View Adoption Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96005_01
What is the purpose of this act?
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
How does this act benefit society?
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Canadian parents raise concerns
By John Nicol, CBC News, March 19, 2009
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2009/03/19/f-ethiopia-adoption.html
The article questions the ethical practice of international adoption by agencies such as the CAFAC after increasing discoveries made by Canadian adoptive parents regarding the truth behind their Ethiopian child’s adoption experience. Specifically, many families were misinformed about the state of the children and their families back home. Ultimately, the article emphasizes that the emerging trend to adopt internationally has led to injustices that are finally being addressed.
What is the purpose of this act?
- To facilitate the permanent placement of a child within a family while simultaneously ensuring that their best interests are met and upheld throughout the process and will continue to be after.
- Proper placement requires the following considerations: the child’s safety and security; the influences that a positive family environment may have on their emotional and physical well-being and development; the relationships they have to their birth parents and family; and their cultural and religious background.
- In the context of Indigenous children, specific emphasis should be placed on the preservation of cultural identity throughout their process of adoption, following the Best Interest of the Child ideology.
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
- A director of adoption and adoption agencies are given direct authority regarding the process of consent that is necessary for a child’s initial placement and eventual adoption.
- A director or an adoption agency may be given custody of the child from their birth parent after their consent to set their child up for adoption and/or before the child is transferred to their adopted family or new caregiver.
- A director is able to receive or divulge confidential information if, in their opinion, it ensures a child’s best interest.
How does this act benefit society?
- The Act strives to find a safe and caring home for every child in need of a family and nurturing environment, but at the same time provides individuals unable to conceive a child the opportunity to achieve their goal of becoming parents.
- The Act also takes into consideration the rights of the birth parents regarding consent for adoption as well as relationship to the child.
- The Act’s emphasis on the participation and influence of Indigenous bands and communities over an Indigenous child’s adoption brings awareness to the importance of preserving cultural identity within Indigenous children.
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
- The Ministry of Children and Family Development: http://www.gov.bc.ca/mcf/
- The Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia: http://www.bcadoption.com/
- The crucial step of consent. For example, while the birth mother has given consent to place her child in custody of prospective adoptive parents after it is born, she may change her decision and revoke the consent within thirty days after the birth, thus resulting in the reuniting of one family and the end of another.
- The adoption of Indigenous children. Despite the efforts of adoption agencies, indigenous children adopted in non-Indigenous families may struggle to remain connected to their cultural identity if their new environment does not acknowledge or relate to their historical context and heritage.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
- Strive to uphold the best interest of the child, by keeping them informed of their rights within the adoption system, and facilitating proper placements.
- Strive to ensure that the personal opinion of the child being adopted would be considered when deciding on an openness agreement.
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
- CHOICES Adoption and Counselling Services: http://www.choicesadoption.ca/home/index.php
- Ministry of Child and Family Development: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/licensed_agencies.htm
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Canadian parents raise concerns
By John Nicol, CBC News, March 19, 2009
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2009/03/19/f-ethiopia-adoption.html
The article questions the ethical practice of international adoption by agencies such as the CAFAC after increasing discoveries made by Canadian adoptive parents regarding the truth behind their Ethiopian child’s adoption experience. Specifically, many families were misinformed about the state of the children and their families back home. Ultimately, the article emphasizes that the emerging trend to adopt internationally has led to injustices that are finally being addressed.