Ministry Update

The Government of Ontario, Ministry of Children and Youth Services has
updated information on their website.

Below is the link to the website followed by the text that has been
"copy and pasted from the website.


http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AdoptionCouncilofOnt/83f2142b51/b82c9ac8f3/abeb7dae9f


Information from Government of Ontario website- Ministry of Children
and Youth Services-

Update on Imagine/KidsLink International Bankruptcy- August 6, 2009


Questions & Answers

1. What is the government doing to help families affected by the
bankruptcy of Imagine Adoption/Kids Link?

The Canadian High Commission and Ethiopian child protection
authorities are working to ensure the safety of kids in transition
homes. The ministry is working with federal Minister of Citizenship,
Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, who is assisting with
expediting visas for kids whose adoptions are completed.

The Ministry continues to work closely with BDO Dunwoody, the
bankruptcy trustee, to look into all possible options to assist
adoptive families who have been matched with children and those at
other stages of the process, including whether there are other
agencies that can help. The trustee is working to assist families in
all provinces that have been affected by the bankruptcy.

2. Can the ministry confirm that families’ confidential documents are
secure? How can families access their files?

All of the agency’s documents are with the bankruptcy trustee and the
ministry is working with the trustee to ensure confidentiality. All of
the agency’s documents are with the bankruptcy trustee and the
ministry is working with the trustee to ensure confidentiality. For
families who simply want their files, please provide instructions in
writing to the trustee as to who should get your file (yourself or
agency). The trustee will address these requests and forward files.

3. Are the children currently in transition homes being well-cared
for?

The ministry’s priority right now is to make sure that the children in
the transition homes in Ethiopia are safe and that those who have
completed adoptions can make it safely to Canada.
The Canadian High Commission and Ethiopian child protection
authorities are working to ensure their safety. A lawyer with years of
experience in adoptions spent one week in Ethiopia on behalf of the
trustee and found that the children in the transition home are safe
and well-cared for. The trustee recently received a significant
financial donation that will go toward the ongoing operation of the
transition homes and ensure the well-being of the children staying
there.

4. When will the trustee’s plan be ready?

The ministry is working with the trustee to look into all possible
options to assist adoptive families who have been matched with
children and those at other stages of the process. A formal plan is
being prepared. However, an exact release date is not available at
this time.

5. How can families receive up to date information on the status of
the ministry’s and trustee’s work?

The ministry has information on this website for families to get
updates and a help line at 416-326-6510 has been established to
respond to inquiries. Families are also encouraged to continue
checking the BDO Dunwoody website at bdo.ca/imagineadoption.

6. What is the status of Saint Anne Adoption Centre?

The ministry is working with the trustee to better understand the
relationship between Imagine Adoption/Kids Link and Saint Anne
Adoption Centre, which facilitates adoptions from Ecuador, Brazil,
Columbia and Haiti. The ministry understands that records of these
agencies have been secured, has contacted the adoption authorities in
Ecuador and is working to maintain open lines of communication.

7. What is the status of the Ghana program?

The ministry knows that Imagine Adoption/Kids Link did match two
Ontario families with children in Ghana as prospective adoptive
families. Once the ministry was informed that the orphanage in Ghana -
Hands of Mercy – was, the Letters of No Objection, provided by the
ministry and required for immigration, were withdrawn for both of the
families. The orphanage in Ghana was closed in June 2009.

The ministry is following up with the federal government to get an
update on the status of the orphanage.

8. How could Imagine Adoption/Kids Link have gone bankrupt when the
ministry renewed its licence last October? Are the government’s
licensing requirements not strict enough?

The ministry has some of the most comprehensive international adoption
licensing requirements in Canada to ensure the safety of children.
This agency was in compliance with the Intercountry Adoption Act,
which ensures that an agency has the capacity to complete adoptions in
a safe and appropriate manner.

As private corporations, international adoption agencies have Boards
of Directors who are responsible for ensuring appropriate financial
management and controls are in place in accordance with the
Corporations Act. The ministry took action as soon as it became aware
of Imagine Adoption/Kids Link’s financial situation.

9. Does Imagine Adoption/Kids Link receive funding from the Ministry
of Children and Youth Services?

No, the ministry does not provide any funding to the agency.
International adoption agencies, including Imagine Adoption/Kids Link,
operate on a fee for service basis.

10. What about the status of my home study?

You can call the Ministry’s help line at 416-326-6510 to inquire about
the status of your home study. Your home study is portable, so if you
choose to go to a different agency to continue the adoption process,
you will not have to start at the beginning of the home study process.