A Canadian Guide to International Adoptions: How to Find, Adopt, and Bring Home Your Child

Patricia Fenton is chair of the Adoption Council of Ontario.

The decline in the number of domestic adoptions in Canada in recent
years has been accompanied by a growing interest in international
adoptions. This interest, coupled with a severe lack of printed
resources for adopting parents, makes this book a welcome publication.
In fact, it is the most comprehensive Canadian document on international
adoption currently available. A parent who has himself undertaken an
international adoption, Bowen provides insights and experience that will
be of interest to anyone considering adopting from outside Canada.

Although the author’s personal experience is limited to China, he
includes a range of information pertinent to any international adoption.
He begins with a philosophical discussion of the advantages of
international adoption, then leads the reader through a catalogue of
countries, their documentation requirements, the processes involved, and
the approximate costs. Practical suggestions and tips are plentiful.

Many resources, both government and nongovernment, are included for
each of the provinces and for the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
The international-adoption scene brings frequent changes in process, as
well as in the countries involved, so readers are cautioned that this
book does not represent all there is to know about the subject. Although
adoption support groups are mentioned, their importance as sources of
up-to-date information and advice could have been given more emphasis. A
partial listing of adoption support groups across Canada is included in
the appendix.

The author makes it clear from the outset that adopting internationally
is a major undertaking that requires courage and tenacity. Readers
interested in the impact of the new Hague Convention on Intercountry
Adoptions will find only a passing reference here, since the convention
was ongoing at the time of writing.

In the light of current concerns about illegal and corrupt practices in
adoption, Bowen’s discussion of ethical issues is pertinent. Nine
ethics test questions for adoptive applicants are listed to help
safeguard against entering into unethical arrangements and to keep the
child’s best interests paramount.