“I fear for orphaned children in Canada - no longer in orphanages - they are children in Foster Care.”

“It is easier to build a child than to fix an adult”

The Society for Orphaned Children in Canada

News Article

As an advocate for orphaned children in Canada, I am compelled to ask:

``Why is it that Canadian couples find it easier to adopt four overseas children than to adopt a single Canadian child?'' 

 

It's a vital question when you understand the terrifying issue of abandonment experienced by our children who have lost their parents for whatever reason. Psychological trauma is so invisible that most ignore the quiet, compliant, hollow-hearted children as they are placed into their new or temporary homes. They are deemed "OK. They are fine. They are lucky."

Psychological trauma is unseen by most adults and largely ignored, leaving the situation as an untold story.  Research shows virtually no books written by an orphan about the psychological suffering and although many books have been written about abuse none tell the story of the unseen pain of abandonment.

The book I recently wrote, ``Orphan - Through the Eyes of an Orphan'' addresses the inner feeling of abandonment that I understand and share with all abandoned children whatever their circumstance.

 

49% of foster children are ‘ward of the crown’- This represents thousands of children waiting for adults to "roll the dice" on their future. Many of these children are begging to be adopted. Decision makers need to make decisions rather than waffling.

 

The cost of one child in foster care for one year is $40,000. Another report suggests that 43 per cent of these children experience violence in the foster care setting.

 

Their plight has not been brought to public attention. They are children who have fallen through the cracks.

 

Every year these numbers increase while Canadian adoptions decrease.

 

The Federal government must become involved in the welfare of our children.

 

I suggested this in a letter to Prime Minister Steven Harper; his office replied saying “Adoption in Canada is a matter of provincial jurisdiction”.

Mr. Harper recently chaired a proposal to make overseas adoptions easier while regulations for adoptions of Canadian Children lie stagnant and fraught with red tape - and our children languish in abandonment.

 

Every day people come to tell me their story - how they really tried to adopt a Canadian orphan, but the process was too filled with red tape:  They all say the same thing - "we went elsewhere" or "we gave up altogether"; "maybe we'll get pregnant".

 

There are many potential loving adoptive parents in Canada and there are many orphaned children waiting to be adopted.

The Canadian adoption process needs to be made easier throughout Canada. Let’s get working to unite them in loving and happy homes.

Canadian Orphans are Placed Second

       Date: 08/25/2006