Four California siblings, ages 4, 12, 15 and 16, are participating in what may be the first international adoption of foster children from San Bernardino County.
The children were removed from their mother’s care in October 2003 and have been awaiting an adoptive family since December 2004. The children are visiting their prospective family (who have other children) two siblings at a time.
After the children settle into their new home, a social worker will continue to make monthly visits until the adoptions are finalized. Once the adoption is finalized, the children will have the option of choosing dual citizenship.
This case is somewhat unusual and intriguing on several fronts:
- In San Bernardino County, only four or five foster children per year (out of 500 total) are placed in adoptive homes outside the county.
- Even though siblings comprise half of the county’s adoptions each year, sibling groups are the most challenging foster children to place because it’s difficult to keep them together. Susan Palmer, a supervising social service practitioner for San Bernardino County, commented that many people don’t realize siblings get separated when they are adopted. She hopes that this high-profile adoption will create awareness among potential parents that they can adopt two, three, or even six siblings at a time.
- In British Columbia (where the children are headed), Canadians adopt children from the U.S. second only to adopting children from China.
- Overall, the U.S. ranks fifth in international adoptions by Canadians, with 227 American children adopted by Canadians. None of the children (until now) were older than 9.
- In 2004, there were 1,985 international adoptions in Canada. There were 10 times as many international adoptions in the United States.
Source: Daily Bulletin
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