From brennain@onlink.net Tue Feb 11 13:34:44 2003 From: brennain@onlink.net (Brennain Lloyd) Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 08:34:44 -0500 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Alberta first province to feature adoptable children on Internet In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20020803133758.02b44190@pop.ncf.carleton.ca> Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20030211083444.00fcaa70@pop3.onlink.net> Feb. 10, 2003 Alberta first province to feature adoptable children on Internet Edmonton ... Alberta is the first provincial government in Canada to utilize the Internet to openly present children who are eligible for adoption. Children's Services Minister Iris Evans officially launched the new Web site on Feb. 10. The site features approximately 90 children in government care who are awaiting adoption, as well as their video clips, photographs and profiles. "We are excited about this Web site because we hope it will increase the number of adoptive families coming forward," said Evans. "We know that showing videos and photographs of the children increases the interest of potential families who are willing to open their homes through adoption. We want to do everything within our means to find adoptive families because every child deserves a permanent, loving home." The adoption profile Web site is one more tool in Alberta's aggressive media recruitment efforts to find adoptive families for children in permanent government care. Other tools include the Wednesday's Child television vignettes featuring adoptable children as well as radio, newspaper and television recruitment. The Adoption Council of Canada recently awarded Alberta the highest rating in Canada for its adoption program. At any given time in Alberta, there are approximately 100 children waiting for a loving family to adopt them. Anyone interested in looking for adoptable children, youth or sibling groups is encouraged to visit the Alberta Children's Services Ministry Web site at www.child.gov.ab.ca. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Office has sanctioned the presentation of adoptable children on the Alberta Children's Services Web site. - 30 - Note: While there is a link off the Children's Services homepage for the new adoption profile Web site, the exact address is www.child.gov.ab.ca/whatwedo/adoption/profilelookup.cfm For further information, contact: Iris Evans - Minister, Alberta Children's Services - (780) 415-4890 Mark Kastner - Communications, Alberta Children's Services - (780) 427-4801 Dial 310-0000 for toll free access outside Edmonton. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Alberta Government Home | Ministries Listing | Children's Services Home Page | News Releases |Top of Page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Send us your comments or questions Copyright(c); 2003 Government of Alberta From parentfindersinc@yahoo.com Thu Feb 13 00:29:06 2003 From: parentfindersinc@yahoo.com (Parent Finders) Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 16:29:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Alberta first province to feature adoptable children on Internet In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.20030211083444.00fcaa70@pop3.onlink.net> Message-ID: <20030213002906.79113.qmail@web14405.mail.yahoo.com> --0-998577823-1045096146=:77436 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii If the following is "news to you" please scroll down to the first entry and read up. And then head for the john...you'll be feeling ill. ______________ This website is going to cause some of the most vulnerable, marginalized children in our society great pain; indeed, according to tonight's report on CBC Radio 1, within a day of launch, it already has. Some years ago when the late Dave Thomas (of Wendy's fame) wanted to put photos/writeups of children waiting for adoption on his website, and, if you can believe it, on adverts in his American restaurants, I said that this was nothing short of exploitative. Children "in care" too often have to deal with unbelievable shame, rejection and poor self esteem, and are ready targets for other children's taunts (not to mention other disrespectful behaviours). This website is tantamount to "marketing" human beings, despite what may be the "good intentions" of those responsible. One day it will be seen for what it actually is: nothing more, and nothing less than another form of child abuse, visited on the already much abused, by the "official helper." In the USA, such tactics are not all that surprising, but that this has now happened in Canada is disgusting in the extreme. Children need homes, but they are not commodities. In Ontario, the "spring and fall" meetings where children who are free for adoption are showcased in a "slide show" is bad enough, but at least these meetings are not open to the general public. A website is accessible by the whole world. And since access to these children's photos and life histories is so widely accessible, how on earth can any government perpetuate the notion that adoption is "confidential"? Nevermind the whole world, the birth parent(s) of these particular children, from whom many of them have been apprehended into protective custody (and often with good reason) by child welfare agencies, can easily access this information, though their parental rights have been terminated. Make no mistake, I don't think for a moment that finding homes for foster kids is an easy task. My job, working with drug users/ex-users isn't always easy, either. But I would never consider, and don't think I'd get away with, putting clients' photos and life stories up on a website, appealing to good-hearted, prospective landlords or employers, in an effort to find them housing or jobs or treatment. The people I work with and on behalf of need these things just as much as foster children need homes, and this might make my job easier, but the very idea would probably get me fired, and if I did it, probably result in lawsuits. But then, my clients are adults -- their basic human need for and right to privacy, a minimum of dignity and a little respect is somehow more understood and accepted by other adults than the fact that children have precisely the same basic human needs and rights. Any similarity between puppies and children has been quite clearly distinguished since J.J. Kelso founded Canada's first child welfare agency (over a hundred years ago) modeled on the humane society....or has it? Holly Kramer President, PFI Brennain Lloyd wrote: Feb. 10, 2003 Alberta first province to feature adoptable children on Internet Edmonton ... Alberta is the first provincial government in Canada to utilize the Internet to openly present children who are eligible for adoption. Children's Services Minister Iris Evans officially launched the new Web site on Feb. 10. The site features approximately 90 children in government care who are awaiting adoption, as well as their video clips, photographs and profiles. "We are excited about this Web site because we hope it will increase the number of adoptive families coming forward," said Evans. "We know that showing videos and photographs of the children increases the interest of potential families who are willing to open their homes through adoption. We want to do everything within our means to find adoptive families because every child deserves a permanent, loving home." The adoption profile Web site is one more tool in Alberta's aggressive media recruitment efforts to find adoptive families for children in permanent government care. Other tools include the Wednesday's Child television vignettes featuring adoptable children as well as radio, newspaper and television recruitment. The Adoption Council of Canada recently awarded Alberta the highest rating in Canada for its adoption program. At any given time in Alberta, there are approximately 100 children waiting for a loving family to adopt them. Anyone interested in looking for adoptable children, youth or sibling groups is encouraged to visit the Alberta Children's Services Ministry Web site at www.child.gov.ab.ca. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Office has sanctioned the presentation of adoptable children on the Alberta Children's Services Web site. - 30 - Note: While there is a link off the Children's Services homepage for the new adoption profile Web site, the exact address is www.child.gov.ab.ca/whatwedo/adoption/profilelookup.cfm For further information, contact: Iris Evans - Minister, Alberta Children's Services - (780) 415-4890 Mark Kastner - Communications, Alberta Children's Services - (780) 427-4801 Dial 310-0000 for toll free access outside Edmonton. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Alberta Government Home | Ministries Listing | Children's Services Home Page | News Releases |Top of Page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Send us your comments or questions Copyright(c); 2003 Government of Alberta _______________________________________________ Nacac-canadian-issues mailing list Nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/nacac-canadian-issuess --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day --0-998577823-1045096146=:77436 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii

If the following is "news to you" please scroll down to the first entry and read up.  And then head for the john...you'll be feeling ill.

______________

This website is going to cause some of the most vulnerable, marginalized children in our society great pain;  indeed, according to tonight's report on CBC Radio 1, within a day of launch, it already has. 

Some years ago when the late Dave Thomas (of Wendy's fame) wanted to put photos/writeups of children waiting for adoption on his website, and, if you can believe it, on adverts in his American restaurants, I said that this was nothing short of exploitative.  Children "in care" too often have to deal with unbelievable shame, rejection and poor self esteem, and are ready targets for other children's taunts (not to mention other disrespectful behaviours).  This website is tantamount to "marketing" human beings, despite what may be the "good intentions" of those responsible.  One day it will be seen for what it actually is: nothing more, and nothing less than another form of child abuse, visited on the already much abused, by the "official helper."  

In the USA, such tactics are not all that surprising, but that this has now happened in Canada is disgusting in the extreme.  Children need homes, but they are not commodities.  In Ontario, the "spring and fall" meetings where children who are free for adoption are showcased in a "slide show" is bad enough, but at least these meetings are not open to the general public.  A website is accessible by the whole world.  And since access to these children's photos and life histories is so widely accessible, how on earth can any government perpetuate the notion that adoption is "confidential"?  Nevermind the whole world, the birth parent(s) of these particular children, from whom many of them have been apprehended into protective custody (and often with good reason) by child welfare agencies, can easily access this information, though their parental rights have been terminated.   

Make no mistake, I don't think for a moment that finding homes for foster kids is an easy task.  My job, working with drug users/ex-users isn't always easy, either.  But I would never consider, and don't think I'd get away with,  putting clients' photos and life stories up on a website, appealing to good-hearted, prospective landlords or employers, in an effort to find them housing or jobs or treatment.  The people I work with and on behalf of need these things just as much as foster children need homes, and this might make my job easier, but the very idea would probably get me fired, and if I did it, probably result in lawsuits.

But then, my clients are adults -- their basic human need for and right to privacy, a minimum of dignity and a little respect is somehow more understood and accepted by other adults than the fact that children have precisely the same basic human needs and rights.   

Any similarity between puppies and children has been quite clearly distinguished since J.J. Kelso founded Canada's first child welfare agency (over a hundred years ago) modeled on the humane society....or has it?

Holly Kramer

President, PFI

 Brennain Lloyd <brennain@onlink.net> wrote:



Feb. 10, 2003

Alberta first province to feature adoptable children on Internet

Edmonton ... Alberta is the first provincial government in Canada to
utilize the Internet to openly present children who are eligible for adoption.

Children's Services Minister Iris Evans officially launched the new Web
site on Feb. 10. The site features approximately 90 children in government
care who are awaiting adoption, as well as their video clips, photographs
and profiles.

"We are excited about this Web site because we hope it will increase the
number of adoptive families coming forward," said Evans. "We know that
showing videos and photographs of the children increases the interest of
potential families who are willing to open their homes through adoption. We
want to do everything within our means to find adoptive families because
every child deserves a permanent, loving home."

The adoption profile Web site is one more tool in Alberta's aggressive
media recruitment efforts to find adoptive families for children in
permanent government care. Other tools include the Wednesday's Child
television vignettes featuring adoptable children as well as radio,
newspaper and television recruitment.

The Adoption Council of Canada recently awarded Alberta the highest rating
in Canada for its adoption program.

At any given time in Alberta, there are approximately 100 children waiting
for a loving family to adopt them. Anyone interested in looking for
adoptable children, youth or sibling groups is encouraged to visit the
Alberta Children's Services Ministry Web site at www.child.gov.ab.ca. The
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Office has sanctioned the
presentation of adoptable children on the Alberta Children's Services Web
site.

- 30 -

Note: While there is a link off the Children's Services homepage for the
new adoption profile Web site, the exact address is
www.child.gov.ab.ca/whatwedo/adoption/profilelookup.cfm

For further information, contact:

Iris Evans - Minister, Alberta Children's Services - (780) 415-4890

Mark Kastner - Communications, Alberta Children's Services - (780) 427-4801

Dial 310-0000 for toll free access outside Edmonton.



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Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day --0-998577823-1045096146=:77436-- From mgrand@uoguelph.ca Thu Feb 13 04:49:08 2003 From: mgrand@uoguelph.ca (mgrand@uoguelph.ca) Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 23:49:08 -0500 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photo listing Message-ID: <1045111748.3e4b23c48d8f9@webmail.uoguelph.ca> Just to add a little context to the discussion: On the news this evening it was reported that a foster mother in Alberta has put in a complaint to the ministry because her two foster kids learned from their classmates that they were eligible for adoption. The classmates saw their pictures on the internet site. The Adoption Council of Canada had a policy, as of a year ago, that photolisting should not be accessible to the general public. Interested parties would have to complete a registration form and give evidence that they were potential adoptive parents. Now we learn that ACC has given Alberta its highest rating for adoption services. What has happened in the intervening year? What were the criteria used to assess the quality of the service? Is this a private assessment or are we all privy to the results? How can ACC endorse Alberta's adoption service when this province is acting outside of the guidelines developed by ACC? I have looked on the ACC website but was unable to find anything pertaining to this matter. I think it is time that ACC explain its position to the adoption community. Michael From lexreynolds@shaw.ca Thu Feb 13 16:18:20 2003 From: lexreynolds@shaw.ca (Lex Reynolds) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 08:18:20 -0800 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photo listing In-Reply-To: <1045111748.3e4b23c48d8f9@webmail.uoguelph.ca> Message-ID: <000201c2d37b$86672520$3dcc5018@lexzkhdvd8aop1> Michael your questions are good ones and I will ensure they are on the agenda for the upcoming board meeting on February21 22 It appears that the privacy commissioner of Alberta shares your concerns I "believe" that the highest marks comment refers to the report card on adoption which you are aware of which was completed in advance of this decision by Alberta and as is often the case taken out of context and used for a purpose not directly intended. I am not aware of any board public statement that was agreed to or discussed and approved by the board with respect to Alberta's recent decision As you know the acc has very stringent safeguards to ensure with respect to our program. -----Original Message----- From: nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net [mailto:nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net] On Behalf Of mgrand@uoguelph.ca Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 8:49 PM To: nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net; AdoptionCanada@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photo listing Just to add a little context to the discussion: On the news this evening it was reported that a foster mother in Alberta has put in a complaint to the ministry because her two foster kids learned from their classmates that they were eligible for adoption. The classmates saw their pictures on the internet site. The Adoption Council of Canada had a policy, as of a year ago, that photolisting should not be accessible to the general public. Interested parties would have to complete a registration form and give evidence that they were potential adoptive parents. Now we learn that ACC has given Alberta its highest rating for adoption services. What has happened in the intervening year? What were the criteria used to assess the quality of the service? Is this a private assessment or are we all privy to the results? How can ACC endorse Alberta's adoption service when this province is acting outside of the guidelines developed by ACC? I have looked on the ACC website but was unable to find anything pertaining to this matter. I think it is time that ACC explain its position to the adoption community. Michael _______________________________________________ Nacac-canadian-issues mailing list Nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/nacac-canadian-issues From mgrand@uoguelph.ca Thu Feb 13 17:06:19 2003 From: mgrand@uoguelph.ca (mgrand@uoguelph.ca) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 12:06:19 -0500 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photo listing In-Reply-To: <000201c2d37b$86672520$3dcc5018@lexzkhdvd8aop1> References: <000201c2d37b$86672520$3dcc5018@lexzkhdvd8aop1> Message-ID: <1045155979.3e4bd08b9e163@webmail.uoguelph.ca> Lex: Thank you for your response. I would hope to see a strong statement from the ACC board distancing itself from the Alberta ministry's initiative. It would also be appropriate to publically state the standards ACC has accepted for presenting information about potential adoptees. Michael Quoting Lex Reynolds : > Michael your questions are good ones and I will ensure they are on the > agenda for the upcoming board meeting on February21 22 > > It appears that the privacy commissioner of Alberta shares your concerns > > I "believe" that the highest marks comment refers to the report card on > adoption which you are aware of which was completed in advance of this > decision by Alberta and as is often the case taken out of context and > used for a purpose not directly intended. > > > I am not aware of any board public statement that was agreed to or > discussed and approved by the board with respect to Alberta's recent > decision > > As you know the acc has very stringent safeguards to ensure with respect > to our program. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net > [mailto:nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net] On Behalf Of > mgrand@uoguelph.ca > Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 8:49 PM > To: nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net; > AdoptionCanada@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photo listing > > > Just to add a little context to the discussion: On the news this evening > it > was reported that a foster mother in Alberta has put in a complaint to > the > ministry because her two foster kids learned from their classmates that > they > were eligible for adoption. The classmates saw their pictures on the > internet > site. > > The Adoption Council of Canada had a policy, as of a year ago, that > photolisting should not be accessible to the general public. Interested > parties would have to complete a registration form and give evidence > that they > were potential adoptive parents. Now we learn that ACC has given Alberta > its > highest rating for adoption services. What has happened in the > intervening > year? What were the criteria used to assess the quality of the service? > Is > this a private assessment or are we all privy to the results? How can > ACC > endorse Alberta's adoption service when this province is acting outside > of the > guidelines developed by ACC? I have looked on the ACC website but was > unable > to find anything pertaining to this matter. > > I think it is time that ACC explain its position to the adoption > community. > > Michael > _______________________________________________ > Nacac-canadian-issues mailing list > Nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net > http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/nacac-canadian-issues > > From arigatobabe@hotmail.com Thu Feb 13 19:50:16 2003 From: arigatobabe@hotmail.com (Cherry Blossom) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 11:50:16 -0800 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photo Listing Message-ID: Well said Holly! I am disgusted by what I saw on the Alberta web site and even more appalled that the ACC appears to support this site. Myself and 2 adopted persons spent many years with ACC arguing against photo listings and finally got them to agree, as a Board, that the ACC would not be in support of photo listing (except under stringent security measures). It was a comprise we made in order to move forward with the Canada's Waiting Kids program, yet I remained uncomfortable with it. To see what Alberta is doing makes me sick and I will certainly be getting everyone in our community to write in with their complaints. Nancy Reunited Birth Mother "In the process of acquiring wisdom, one occasionally makes a fool of herself." If the following is "news to you" please scroll down to the first entry and read up. And then head for the john...you'll be feeling ill. ______________ This website is going to cause some of the most vulnerable, marginalized children in our society great pain; indeed, according to tonight's report on CBC Radio 1, within a day of launch, it already has. Some years ago when the late Dave Thomas (of Wendy's fame) wanted to put photos/writeups of children waiting for adoption on his website, and, if you can believe it, on adverts in his American restaurants, I said that this was nothing short of exploitative. Children "in care" too often have to deal with unbelievable shame, rejection and poor self esteem, and are ready targets for other children's taunts (not to mention other disrespectful behaviours). This website is tantamount to "marketing" human beings, despite what may be the "good intentions" of those responsible. One day it will be seen for what it actually is: nothing more, and nothing less than another form of child abuse, visited on the already much abused, by the "official helper." ................... _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail From Susan.Lees@caphealth.org Fri Feb 14 00:47:20 2003 From: Susan.Lees@caphealth.org (Lees, Susan) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 16:47:20 -0800 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photo listing Message-ID: <9D44071B7399E9419A9E240BEDE115E60FF43E@Eagle.caphealth.org> Michael and Lex, I know I am repeating myself to you but I have to vent! Having participated as a board member of the ACC in the hard work of hammering out a compromise in order to set standards for photo-listing children (even though opposed to the practice), my response, informed only by the media, to the Alberta website was one of sadness and dismay. Although I brought fairly radical concerns to the table, (informed by the RCMP amongst others) about not having nearly enough control or understanding of the potential risks to children whose images are available on the internet (The RCMP's advice to parents is that they should not ever post their children's pictures even on personal websites that are accessible via the internet! In this case, the government being the parent, did they consider the best interests of their/our children?), I also wondered about the order of this method as a response to the issue of the foster care crisis in Canada. By order, I mean would this strategy not be considered the very last desperate attempt to provide safe, stable, permanency options for children?? Wouldn't we as a society not want to examine all of the underlying barriers to placement first? Coincidentally, I just came across an article published last Fall by four social workers, Jo-Anne Lodermeier, Deborah Hammond, Hayley Henderson and Nicole Carvalho on research they did in Calgary, Alberta entitled "Factors Affecting Timely Permanency Planning for Children in Care". Not surprisingly, they did not mention the lack of photo-listing children on a website as any of the concerns related to best practice in permanency planning. Their recommendations did include: Need for further training; Staff retention; Compliance with caseloead standards; Expedient judicial system; Placement resources/matching; Creation of more specialized permanency planning positions loacated within each area of service; Further research and exploration of the identified barriers and promoters that affect permanency planning. Have all of these hurdles been overcome in Alberta since the Fall and before launching a website?? Clearly, the complex needs of children in care are such that there are no easy fixes. For many children, adoption is a viable and valuable option to remaining in care. It obviously cannot meet the needs of the majority. In many provinces, the value of adoption as an option has not even been recognized. We have a lot of work to do before there is any consistancy of practice amongst the provinces. So far, we have not put a lot of energy into learning from each other (the "report card" is not a tool that effectively enables this process) and obviously the only national body representing adoption has not been consulted. Technology is wonderful but it is not magic, it can't replace the hard, well-informed work of human beings. These children are our future, they deserve more than a glitzy web-site exploiting their cute faces. I will never be convinced that the major life decision to adopt a child with special needs should be arrived at as a result of viewing a picture. There are life-long issues in adoption that must be met by people who are committed to supporting, informing and developing parent capacity that generally takes a lifetime to achieve. It is an incredible personal journey and people who have embarked on it are rewarded by the tremendous personal development that living with the children they adopt affords them. These children are human beings and no picture or description can do justice to their wholeness. I feel fortunate to live in British Columbia where our privacy laws protect children as they do the rest of our citizens. We may have not gotten an "A" on the report card but I am proud of the range of expertise and wisdom that we have gained in our adoption community over the past couple of decades. I only hope that we aren't sucked into the corporate spiral that sets us up to believe that we don't have an obligation to continue to care for the most vulnerable in society! I gues I'll stop now.......Susan Lex: Thank you for your response. I would hope to see a strong statement from the ACC board distancing itself from the Alberta ministry's initiative. It would also be appropriate to publically state the standards ACC has accepted for presenting information about potential adoptees. Michael Quoting Lex Reynolds : > Michael your questions are good ones and I will ensure they are on the > agenda for the upcoming board meeting on February21 22 > > It appears that the privacy commissioner of Alberta shares your concerns > > I "believe" that the highest marks comment refers to the report card on > adoption which you are aware of which was completed in advance of this > decision by Alberta and as is often the case taken out of context and > used for a purpose not directly intended. > > > I am not aware of any board public statement that was agreed to or > discussed and approved by the board with respect to Alberta's recent > decision > > As you know the acc has very stringent safeguards to ensure with respect > to our program. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net > [mailto:nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net] On Behalf Of > mgrand@uoguelph.ca > Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 8:49 PM > To: nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net; > AdoptionCanada@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photo listing > > > Just to add a little context to the discussion: On the news this evening > it > was reported that a foster mother in Alberta has put in a complaint to > the > ministry because her two foster kids learned from their classmates that > they > were eligible for adoption. The classmates saw their pictures on the > internet > site. > > The Adoption Council of Canada had a policy, as of a year ago, that > photolisting should not be accessible to the general public. Interested > parties would have to complete a registration form and give evidence > that they > were potential adoptive parents. Now we learn that ACC has given Alberta > its > highest rating for adoption services. What has happened in the > intervening > year? What were the criteria used to assess the quality of the service? > Is > this a private assessment or are we all privy to the results? How can > ACC > endorse Alberta's adoption service when this province is acting outside > of the > guidelines developed by ACC? I have looked on the ACC website but was > unable > to find anything pertaining to this matter. > > I think it is time that ACC explain its position to the adoption > community. > > Michael > _______________________________________________ > Nacac-canadian-issues mailing list > Nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net > http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/nacac-canadian-issues > > _______________________________________________ Nacac-canadian-issues mailing list Nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/nacac-canadian-issues From susan.lees@caphealth.org Fri Feb 14 01:45:16 2003 From: susan.lees@caphealth.org (susan.lees@caphealth.org) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 20:45:16 -0500 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] National Post Story Message-ID: This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --0314_9B2A_ABE8_436F_9BCE_4DBA_5570_88AD Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dear nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net, Your friend susan.lees@caphealth.org thought you might be interested in this National Post story: "Letters" http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/story.html?id=101ACC84-FE70-4AB0-A1F2-FB6FAFF2B3EC See last letter by Arnie Gotfryd. _______________________________________ This is a free service courtesy of canada.com (http://www.canada.com) --0314_9B2A_ABE8_436F_9BCE_4DBA_5570_88AD-- From susan.lees@caphealth.org Fri Feb 14 02:40:27 2003 From: susan.lees@caphealth.org (susan.lees@caphealth.org) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 21:40:27 -0500 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] canada.com Story Message-ID: This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --9BD6_9898_4C64_481B_8684_B025_97F2_69F9 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dear nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net, Your friend susan.lees@caphealth.org thought you might be interested in this canada.com story: "Too much information" http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=4727f4fe-33fe-4e1c-918a-37e3361349c8 Thankfully, a long thoughtful process was involved and patiently endured by some before launching the CWC website. Alberta was welcome to utilize the website and/or the wisdom gained in the process of creating it. _______________________________________ This is a free service courtesy of canada.com (http://www.canada.com) --9BD6_9898_4C64_481B_8684_B025_97F2_69F9-- From cecelia_r@telus.net Fri Feb 14 06:14:04 2003 From: cecelia_r@telus.net (Cecelia) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 22:14:04 -0800 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] FW: [Adoption Canada] photo listing Message-ID: <000001c2d3f0$4ac484c0$3c7535d1@a6a95489> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C2D3AD.3CA144C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =20 =20 -----Original Message----- From: Cecelia [mailto:cecelia_r@telus.net]=20 Sent: February 13, 2003 10:05 PM To: 'nacac-canadian-issues-request@communityforum.net' Subject: FW: [Adoption Canada] photo listing =20 =20 =20 -----Original Message----- From: Cecelia [mailto:cecelia_r@telus.net]=20 Sent: February 13, 2003 9:49 PM To: AdoptionCanada@yahoogroups.com Subject: [AdoptionCanada] photo listing =20 Hi Everyone: I have just joined this group so I have no idea who is all on this list. Here goes my opinion on photo-listing. I was so disappointed to see Alberta take this step in trying to place children for adoption. I cannot believe a Government could be so irresponsible to not have all their bases covered so that no one gets hurt. I would like to see the kids or the foster families sue the Alberta Government than maybe photo-listing would be a thing of the past. For those individuals who support photo-listing I think you should think of what is best for our children. They cannot and should not be asked to make a decision about whether they want to be on posters, commercials, tray liners or a web-site they cannot make a decision and realize all the emotions that they would go through if someone recognized them. It just is not right!! What if we turned the tables, what if we posted perspective adoptive parents on a web-site, with their own right-ups, pictures, movie clips and than the children in care could read about these individuals and decide which one=92s they may be interested in meeting. This way we have consenting adults who would understand the ramifications of posting your information and pictures on the web. I am not sure that too many people would be interested in doing this. They would probably feel violated and they would lose all their privacy, just what I think we are doing to the children. I think if we HAVE to photo list it should be the adults!! I hope the ACC has not forgotten the very long, in-depth, frustrating, drawn-out conversations that we had about this issue. If there are any new Board Members I would suggest you go back and look at the minutes and for those Board Members who still sit on the Board you must remember the stand that the ACC took. What is the ACC=92s stand on this issue today? Does this not mean anything anymore??? In British Columbia the adoption act is written =93In the best interests of the child=94 photo listing is not in the best interest of any child. = I have written Alberta Children Services about this issue and I will not stand by without a fight until this site comes down. We must watch other governments and agencies to ensure that know one else tries to do this again. I will do my best not to let this happen again. Cecelia [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] AdoptionCanada is an unmoderated list sponsored by the Adoption Council of Canada. Discussions on the list are considered to be the opinions of the individual poster and not the official policy of the Adoption Council of Canada. For more information on the Adoption Council of Canada please visit our website at www.adoption.ca=20 *Discussions may not be quoted in any other public forum without the express written consent of the original writers*=20 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C2D3AD.3CA144C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

 

 

-----Original = Message-----
From: Cecelia [mailto:cecelia_r@telus.net]
Sent: = Feb= ruary 13, 2003 = 10:= 05 PM
To: = 'nacac-canadian-issues-request@communityforum.net'
Subject: FW: [Adoption = Canada] photo listing

 

 

 

-----Original = Message-----
From: Cecelia [mailto:cecelia_r@telus.net]
Sent: = Feb= ruary 13, 2003 = 9:4= 9 PM
To: = AdoptionCanada@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AdoptionCanada] = photo listing

 

Hi Everyone:

I have just joined this group so I have = no idea who is all on this list.
Here goes my opinion on = photo-listing.

I was so disappointed to see = Alberta take = this step in trying to place
children for adoption.  I cannot = believe a Government could be so
irresponsible to not have all their bases = covered so that no one gets
hurt.  I would like to see the kids = or the foster families sue the
Alberta Government than maybe = photo-listing would be a thing of the
past.

For those individuals who support = photo-listing I think you should think
of what is best for our children.  = They cannot and should not be asked
to make a decision about whether they = want to be on posters,
commercials, tray liners or a web-site = they cannot make a decision and
realize all the emotions that they would = go through if someone
recognized them.  It just is not right!!  What if we turned the tables,
what if we posted perspective adoptive = parents on a web-site, with their
own right-ups, pictures, movie clips and = than the children in care could
read about these individuals and decide = which one’s they may be
interested in meeting.  This way we = have consenting adults who would
understand the ramifications of posting = your information and pictures on
the web.  I am not sure that too = many people would be interested in
doing this.  They would probably = feel violated and they would lose all
their privacy, just what I think we are = doing to the children.  I think
if we HAVE to photo list it should be the = adults!!

I hope the ACC has not forgotten the very = long, in-depth, frustrating,
drawn-out conversations that we had about = this issue.  If there are any
new Board Members I would suggest you go = back and look at the minutes
and for those Board Members who still sit = on the Board you must remember
the stand that the ACC took.  What = is the ACC’s stand on this issue
today?  Does this not mean anything anymore???

In = British = Columbia the = adoption act is written “In the best interests
of the child” photo listing is not = in the best interest of any child.  I
have written Alberta Children Services = about this issue and I will not
stand by without a fight until this site = comes down.  We must watch
other governments and agencies to ensure = that know one else tries to do
this again.  I will do my best not = to let this happen again.

Cecelia


[Non-text portions of this message have = been removed]


AdoptionCanada is an unmoderated list sponsored by the Adoption Council = of
Canada.  = Discussions on the list are considered to be the opinions of = the
individual poster and not the official = policy of the Adoption Council of
Canada.  = For more information on the Adoption Council of Canada please = visit
our website at www.adoption.ca =

*Discussions may not be quoted in any = other public forum without the express written consent of the original writers* =


Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C2D3AD.3CA144C0-- From arigatobabe@hotmail.com Fri Feb 14 16:02:53 2003 From: arigatobabe@hotmail.com (Cherry Blossom) Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 08:02:53 -0800 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Arnie Gotfryd article Message-ID: Susan - thanks for your comments from yet another past board member of the ACC. I thought Arnie's post was worth printing here: Nancy Reunited Birth Mother "In the process of acquiring wisdom, one occasionally makes a fool of herself." Re: Adoption Web Site Provides Too Much Information: Critics, Feb. 11. Alberta's new online adoption Web site is a beautiful structure built on a rotten foundation -- the concept that kids are merchandise and adoptive applicants are their consumers. Don't get me wrong, applicants should have more control of their process; more kids should be adopted; and videos and Web sites should be used by government to promote adoption -- but not in this way. The consensus of psychologists, social workers, adoption advocates and foreign governments is that adoption proposals should be carefully planned, presented and evaluated, one at a time. Ten years ago, while planning my career in adoption, I learned two important lessons: 1) That one can facilitate inter-country adoptions successfully, without compromising ethical integrity, and 2) that one can plan and manage an adoption business without viewing kids as objects to be marketed. I still cherish those lessons. The key to successful adoptions is to consider each child and each applicant as a special person with special qualities and special needs. My advice to online adoption sponsors is this: Advertise programs (not kids); train adoption practitioners (not Web masters); and help adopters access resources and proposals the right way, with the confidentiality, dignity and respect that children deserve. Arnie Gotfryd, PhD, program director, Caring Homes for Orphan Children, Toronto. © Copyright 2003 National Post _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus From joshk@nacac.org Fri Feb 14 18:24:16 2003 From: joshk@nacac.org (Josh) Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 12:24:16 -0600 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Sandra Scarth Post Message-ID: Sandra asked me to repost this message from the AdoptionCanada list service. Josh Kroll Message: 4 Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 09:29:10 -0800 From: Sandra Scarth Subject: Re: Photo listing Michael: Your question is a reasonable one. The rating given to Alberta was prior to the photolising site going onto the Internet. It was given last year. Alberta has made a real effort to place children for adoption. Not only has Alberta used its Wednesday's Child effectively, the province supported an aboriginal strategy developed by the Yellowhead Tribal Council to place children within their communities, in a way acceptable to and involving elders and the rest of the community. This is an innovative, promising program, given the number of aboriginal children in our child welfare system. It took much building of trust between the Ministry and the aboriginal communities. This alone helped give Alberta a very high rating. It is unfortunate that in the launching of the new Internet site that Alberta's internal protocol regarding involving children and foster families prior to photo listing for Wednesday's Child and for the new Internet site were inadvertently broken. This was an error that Alberta will have to deal with. The ACC Board has developed no new formal policy on photolisitng since the decision was made by the board to limit the ACC site to users with a password. Ironically, this is an issue that is on the agenda for the next board meeting later this month. I have always known that significant and important issues in adoption are polarized because of conflicting and strongly held opinions. Those strong opinions most often come from personal experience. That is understandable. What I have found so disturbing since taking on the role of Chair of the Adoption Council of Canada is that so often the opions people hold are expressed with such anger, and there is so little effort to try to put ourselves in the other persons shoes, to truly understand how they feel and why they feel the way they do. I think we need a thoughtful dialogue that brings us to some common human understandings on these issues so that we can live with the differences and help each other find acceptable compromises. It does not help children needing families for the adoption community to be fighting about how to do this. It does not help adoptees deal with the need for openness if some of us feel they have no right to know. The Adoption Council of Canada intends to wrestle with these complex issues and come out with some position statements. This will not be easy and we will need to involve those at the polar ends of these debates. I hope that this will lead us to some solidarity so that we can transform the adoption experience to one that is truly healthy for all concerned. In the meantime, on a personal note, I support the Alberta Ministry's intent to try to find as many families as possible for the children in foster care and hope they can work out the issues with the privacy commissioner in some way. The ACC's experience with a system involving passwords may be helpful to them in their deliberations. You and I haven't talked since we met at the NACAC conference, and I hope we can do that soon. These issues will also be discussed at the NACAC conference in Vancouver, August 6 - 9, 2003 and hopefully will lead to some resolution so that we can move on. Hope this answers your question. Sandra Scarth From paul@russhayes.com Thu Feb 13 20:10:39 2003 From: paul@russhayes.com (Russ Hayes Co Ltd Russ Hayes Co Ltd) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 15:10:39 -0500 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] Photolisting Message-ID: <000a01c2d39b$fb3a78a0$3dc86395@win95b> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C2D372.11936500 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I have a comment to make. Twice a year in Ontario there is an event = called the Adoption Resource Exchange whereby children's profiles are = shown to approved adoptive parents 'in waiting'. There is no = pre-registration. Anyone can walk in off the street. There are no = security measures in place to insure a child's privacy. I don't hear = anyone complaining about that. I realize that an event held twice a = year is different from having access to a website 24/7. I agree that = access to the site should be available only to 'approved adoptive = parents' and that Alberta should fix this problem. Having said that = though, I still applaud Alberta for taking what I believe is a step in = the right direction. Too many children are being hid away in foster = homes due to the legislative, judicial and bureaucratic bumblings of = those in charge of child welfare provincially and federally. It is time = to promote adoption and permanency for children waiting for a home and = if that means enlisting the use of the electronic media - then so be it. Paul ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C2D372.11936500 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I have a comment to make.  = Twice a year in=20 Ontario there is an event called the Adoption Resource Exchange whereby=20 children's profiles are shown to approved adoptive parents 'in = waiting'. =20 There is no pre-registration.  Anyone can walk in off the = street. =20 There are no security measures in place to insure a child's = privacy. =20 I don't hear anyone complaining about that.  I realize that an = event held=20 twice a year is different from having access to a website 24/7.  I = agree=20 that access to the site should be available only to 'approved adoptive = parents'=20 and that Alberta should fix this problem.  Having said that though, = I still=20 applaud Alberta for taking what I believe is a step in the right=20 direction.  Too many children are being hid away in foster homes = due to the=20 legislative, judicial and bureaucratic bumblings of those in charge of = child=20 welfare provincially and federally.  It is time to promote adoption = and=20 permanency for children waiting for a home and if that means enlisting = the use=20 of the electronic media - then so be it.
Paul
------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C2D372.11936500-- From lexreynolds@shaw.ca Mon Feb 24 23:43:16 2003 From: lexreynolds@shaw.ca (Lex Reynolds) Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 15:43:16 -0800 Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] FW: [Adoption Canada] photo listing In-Reply-To: <000001c2d3f0$4ac484c0$3c7535d1@a6a95489> Message-ID: <000401c2dc5e$84abbfc0$3dcc5018@lexzkhdvd8aop1> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --Boundary_(ID_D25H1opikEMitYjuEpPcWA) Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Cecelia upon my return home from the board meeting I wanted to let you know that there will be a "highlights" sheet coming out from the board meeting. There will be something posted with respect to the acc position and other positions we are taking. The priciples for policy development will be up on the web right away comments are encouraged a summary of the strategic plan will also shortly be up on the website -----Original Message----- From: nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net [mailto:nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net] On Behalf Of Cecelia Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 10:14 PM To: nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] FW: [Adoption Canada] photo listing -----Original Message----- From: Cecelia [mailto:cecelia_r@telus.net] Sent: February 13, 2003 10:05 PM To: 'nacac-canadian-issues-request@communityforum.net' Subject: FW: [Adoption Canada] photo listing -----Original Message----- From: Cecelia [mailto:cecelia_r@telus.net] Sent: February 13, 2003 9:49 PM To: AdoptionCanada@yahoogroups.com Subject: [AdoptionCanada] photo listing Hi Everyone: I have just joined this group so I have no idea who is all on this list. Here goes my opinion on photo-listing. I was so disappointed to see Alberta take this step in trying to place children for adoption. I cannot believe a Government could be so irresponsible to not have all their bases covered so that no one gets hurt. I would like to see the kids or the foster families sue the Alberta Government than maybe photo-listing would be a thing of the past. For those individuals who support photo-listing I think you should think of what is best for our children. They cannot and should not be asked to make a decision about whether they want to be on posters, commercials, tray liners or a web-site they cannot make a decision and realize all the emotions that they would go through if someone recognized them. It just is not right!! What if we turned the tables, what if we posted perspective adoptive parents on a web-site, with their own right-ups, pictures, movie clips and than the children in care could read about these individuals and decide which one's they may be interested in meeting. This way we have consenting adults who would understand the ramifications of posting your information and pictures on the web. I am not sure that too many people would be interested in doing this. They would probably feel violated and they would lose all their privacy, just what I think we are doing to the children. I think if we HAVE to photo list it should be the adults!! I hope the ACC has not forgotten the very long, in-depth, frustrating, drawn-out conversations that we had about this issue. If there are any new Board Members I would suggest you go back and look at the minutes and for those Board Members who still sit on the Board you must remember the stand that the ACC took. What is the ACC's stand on this issue today? Does this not mean anything anymore??? In British Columbia the adoption act is written "In the best interests of the child" photo listing is not in the best interest of any child. I have written Alberta Children Services about this issue and I will not stand by without a fight until this site comes down. We must watch other governments and agencies to ensure that know one else tries to do this again. I will do my best not to let this happen again. Cecelia [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] AdoptionCanada is an unmoderated list sponsored by the Adoption Council of Canada. Discussions on the list are considered to be the opinions of the individual poster and not the official policy of the Adoption Council of Canada. For more information on the Adoption Council of Canada please visit our website at www.adoption.ca *Discussions may not be quoted in any other public forum without the express written consent of the original writers* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service . --Boundary_(ID_D25H1opikEMitYjuEpPcWA) Content-type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

Cecelia upon my return home from the board meeting I wanted to let you know that there will be a “highlights” sheet coming out from the board meeting.  There will be something posted with respect to the acc position and other positions we are taking.  The priciples for policy development will be up on the web right away comments are encouraged a summary of the strategic plan will also shortly be up on the website

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net [mailto:nacac-canadian-issues-admin@communityforum.net] On Behalf Of Cecelia
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 10:14 PM
To: nacac-canadian-issues@communityforum.net
Subject: [Nacac-canadian-issues] FW: [Adoption Canada] photo listing

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Cecelia [mailto:cecelia_r@telus.net]
Sent: February 13, 2003 10:05 PM
To: 'nacac-canadian-issues-request@communityforum.net'
Subject: FW: [Adoption Canada] photo listing

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Cecelia [mailto:cecelia_r@telus.net]
Sent: February 13, 2003 9:49 PM
To: AdoptionCanada@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AdoptionCanada] photo listing

 

Hi Everyone:

I have just joined this group so I have no idea who is all on this list.
Here goes my opinion on photo-listing.

I was so disappointed to see Alberta take this step in trying to place
children for adoption.  I cannot believe a Government could be so
irresponsible to not have all their bases covered so that no one gets
hurt.  I would like to see the kids or the foster families sue the
Alberta Government than maybe photo-listing would be a thing of the
past.

For those individuals who support photo-listing I think you should think
of what is best for our children.  They cannot and should not be asked
to make a decision about whether they want to be on posters,
commercials, tray liners or a web-site they cannot make a decision and
realize all the emotions that they would go through if someone
recognized them.  It just is not right!!  What if we turned the tables,
what if we posted perspective adoptive parents on a web-site, with their
own right-ups, pictures, movie clips and than the children in care could
read about these individuals and decide which one’s they may be
interested in meeting.  This way we have consenting adults who would
understand the ramifications of posting your information and pictures on
the web.  I am not sure that too many people would be interested in
doing this.  They would probably feel violated and they would lose all
their privacy, just what I think we are doing to the children.  I think
if we HAVE to photo list it should be the adults!!

I hope the ACC has not forgotten the very long, in-depth, frustrating,
drawn-out conversations that we had about this issue.  If there are any
new Board Members I would suggest you go back and look at the minutes
and for those Board Members who still sit on the Board you must remember
the stand that the ACC took.  What is the ACC’s stand on this issue
today?  Does this not mean anything anymore???

In British Columbia the adoption act is written “In the best interests
of the child” photo listing is not in the best interest of any child.  I
have written Alberta Children Services about this issue and I will not
stand by without a fight until this site comes down.  We must watch
other governments and agencies to ensure that know one else tries to do
this again.  I will do my best not to let this happen again.

Cecelia


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


AdoptionCanada is an unmoderated list sponsored by the Adoption Council of
Canada.  Discussions on the list are considered to be the opinions of the
individual poster and not the official policy of the Adoption Council of
Canada.  For more information on the Adoption Council of Canada please visit
our website at www.adoption.ca

*Discussions may not be quoted in any other public forum without the express written consent of the original writers*


Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


--Boundary_(ID_D25H1opikEMitYjuEpPcWA)--