Haiti Earthquake Update
 
Until further notice Mission of TEARS (Ontario) has stopped taking NEW applications for adoptions in Haiti.
For those already involved within the program an update (January 15 2010) has been sent out specific to the circumstances and progression of each case to date.
The devastation of the earthquake in Haiti and the wide spread destruction relating to all government personal and offices has created a void for any normal functions to resume other than the most critical to meet the emergency.  Specific to adoption procedures no normal functionality will return or is expected to be corrected in the immediate future. It is expected that this disaster forced moratorium will be in place throughout the
remainder of 2010.
For those families who have sent us emails showing their interest now in helping a surviving child by adopting them, we will keep your name on record and contact you when any future child placement from Haiti is again allowed. We may not respond to each email personally due to volume in requests to our office but it is important you do not be discouraged from helping in the future.
To be ready to respond quickly in the future we advise each person who may have interest to help a child survivor by adoption be aware of and prepared in the following.
1. That each perspective family must have a home study and recommendation completed by an approved adoption ractitioner
2. That the recommendation be approved by the Provincial Ministry within your Province of residents
3. That the recommendation be for a non identified child
4. That it is up to each Provincial Ministries discretion on whether home studies will be accepted for review and approval when a national disaster dictates a moratorium be implemented
South Africa
   This is our most popular program providing parents with an opportunity to adopt very young children (4 months and up) and concluding within a logical time frame (averaging less than 12 months after file is sent overseas).  South Africa has applied the Hague Convention to regulate their Intercountry Adoption program and the result has been an effective and efficient process for parents to experience.  The South African program is not built to accommodate quantity but quality in placements and perspective parents are expected to be well prepared in adopting from this cross cultural and unique setting.  This completely English language program simplifies document preparation and allows a comfortable conclusion to the adoption overseas for parents. 
South Africa provides an adoption program different to most other African countries due to its advanced social service system and infrastructure including leading medical facilities.  Families and children in adoptions from South Africa will profit in the reality of having a professional and well experienced South African social worker to facilitate the process overseas. This program is presented to perspective applicants only through Mission of TEARS (Ontario).  Perspective parents desiring more general information on South Africa can find it on our sight under Non-Relative Adoption, more specific information is on sight at Basic Adoption Steps. 
    Applicants looking to apply for South Africa must attend a Specific Policy and Procedure Certificate (S.P.P. Certificate) seminar for this country and a Trans Racial Training  (T.R.R. Certificate ) seminar both presented by the agency.  Please review on this sight under Upcoming Events for agenda, date and time of next seminar for either of the S.P.P. Certificate program or the T.R.T. Certificate program for South Africa.

Ukraine
In preparation to receive new perspective applicants for this program our agency will provide mandatory information sessions outlining the Specific’s to the Policy and Procedures for Ukraine.
 
To best serve families in all our programs our agency is limiting the number of applicants for 2010.
 
    Please go to Upcoming Events on this sight for more information on the next Information Sessions. For more general information on any program go to Non Relative Adoptions.  For more specific information visit Basic Adoption Steps and browse that section.  Contact our Toronto office for further assistance or for private consultation regarding your specific circumstances.

Russia
 
    NGO status has been obtained by all Ontario agencies including Mission of Tears(Ontario).  Accreditation process is underway but there is not indications how long before this is accomplished.
 
Kenya
 
    Kenya offers a unique expirence but requires you to prepare and plan well in advance of any travel. Please contact Gordon Lewis 416-449-0018 ext 103 for more specific details.

Ghana
 
    This program is developed mainly as a relative adoptive program. Again, planning in advance is required call Mission of Tears general office line 416-449-0018 ext 101