Resources

Camp-to-Adopt Alert

The Ministry of Children and Family Development, Adoption Branch brings the following information to the attention of adoptive parents who are considering adoption from foreign countries.

  • Several programs bring children from orphanages around the world to North America to stay with families and participate in camp activities.
  • The goal of these programs is for the host families to adopt the children that stay with them.
  • These programs are not an officially recognized adoption process.
  • The Russian government and the British Columbia government have concerns about the legality of these programs.
  • The Russian Ministry of Education specifies that children selected for such trips cannot be informed of the possibility of being adopted by their host families and the children must return to Russian after the camp.
  • The British Columbia government is concerned that these camps may contravene section 82(1) of the Adoption Act, which defines who may legally place or arrange the placement of children for adoption.
  • Adoptive families are advised to apply to a licensed adoption agency within British Columbia and proceed with a foreign adoption through the established process.