Results from our meeting!

Well, our meeting is over and WOW did we cover a lot of ground. The meeting was 2 hours long and many, many issues were brought forth. Here is a brief summary of my take on the meeting...

*At this time, the Province will not budge on its view that it is illegal, under Hague, to allow agencies to match children with families. Our adoption coalition disagrees with this and we are in the process of working with our lawyer to fight this.

*The Province told us that they did not have to inform families when child proposals arrived in PEI, earmarked for specific families. We said this was not acceptable and stressed that families need the opportunity to review a child proposal, especially if the Province has concerns with the file (ie. age is different than approved homestudy, issues with health, etc...). We feel very strongly that the family and Province should work together in determining if a child proposal should be accepted or rejected. At the very least, our Social Workers should be contacted by the Province to review our child files.

*The Ethiopian and Ukrainian adoption processes are being reviewed by the Province to confirm if families in PEI can adopt from these countries. We also want confirmation on Russia and Tawain. Keep in mind, that all other provinces in Canada allow families to adopt from Ethiopia and Russia. Most provinces (perhaps all - I haven't verified all yet) allow families to adopt from Tawian and Ukraine. We are very hopeful that PEI will also find that these are countries Island families can adopt from.

*Families in PEI who are expecting child referrals in the next few months are strongly urged to get amendments done to the homestudies to increase the age of the child they are requesting. To do this, call your Social Worker and tell them you would like an amendment done. If you have requested a child up to 10 months or 12 months you may want to write in your amendment that you are requesting a child up to 18 months or 24 months, depending on what you are comfortable with. This is still a major issue between our Coalition and the Province. We feel strongly that even without an amendment, families should be given the opportunity to decide if they will accept a child proposal if it's different from their homestudy.

*The PEI Gov't site will have more information posted - especially about any changes that are occuring in regards to international adoption. A link will also be posted for adoptive families to join our Coalition group to be kept up to date on the process of adoption and any information about international adoption.

*An overall review of all adoption procedures is being done by PEI and we are partnering with the Province to allow open communication between the province and adopting families. We will be involved in the policies and overview of the international adoption process.

There was lots more said and discussed but it's hard to put it all into words. PLEASE feel free to email me if you have concerns or issues you would like discussed on PEI. We are meeting again in 2 weeks with the same people (Director of Child Welfare, Director of Child & Family Services, Deputy Minister and a represetative from Premier Ghiz's office). I would be more than happy to bring forward any concerns or issues you have with international adoption!!!

Thank you to the many people who sent letters or email on behalf of the adoption community of PEI. Premier Ghiz received many responses and even received a call from Stephane Dion (Opposition Leader).

Our meeting with the Province

Today 2 other adoptive parents and myself are meeting with the Province to discuss some of the major issues concerning international adoption on PEI. This is a very critical meeting and it affects our personal adoption process as well as MANY others on PEI. Please pray for positive results and for open hearts with all the Provincial representatives!

You can listen to our interviews to learn more about the issues we are having and what we want from the Province at...

CBC TV:
http://www.cbc.ca/pei Look to the right hand side and you will see Listen/Watch/Discuss. click on Watch CBC News: Compass and then click on the top link that says Latest CBC News: Compass Newscast. We are the second story so you only have to watch for 2 minutes before our story comes on. :-)

CBC Radio:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2007/10/01/interational-adoption.html
Click on the right hand side where it says Audio.

How ironic that today, on the day of our big meeting with the Province, our homestudy and dossier is going to the Province for approval! We are excited about this but I'm very nervous about our whole adoption process and whether it will go smoothly or not!

Tammy

We need your prayers!

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the sweet emails about Alyssa and her adorable picture! She is a cutie-pie, but then again so are the other 51 children in the contest. All children are! The contest is open until October 11th so you still have lots of time to vote.

Chris and I received the exciting news that our homestudy is completed which means it just needs to be signed off by the Province and then all our documents, paperwork and homestudy will be sent to our agency, Kids Link. It will be translated and prepared for Ethiopia and then it will be sent to Ethiopia to be matched with our daughter!! I am such a sap but I couldn't help but cry when I read through the homestudy and realized we are so close to being matched with our daughter!! It is so emotional and exciting.

But, Chris and I truly need your prayers right now. We have about $4000 towards our adoption expenses but we need $12,500 BEFORE we are allowed to send our file to Ethiopia. We need to pay our agency fees and we also need to include a $6000 donation for our daughter's orphanage (this is mandatory for every adoption). So, we do not want to have to delay sending our file to Ethiopia because that means we will have to wait a lot longer to be matched with our daughter. So, please pray for our financial situation right now...we are in a draw for $10,000 on Oct 2nd and it would be so great if we won that!! (We bought a van from KIA and every one who did had their name put in the draw).

I am trying to think of another fundraiser to do to help with some of our costs. Even if we could raise the $6000 for the orphanage donation it would be a huge help!!! If you have any ideas, please let me know.

The things that may be impossible for men pose no problem for God because, as Jesus said, "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

"Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find it; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For whoever asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door is opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

I know these verses are true but at times we are so overcome with "how will we ever find the money" that we forget to trust in God and all that he promises!

Please pray!!!

VOTE FOR ALYSSA - MAKE WISHES COME TRUE

Hi!

Alyssa has been entered into PEI's "Wishes Do Come True" child portrait contest. 100% of the money raised from the voting will go towards the PEI Chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation. Here is the photo of Alyssa that was entered...


To vote all you have to do is send in your vote to:

Boily Photo
248 MacEwen Rd.
Summerside PE
C1N 2P6

EACH VOTE IS $1 - again all donations go to the Children's Wish Foundation
Send in a cheque with however much you would like to donate - for example $20 = 20 votes for Alyssa.
On a piece of paper, along with your cheque make sure you write the following info..

"Wishes Do Come True" Contest
Child's Name: Alyssa Li MacKinnon
Parents Names: Chris and Tammy MacKinnon
Number of Votes: _____

You can also vote using a credit card and to do this please call Boily Photo at (902) 436-5311 and give them Alyssa's information.

Thanks!!!! How fun if Alyssa won!

Tammy

CBC Interview and EXCITING NEWS

I did an interview with CBC Radio this morning - along with another adopting family on PEI. We are discussing some of our concerns and issues with the international adoption issues on PEI. The interview will be on Monday morning between 6:30-8:30. I'll let you know the exact time when I know. Alyssa and I will also be interviewed by CBC TV on Monday and it will air on the CBC news that evening.

As for our exciting news....go to our family's charity blog at www.twohomesoneheart.blogspot.com and check out the pictures! Our family has been helping Alyssa's orphanage (she is adopted from Hunan, China) over the last year and our biggest project so far has been raising money for a playground for the orphanage. Well, it's finally finished and we have pictures of the children and nannies enjoying the new play equipment! We are so thrilled for the children! So, jump on over and check out our other blog.

Tammy

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The adoption community in PEI is asking for your support and for your help! A group of us, representing the adoption community, met with Premier Ghiz to discuss some of our concerns in regards to international adoption through PEI. The general feeling among families adopting internationally is that the Province is not supporting our decision to adopt from other countries. There are decisions being made by the Province that directly affect our Island families and their adoption processes. We are asking you to support us by reading the letter below and sending it off to the people we have listed! This is urgent as families are waiting to be united with their children! Thank you! Even if you are not an adoptive parent or in the process of adopting, you can show your support by mailing/emailing the letter.

Please feel free to add a personal message to your letter!!!

You can FAX your letter, MAIL IT via snailmail or EMAIL it.

Also, I have done an interview with CBC Radio and it will be aired Thursday morning. I'll post the exact time when I know. It will also be on their website. The interview talks about the adoption issues on PEI and what we are asking from the Province.
_______________________________________


Premier Robert Ghiz
95 Rochford Street
P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 7N8
rwjghiz@gov.pe.ca



Dear Premier Ghiz:


I am writing to express support for the adoptive parents of PrinceEdward Island – the very province known for the story of a famousorphan – who have raised concerns with the provincial governmentregarding the international adoption programs in the province.


Island families have requested a reversal of the policy decisionregarding the Waiting Child program – a decision that has eliminatedany waiting child referrals where matching is done by the agencies.These processes are currently accepted by every other province in thecountry and the waiting child program is virtual inaccessible outsideof this system. I encourage you to follow the processes set out byChina, whereby the agencies are delegated the authority to do thematching (respecting of course the Province's final role in approvingevery match). Families with open waiting child applications are beingaffected by this decision at this very moment.


Island families have also requested concrete regulations and policieswith regards to all aspects of international adoption, ranging fromcountry programs available to Island families, to age of child, tosibling groups, to single adoption, to family eligibility guidelines,to concurrent adoptions, and to transparency & appeals.


Families in your community have also raised concerns regardingaccountability from the provincial government. By allowing each andevery family to review their referrals when they arrive in PEI,families would be able to supply additional information or makerequests for homestudy amendments should there be discrepanciesbetween the referral details and the child request. It would beregrettable to have families lose their only chance at adoption simplybecause the Province has decided not to share information until andonly if the referral sent in their name is approved.


I urge you to commit to an active support of the internationalprograms and to clearly embrace and formalize options for Islandfamilies. I encourage you to investigate the underlying reasons forthe Province's decision to effectively stop the international adoptionof children with medical needs, and, also, to respond to the PEIAdoption Coalition's requests for an overall review of PEI'sinternational adoption procedures to ensure accountability andtransparency.


I suggest to you that there needs to be a very quick and seriousreconsideration of this action, or the face that PEI presents to thecountry and, indeed, the world, will look not only ill-informed, butalso intolerant. I believe you will discover that the agencies arewell-equipped to undertake the matching as assigned by China, thatinternational adoption will yield benefits for the children, thefamilies, and PEI as a whole, and that these children are deserving ofthe loving families who wish to adopt them, no matter what provincethe families live in.


Sincerely yours,







CC: Hon. Doug W. Currie – Minister of Social Services and Seniors,PEI
dwcurrie@gov.pe.ca

PEI Adoption Coalition – peiadoptioncoalition@gmail.com

Nancy Russell (CBC) -- nancy_russell@cbc.ca (nancy "underscore"Russell)



In PEI, please write your letters to Premier Ghiz and CC them to Minister Currie, MPs Shawn Murphy, Wayne Easter, Lawrence MacAulay,Joe McGuire, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Opposition Leader, Stephane Dion, the PEI adoption coalition group, and Nancy Russell of CBC.



Outside of PEI, please write your letters to the Premier of PEI, Robert Ghiz, and CC it to the Premier of your province, Prime Minister, Stephen Harper and Opposition Leader, Stephane Dion, and the PEI Adoption coalition group.

Addresses you will need:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
Harper.S@parl.gc.capm@pm.gc.ca

Shawn Murphy
75 Fitzroy Street, Suite 201
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
C1A 1R6
murphs1c@parl.gc.ca
Murphy.S@parl.gc.ca

Wayne Easter
P.O. Box 70
Hunter River, Prince Edward Island
C0A 1N0
Telephone: (902) 964-2428
Fax: (902) 964-3242
E-Mail: eastew1@parl.gc.caE-Mail: Easter.W@parl.gc.ca

Lawrence MacAulay
P.O. Box 1150,
551 Main Street, Suite 202
Montague, Prince Edward Island
C0A 1R0
Telephone: (902) 838-4139
Fax: (902) 838-3790
E-Mail: macaul1@parl.gc.ca

Joe McGuire
94 Central Street
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
C1N 3L3
Telephone: (902) 436-7333
Fax: (902) 436-0175
E-Mail: McGuire.J@parl.gc.ca

Stephane Dion
750 Marcel Laurin Boulevard,
Suite 440
Saint-Laurent, Quebec
H4M 2M4
Telephone: (514) 335-6655
Fax: (514) 335-2712
E-Mail: dions1@parl.gc.caE-Mail: Dion.S@parl.gc.ca

The Most Amazing Day!

We had our Yard Sale on Saturday and what an amazing day it turned out to be. Chris and I were so moved by the many family and friends who came to help us with the event. People helped us make posters, load the truck, unload the truck (at 6:30 am!!), sell items, donate items and then of course, many people came to our sale and bought items. THANK YOU to the many friends and family and strangers who supported our family!

Are you ready..... the grand total from our Yard Sale was $1173.60! WOW! We were blown away. The most expensive item we sold was only $35!

God truly blessed us!.... but wait! There's more! At about 1:15 we called the Radio stations to announce that anyone who wanted to come to the sale could take whatever they wanted for free. We had a few people show up and they all took stuff which was great. There were still a lot of items left and we really didn't want to drag it all home again! Well, a van pulled up and out jumped 4 men. They were from Thailand and had just arrived in PEI only TWO DAYS BEFORE. They had come in a group of 18 - husbands, wives and their children. They had been living in refugee camps for a very long time so they came to PEI with very little. They were able to fill the back of the van with tons of adult clothing, kids clothes, jackets, boots, shoes, mitts, hats, toys and lots of other items. That was really the highlight of the whole day!! It was amazing to be able to help them and to see their happy faces!!! God is so amazing!

The "Lemonaid for Hope" Stand

Lots of items for sale!

People browsing for deals! And there were lots of deals. At 10:30 we marked everything 1/2 price. Our most expensive item sold for $35 - it was a captain's bed (single) with the mattress. Now that was a steal of a deal!!!

The kids having fun! This box was full of stuffed animals for sale but Alyssa and her friends had more fun playing in it than selling them!