March 28, 2007 - signed application papers / sent to CAFAC
April 10, 2007 - received CAFAC binder, started dossier
May 30, 2007 - Homestudy Completed and Approved, Dossier Completed, Provincial Letter of Approval
May 31, 2007 - file sent to CAFAC
June 21, 2007- file sent to Foreign Affairs
June 21, 2007- Immigration application sent
June 26, 2007-Immigration approval received
July 3, 2007- file returned from Foreign Affairs
July 4, 2007- file sent to Ethiopian Embassy in Canada
July 11, 2007- file returned from Embassy
July 12, 2007- Dossier sent to Ethiopia
July 17, 2007- Dossier arrived in Ethiopia
November 1, 2007 - Amendment Letter from Social Worker sent to CAFAC to change age ranges
January 15, 2008-Amendment Letter to Change Age Ranges Received in Ethiopia
October 15, 2008-Referral received of a Baby Girl 6 weeks old!!!!
December 16, 2008-B# received from Canadian High Commission in Nairobi
February 8, 2009-Court Date Scheduled in Ethiopia (WE PASSED!!!!)
February 18, 2009-Medical Completed for Immigration
February 27, 2009-Documents Sent to Nairobi (birth certificate, passport, court docs)
April 14, 2009 (FINGERS CROSSED): TRAVEL DATE!!!!!
We'll keep adding to this time table as things progress.
Gathering of Documentation
Home Study Completion (*3-7 Months)......TOOK US 7 WEEKS
Collection of Dossier Documents (*4-7 Months).....DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY
Provincial Letter of Approval (*1-2 Months).....DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY
SUB-TOTAL TIME: 5-9 Months (REAL TIME: 7 WEEKS)
Dossier Preparation at CAFAC
Notarization (*2 Weeks)....TOOK US 2 WEEKS
Legalization by Foreign Affairs (*3 Weeks)....TOOK US 1 WEEK & 1 DAY
Authentication by Embassy (*3 Weeks)....TOOK US 1 WEEK
SUB-TOTAL TIME: 2 Months (4 WEEKS & 1 DAY)
Processing of File in Ethiopia
Translation, Legalization & Authentication (*4 Weeks)
Adoption Committee Approval (*4-8 Weeks)
Child Proposal (*1-9 Months)......TOOK US 15 MONTHS AND 3 DAYS
SUB-TOTAL TIME: 2-9 Months
Post Referral Finalization
Immigration Paperwork (*3-7 Months) *Done Simultaneously
Adoption Finalization (*2-8 Weeks) *Done Simultaneously
Travel To Country (*4-7 Months after child acceptance) (*TOOK US 6 MONTHS)
SUB-TOTAL TIME: 4-7 Months
FINAL TOTAL TIME: 13-27 Months
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Adoption from Ethiopia
Q: Which adoption agency you are using?
A: We are using CAFAC (Canada Advocates for the Adoption of Children). CAFAC was founded in 1995 by adoptive parents of Ethiopian children. This agency is accredited in the province of Manitoba, but also has an office in Alberta. Because there are no agencies in Saskatchewan that facilitate inter-country adoptions, we had to find an agency in a different province to help us out!
Q: What is the process for adopting from Ethiopia?
A: Overview of Steps for Ethiopian Adoptions-CAFAC Inter-Country Adoption Agency
- Contact CAFAC Agency for Introductory and Registration Package-Send $25 with written request for package to Box 1587, Minnedosa Manitoba, R0J 1E0
- Register with CAFAC Agency-Return registration forms, contracts, and fees to begin process with CAFAC Agency
- Register within your province for Home Study-CAFAC will help you contact a recognized Social Worker/Agency within your province to complete a home study on your family and to meet provincial regulations for approval.
- Complete Education Component of Adoption-CAFAC will send education information for you to complete by correspondence. You may be asked to complete a seminar by your Social Worker /Agency to meet your provincial regulations
- Prepare Dossier Documents for Ethiopia-CAFAC Agency will send you instructions and forms to compile a dossier for Ethiopia. You will be asked for 14 pieces to complete this dossier. This is done while working on your home study.
- Send Completed Dossier to CAFAC-CAFAC will prepare your documentation for submission to Ethiopian Authorities and send overseas
- Immigration Paperwork-CAFAC will assist you to submit immigration paperwork to bring child to Canada
- Waiting for a Child Proposal-CAFAC agency will help you connect with other families adopting from – or home from Ethiopia within your province and Canada. CAFAC monthly updates on what is happening in the country with adoptions will be sent to you by email or hard mail.
- Travel Preparation-CAFAC Agency will send you a travel preparation package so you can begin immunizations for travel to the country. The travel package will give you a complete information guide on what to expect in the country during your trip there
- Child Proposal- A proposal from CAFAC Agency of Ethiopia will be sent to your family through your provincial channels. Photos, medical exam, lab reports and known social history will be given. Hard copy of forms for formal acceptance will be sent to you from CAFAC. Once accepted, updates and photos on the child will be sent to you while you wait to travel to bring them home.
- Finalization of Adoption-Once child is accepted, and Immigration medical completed, adoption is finalized and paperwork sent to CDN immigration for visa to be issued
- Travel to Ethiopia-Groups for travel will be coordinated through CAFAC- and as paperwork comes to finalization. Communication before travel will be facilitated so families can support and get to know one another before you travel
- Departure for Ethiopia-Travel to the country is usually 10- 14 days. A CAFAC Staff person will travel with the group to assist as guide and travel coordinator. Travel is routed through Frankfurt Germany with Lufthansia Airlines into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Meeting Your Child-You will meet your child the first full day after your arrival – for a three hour visit at CAFAC foster home. The next day you will take full custody of the child and have them with you for the remainder of your trip.
- Time in Ethiopia-You will spend a week receiving the last of your child’s documentation, and touring the areas around Addis Ababa. This is a great time to meet, understand and absorb the Ethiopian culture
- Coming Home, CAFAC will assist you with re entry into Canada with post placement report schedules, provincial health, name changes, and any other paperwork that is needed to help your child be home in Canada.
A: We only will know who are children are when we receive a referral or child proposal. A fantastic woman in Ethiopia matches families with children in Ethiopia.
Q: Can you choose the sex/age of your child?
A: When you are completing your dossier, you can put in a request for age ranges and if you would like to, the sex of your child. When we originally started, we had requested 1 child under 12 months, either gender. After a couple of months, we decided to change our request to siblings under 36 months, with 1 under 12 months, either gender. However, it is possible to request a male or female child.
Q: Where will our children stay in Ethiopia?
A: Our agency has a foster home where our children stay while they wait for us to bring them home. As children seem to do much better in home like settings, rather than larger institutions, this is a "family like" foster care for children while they wait for their families. One of the positive attributes of the Ethiopia adoption program is the fact that the Ethiopian people respect and care for children in a way that allows them to be more emotionally intact than other countries. It is noted that all children seem to do exceptionally well in the areas of attachment and developmental milestones. This is probably attributed to the "hands on" care they receive from those who care for them.
Q: Will you be traveling to Ethiopia?
A: You bet we will!! Most families, generally are in Ethiopia for 10-14 days. CAFAC tries to arrange for several families to travel together. When we arrive in Ethiopia, we meet our children the first full day that we are in their Country at the CAFAC foster home. The next day we get to bring them with us for the remainder of the trip in the Guest House. If you wish, some families do have an escort from the agency bring your child to Canada.
Q: How much does an adoption from Ethiopia cost?
Adoptive parents do not pay for a baby. They pay to have work done in order that they can adopt a baby. Fees that are charged an adopting couple are used to support the work of the agency, agency fees are regulated by the federal government.
A: Approximate breakdown (2007)
Home Study $600
(ours was with SK DCRE, but independent practitioners will charge more, & will vary province to province)
Immigration Application $150 per child
Agency Fees $4500 for one child
(includes foreign courier fees, embassy authentications, foster home fees, adoption fees-passport, birth certificate, court fees, translations etc..., representative fees, immigration medical and lab tests)
Country Fees $5500 U.S.D. for one child
Other Fees
-Paperwork
(vital stats, etc.) $200
-Passports $200
-Immunizations $700
-Flights $2500 per person
-Stay in Country $2800
Approximate TOTAL: $19, 330 to adopt one child
If you adopt two children you pay the same fees as above and the following additional fees for the additional child that is refered to your family.
Additional Agency fee $1,500 CAN
Additional Country fee $3,800 USD
Immigration application fee $150 CAN
Approximate TOTAL: $25, 380 to adopt two children
Q: What is positive adoption language? (Adoption Language)
A: Positive adoption language is crafted to give the maximum respect, dignity, responsibility, and objectivity about the decisions made by both birth parents and adoptive parents in discussing the family planning decisions they have made for children who have been adopted. By using positive adoption language, we help abolish the old stereotype that adoption is second best.
Positive Language Negative Language
Birth Parent Real Parent
Biological Parent Natural Parent
Birth Child Own Child
My Child Adopted Child
Make an adoption plan Give Away
Intercountry Adoption Foreign Adoption
Was Adopted Is Adopted
These are just a few examples of the PAL versus the negative adoption language.
Q: What are some “nevers” to remember about adoption?
Never, during introductions, say, “This is the Blacks’ adopted son, Billy.” Would you ever say, “This is Mary, the Browns’ biological baby”? Never ask an adoptive parent in the presence of the children, “Which is your adopted child?” Never say to newly adoptive parents, “Now you’ll have one of your own.” First of all, this baby is “Their Own.” Secondly, it is difficult to describe the pain a couple has gone through prior to receiving this child into their arms and hearts. True, couples sometimes do conceive after adopting. But that does not happen as often as it might seem from the stories that abound. At any rate, be pleased for the new family, but spare them the teasing. They may still be raw and hurting.
Q: Is an adopted child your “real” sister, your “real” child?
Absolutely. An adopted child is as much a “real” member of the family as is a birth child. Blood is only one factor in relationship. A husband and wife, after all, are not blood relatives, and yet they certainly are members of the family. Adopted means belonging.
We hope that answers some questions about how inter-country adoption from Ethiopia works. There is an adoption time line you can follow on our blog.
.jpg)
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment