lots of time for Part I to be granted.
Prior to making a decision to apply for citizenship or go the permanent resident visa route, parents should try to determine whether the Canadian Embassy abroad will issue the child's Canadian citizenship in a timely manner or whether it will be a significantly longer time period than issuing the permanent resident visa.
If you have had experience with either the Part I application or with the Canadian Embassy overseas in obtaining Canadian citizenship for your child, please contact us and we will add your information to this alert.
From parents.com:
Top Ten Girl's Names:
1. Isabella
2. Ava
3. Emily
4. Elizabeth
5. Abigail
6. Madison
7. Emma
8. Addison
9. Madeline
10. Olivia
Top Ten Boy's Names:
1. Aidan
2. Jayden
3. Jacob
4. Michael
5. Ethan
6. Caden
7. James
8. Caleb
9. Andrew
10. Matthew
Adoptions in British Columbia Last Year:
315 Waiting Children
52 Domestic Adoptions
267 Intercountry Adoptions
634 Total
Are you a Chinese adoptee, adopted between the years of 1991-1995?
Picture This Productions, an award winning, Montreal-based film production company is currently looking for potential participants to be a part of a Canadian-based television documentary. They are looking to follow a few young women on their first journey back to China since being adopted, documenting the experiences along the way. This film is slated to be shot in 2009-2010, taking place both in Canada, as well as on the road in China.
To learn more about Picture This Productions, please visit www.picturethis.ca.
The Adoptive Families Association of BC offers excellent courses and workshops for waiting and adoptive parents. For complete details, dates and times, please visit the AFABC's website.
If you are waiting to adopt an infant, locally or internationally, the Safe Baby workshops are designed for you, especially if there is a risk that your new baby will have been exposed to drugs or alcohol during pregnancy. The free workshops are open to all families registered with Sunrise.
A day full of information about adoption options and key issues for adoptive families. Topics include Adoption Today in BC, BC's Waiting Children Program, Local Infant Adoption, International Adoption, Homestudies, Grief and Loss, Attachment, Openness and your next steps.
If you are considering adoption of a child of a different race or from a different culture, this workshop is for you. You will learn about Attachment concerns for children and their families, potential medical issues and family matters related to race, culture and heritage. There will also be an opportunity to hear a panel of cross-cultural parents and children.
If you are already parenting a child of a different race or culture, these Saturday workshops are for you. Topics include: Motivation, Family/Racial Identity, Talking to Kids, Stereotypes, Racism, School Issues.
This workshop was launched in 2007 and has been very popular. The half-day workshop will help you recognize attachment difficulties and take home practical strategies and resources. The workshop is suitable for waiting parents as well as those already parenting.
Learn what you need to know to ease the transition for your child and your family. Includes everything from mealtimes and bedtimes to medical appointments and preparation of your home. Be ready!
Offered in partnership with the Ministry for Children and Family Development, these free sessions offer information about adopting one of BC's Waiting Children.
Two Canadian researchers are studying adoption services in Canada for families created through transracial adoption. They want to find out about the availability and effectiveness of services (including pre- and post-adoption services, educational policies and practices, support groups, and parenting groups) that multiracial families created through international adoption can access. They are seeking participation from adoptive parents and adoption practitioners.
All responses are anonymous.
The researchers are both Caucasian parents of Asian children. Sonya Corbin Dwyer of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Lynn Gidluck, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Saskatchewan Office, met through the adoption of their daughters from China.
This survey will be followed up by individual telephone interviews to hear more about people's stories, specific programs and services. The researchers are interested in hearing people's concerns, barriers to providing necessary adoption services, and success stories. If you are interested in participating in such an interview, please contact Sonya.
To find out more about the study and to see the survey, please go to www.swgc.mun.ca/adoptionsurvey.