Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, B.C.’s representative for children and youth, said the government increased the number of adoptions by 38 to 265.
“This total falls below the ministry’s stated goal of 300 adoptions for 2014-15,” Turpel-Lafond states in her latest B.C. Adoption Update.
“However, the representative acknowledges that progress has been made on several fronts as a result of [Ministry of Children and Family Development]’s renewed focus on permanency and adoption.”
The report states that the number of children in care waiting for adoption fell by 33 to 941; the number of children with adoption plans increased by 46 to 1,290; and the ministry approved 284 adoptive homes — 60 more than in the previous year.
“It’s not all bad news,” Turpel-Lafond said in an interview.
“It’s just when you set a target that you feel is a reasonable target and you fail to make that target, you need to be responsible for that, and you need to be responsible for explaining why and explaining what will be done differently.”
Stephanie Cadieux, children and family development minister, acknowledged that the province needs to do more.
“It’s great that 17 per cent more kids got adopted last year, but I’m not satisfied that we didn’t meet the target,” she said. “There’s a lot more work to do.”
Cadieux committed a further $2 million to boost the number of home studies and approve more adoptive families.
The money will also help children prepare for the transition to a new home and map their genealogy so they can connect with their culture and family.
The ministry aims to complete 335 adoptions this year for a two-year total of 600.
“It’s super important that every kid in British Columbia has a place to call home, and I’m not going to let up,” Cadieux said.
Turpel-Lafond said the ministry needs to pay particular attention to finding homes for aboriginal children, who are over-represented in the child welfare system.
“Aboriginal children are half as likely to be adopted and they take many, many months longer to get to that stage,” she said.
The ministry made modest improvements last year, the report shows. The number of aboriginal children placed in adoptive homes rose to 99 from 75, while the number with adoption plans grew by seven to 670.
The number of aboriginal children placed for adoption in aboriginal homes increased to 53 from 43.
Still, Turpel-Lafond said too many aboriginal children are “drifting through the foster care system” instead of reconnecting with their families and culture.
“This report today is not something to celebrate very loudly on that front,” she said.
“I’m definitely putting significant pressure on the minister, significant pressure on the aboriginal leadership and making sure that the voices of young people are being heard.”
She urged a targeted recruitment of aboriginal families, and greater support, including post-adoption assistance, for adoptive families.
“They’re open and they’re willing, but they need to know there’s some support there for them,” she said.
On a positive note, Turpel-Lafond said the media campaign to attract adoptive families has been a success.
“More families than ever have been in touch with the ministry and the B.C. Adoptive Families Association,” she said. “That’s hugely positive.
“I can see that even the results this year can be turned around pretty quickly in a year or two, providing we give those people good service.”
