Haiti Adoptions in Progress
January 20, 2010
We offer our condolences to the people of Haiti in this time of great need. A number of Ontario families who were in the process of adopting from Haiti have been affected by the earthquake.
Mission of TEARS is the sole agency licensed by Ontario to facilitate adoptions from Haiti. The agency is communicating with its staff in Haiti and is working closely with families who are in the process of adopting from Haiti to keep them updated on the situation. The affected families are at different stages in the process of international adoption.
Currently, Mission of TEARS has 10 Ontario families who are at different stages in the process of international adoption from Haiti.
Our highest priority is uniting these children with their Ontario families as soon as possible. The Ministry of Children and Youth Services will do everything we can to expedite the necessary paperwork required to get these children home.
New Adoptions
Given the situation in Haiti, both the agency and the orphanage are not accepting new applications to adopt at this time.
Following a natural disaster, the affected country would normally work with charitable organizations to attempt to reunite children with their birth parents and / or extended family. If this fails, efforts are made to identify orphaned or unaccompanied children and determine whether other caregivers are available who wish to raise them.
Before an intercountry adoption can take place, the affected children must be determined to be orphans and be available for adoption.
Additional Questions
To support families, my ministry’s adoption unit has a full-time intake line to answer questions about international adoption, which can be reached at (416) 327-4742.
In addition, families can contact the federal government through the CIC hotline at 1-888-242-2100.
