| Ontario Time Lines |
| December, 1999 : After we'd contacted Family Outreach International, we also contacted a social worker recommended by one of the same people who'd had such an amazing trip to China with FOI. Our first appointment was scheduled for early January. Meanwhile, the amazing Yulin Deng, the facilitator from F.O.I., sent us some information about the requirements for adopting from China, as well as time lines and information about the various players involved in international adoption. January, 2000: We had our first home study visit with Donna, the international social worker. We paid a $500.00 deposit and she told us that she would let us know what paperwork items for our dossier had to be completed at each step along the way. We talked with her as a family the first time. Then, she came back towards the end of the the month to talk to me privately. She asked me questions about my relationship with Rob, Matthew, my family, Rob's family, how we disciplined Matthew, etc. It was quite an interesting interview. I never once felt like she was trying to figure out some way of disqualifying us. She got to know so much about us, just from talking to us a few times and had an intuitive understanding of the kind of people we were. As far as I was concerned, she was the perfect home study social worker. February, 2000: Donna made another visit this month to talk to Rob by himself. As usual, it was very relaxed. Then, she asked if it was okay if she talked to Matthew next, since that would save her another trip. I warned her that we hadn't cleaned the upstairs yet that morning and she was fine with that. Matthew showed off something fierce, but she just laughed and remarked that she was used to children his age behaving that way during her visits. (Thank God!) He opened every closet, cupboard and drawer in the house. Yikes! Again, Donna simply said it was good to see so much food in both the cupboards and the refrigerator. During this visit, she told us it was time for us to make appointments for our physicals. Mine had to be with my diabetic specialist, since the Ontario government would require her assurance that my health would not prevent me from parenting a child. March, April 2000: Donna came to wrap up this part of the home study. She told us we should get our fingerprints done by the RCMP. I called an RCMP office in Milton and they told me we had to go to Toronto. Stupidly, we expected a finger-printing facility to be open on Saturday. (Their voice mail didn't mention what days they'd be open; only their hours of operation.) Of course, nobody was there. We took Matthew to the Children's Museum beside the ROM instead. He had a great time. We ended up going back and getting fingerprinted during March break. It was easy. They were very pleasant and even fingerprinted Matthew so he wouldn't feel left out. They told us the paperwork would come back from Ottawa within three - four weeks. (It was back in two weeks.) DISASTER! I called my family doctor to ask if Rob could get a requisition for the lab tests in advance. I got a recorded message that said: "Due to serious illness, the doctor has closed his practice. We are unable to find another doctor to take over. To research what doctors are taking patients, phone the hospital." My doctor had taken care of me since I was in Grade 5! He was a very significant person in my life. I wondered who on earth would do Rob's physical AND complete his medical form. The Ontario government required the doctor to have known the patient for at least two years. In addition, there was (and still is) a shortage of doctors in Ontario, so I had no idea where we would get another family doctor. I called Donna right away. She told me that once I'd found another doctor, to make an appointment for a physical for Rob, explain what had happened and say that we needed the physical for an international adoption. She would cover all of this in her home study and detail why Rob's physical was being done by a new doctor. It was imperative that the new doctor review Rob's medical records and write on the form: "I have reviewed the patient's medical records and see absolutely no cause for concern." I eventually found a doctor who was taking patients-- which was no small task. I made Rob's appointment-- April!-- and sent off for our medical records. My own physical was delayed twice, because my diabetic specialist was out of the country. I finally saw her in April. Then Rob and I both had to wait for the lab tests to come back, and the forms to be completed and mailed back to us. May, 2000: The medical forms arrived. I copied them and added them to the dossier, along with he fingerprint information from the RCMP. Donna paid us one last visit to tie up some loose ends. We had our regional police clearance and checked one more thing off the dossier list. I assembled our birth certificates, marriage license, salary letters from the school board and from Rob's acccountant. Our personal letters of reference had already been sent to Donna. My principal also had to write a letter of reference, since I'm a teacher. June 2000: Donna completed the home study and sent it to the Ontario Minstry of Community and Social Services. She also sent a copy to Yulin at Family Outreach International, for the China dossier. We had to include a cheque for $925.00, nonrefundable, for the government-- a new and very controversial adoption fee. (I hate, loathe and despise the Ontario Conservative government!!!!!) This fee was supposed to minimize the waiting period for provincial approval. We would definitely be monitoring that! (continued on the next page) |
| Our Family's Journey to China cont'd |
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| "Had we but world enough and time . . . " - Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" |
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