PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE

ISN'T SHE A BEAUTY?

During the past 10 years, an average of 271 children in government care have been adopted annually in B.C. Many are of school age and many are siblings who should stay together. The Government of British Columbia proclaimed November as Adoption Awareness Month. The hope is to raise awareness about children in care who are waiting for adoptive homes, and also to recognize adoption as a valued way to build a family. Perhaps you know children whose parents perished in some unfortunate way or who were incapable of caring for their children, and therefore you see the worth of an adoptive family. I do. However, I have a hefty concern about Directors with the Ministry of Children and Family Development who pursue permanent care of children when to reasonable and informed people this seems absurdly excessive and unambiguously mistaken.


Children who are in permanent care in B.C. may be placed for adoption through the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Permanent care occurs when the courts have determined that the child cannot return to the care of their birth parent(s). Paul and Zabeth Bayne’s four children were being contested in a court of law in 2010 and 2011 and it was MCFD’s intention to have a judge rule a Continuing Care Order which would eventuate in the adoption of these children. How absolutely terrible that would have been. Today, after having been separated for four years, the children and Paul and Zabeth are contentedly living together and have been for the past three months following a magistrate’s ruling last March that shaken baby had not been proven but that because the infant’s injuries were not explained satisfactorily the parents could not have the children returned immediately but had to work with the Ministry through the summer to reach amicable resolution. This could have and should have been done within the first year rather than going four years and then trying to take the children permanently.

This year, to celebrate this Adoption Awareness Month, a travelling art gallery promoted by Adoptive Families Association of BC helped to promote Expressions of Family, raising awareness about the need to find more adoptive homes for teens. The gallery featured 14 pieces of artwork from youth, aged 12 to 24. Each told the story of the artist's adoption and foster care experiences. Teens represent more than 30 per cent of children in government care registered for adoption but average less than 10 per cent of adoptions every year. Two hundred sixty-three children and youth in government care in B.C. were adopted last year, but 1,200 others are still waiting for a family to call their own.


Please, please, please, you who are working the case of little Ayn Van Dyk, do everything that you possibly can right now to return her to her father’s parental care. This is the expression of the family that Ayn has and needs. Derek Hoare is a good man, a capable father. He understands autism and he facilitates Ayn’s positive development. Five and one half months has been enough of an interruption into their happiness. She has not benefited from this removal from a family of love. The apprehension was unnecessary. Any improvement or development of Derek’s parental skill that MCFD wished to address should have been handled with counsel rather than punishment and it still can. This girl will never live in an environment where she is wanted and loved more than in her Dad’s house with her two sibling brothers. She will celebrate her tenth birthday on December 14th. Please help her to remember this birthday for all the right reasons – most importantly that she is at home.