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World View Adoption Association

Annual Report 2014-2015

For the Period

November 01, 2014 – October 31, 2015

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Table of Contents

Page Number

Letter from the Chairman of the Board 3

Mission Statement 4

Composition of the Board and Staff, Flow Chart 5

Summaries of Country Information 9

Complaint Procedures & Form 13-14

World View Adoption Statistics 15

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31 October 2015

It is my pleasure to present the World View Adoption Association Annual Report for the period October 31, 2014 – October 31, 2015 and share

with you highlights from the year.

Parmjit S. Mangat

Board Member, Chairman

Report on Adoptions from India

This has been a year of many changes in the India program. The release of new JJA (Juvenile Justice Act) as well as

the Guidelines Governing India Adoption 2015 have made considerable strides in streamlining the India adoption

process and making the program more efficient and effective for Canadian families. The matching of children is now

fully centralized and automatic with responsibility resting with CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) rather

than with individual orphanages. The processing times have been reduced and there is no waiting list for

registration, applicants can register at any time. Applicants from all ethnicities are able to adopt, even a yonger

child. India remains a good options for Canadian families looking to complete their family through adoption and we

anticipate considerable growth in this program in the coming years.

Domestic Adoption

World View remains committed to the domestic adoption program. World View continues its outreach efforts to

community organizations and especially to the South Asian Community in the GTA.

New Program Development

The focus of World View Adoption in this past licensing year has been to maintain and further develop the existing

programs.

Variety of Programs Offered by WVAA

WVAA remains committed to serving Canadian families and helping them build their family through adoption.

WVAA currently facilitates orphan and relative adoptions from various countries, including India, Guyana, Jamaica,

Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Uganda, Malaysia, and others.

Thank You

I would like to thank all Board members, staff, and volunteers who work together to accomplish the organization’s

goals and fulfill its mission. We look forward to continuing our work with all of you in the next year.

Sincerely,

Parmjit S. Mangat

Chairman of the Board & Program Director

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Mission Statement

World View is dedicated to providing high quality, ethical adoption services to help children obtain the

basic right to a permanent, loving family of their own.

“We believe that there is a family waiting for every child that is born.”

About Us

World View Adoption Association (WVAA) is a non-profit organization licensed by the Ministry of

Children & Youth Services, Province of Ontario, Canada, for international adoption. We have been helping

Canadian families adopt relative and non-relative children internationally since 2001. Since 2011, we are

also licensed domestically (for adoptions within Canada).

WVAA is uniquely qualified to provide the full range of services in-house including adoption facilitation,

dossier preparation, advising on Ontario court processes and procedures, and the immigration process for

all international adoptions. World View also assists residents of many other Canadian provinces.

World View History

Our Program Director, Mr. Parmjit Mangat, has been involved in international adoptions for 25 years

handling complex international relative and non-relative adoptions. This was one of the reasons why the

Ministry of Children & Youth Services (Ontario, Canada) decided to license World View Adoption in 2001

after adoption of the Hague Convention.

Guiding Principles

The following laws, guidelines and principles form the basis of World View’s activities:

The Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption

The Intercountry Adoption Act, 1999 (IAA)

The Child & Family Services Act R.S.O. 1990 (CFSA)

Ontario Regulation 70 of R.R.O. 1990 (CFSA)

Commitment to the protection & best interests of children from all countries

A first and foremost duty to facilitate adoption as a service to the child

Fairness and impartiality to all parties to an adoption

An understanding that adoption is a lifelong human process involving highly emotional issues and

pressures

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Board of Directors and Officers

Parmjit S. Mangat

Board Member, Chairman Mr. Mangat has served as Chairman since the Board’s formation. He is well known

both in Canada and internationally for his involvement in and passion for children’s

issues. Various governments and Canadian provinces have consulted him while

formulating their policies around international adoptions.

Bruce Roberts | Board Member Bruce Roberts joined the World View Adoption Association board in May 2013. As an

adoptive father of a beautiful daughter adopted from India, Mr. Roberts will bring the

perspective of the adoptive parent to the organization. Mr. Roberts currently serves as

Managing Director at Key Gordon Communications, a company which creates provocative

communications for organizations and companies trying to make the world a better place.

In addition, Mr. Roberts volunteers as a Board Member with the Toronto Zen Centre.

Galina Tikhonovsky, Board Member Ms. Tikhonovsky is the newest member of the World View Adoption Association

Board. She brings vast experience in the financial sector, having worked as a bank

branch manager for a number of years. Galina is very interested in the adoption

field, both international and domestic.

Marina Dessiatkina | Board Member Ms. Dessiatkina joined the Board in 2011. She is the former Trade Commissioner

(since 2003) of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) of the Russian Federation and brings

non-profit board experience, having served on the board of CERBA (Canada

Eurasia Russia Business Association) in Toronto for more than five years. Her

compassion for helping people in need is demonstrated by various endeavors

including a fundraising project to support 9,000 victims of a flood in northern

Russia, 2010, the production of a 14-hour Tele-Marathon for Russian orphanages

and children’s hospitals, 1990, and the organization of 9 medical procedures

performed by the Canadian cardiologist, Dr. Patrick Teefy, in the Sakha National

Medical Centre, Russia, May 2007.

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World View Staff & Associates

Canada

Parmjit S. Mangat

Program Director (non salaried) Parmjit S. Mangat, the Program Director, has been involved in international

adoptions for 25 years handling complex international relative and non-relative

adoptions. He is well known both in Canada and internationally for his

involvement in and passion for children’s issues. Various governments and

Canadian provinces have consulted him while formulating their policies around

international adoptions.

He founded World View when the Province of Ontario ratified the Hague

Convention on Intercountry Adoption in 2000 and implemented new adoption

legislation requiring involvement of licensed agencies in all international

adoptions for Ontario residents.

Mr. Mangat is also the President of West Coast Immigration Consultants, a

well-reputed immigration consulting firm. He is a member in good standing of

Ontario Association of Adoption Practitioners (OAPAP), the Immigration

Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), and the Canadian

Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC).

Mirja Ramsey

Senior Advisor Mirja Ramsey, Senior Advisor, is well known in the Canadian adoption

community as someone who is qualified to help adoptive families successfully

work through the complexities of international adoptions. Prior to joining World

View, Mrs. Ramsey was with the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth

Services for more than 20 years. She has a thorough knowledge of the Ontario

legislation and policy as it relates to international adoptions by Ontario families.

She also has extensive experience in working with the Canadian federal

government, with foreign adoption authorities and with the Canadian missions

in other countries. Her dedication and patience in listening to families, solving

their problems, is an unmatched asset to the agency.

Program Manager Maria Shtemberg, Program Manager, brings extensive experience and focus

on client-centered service delivery and program implementation. Ms Shtemberg

comes from a diverse background of working for multiple government funded

and not-for-profit organizations both in front line service delivery and project

coordination. Ms. Shtemberg has extensive experience in assisting clients in

navigating the maze of government services and is passionate about helping

each and every client through dedicated case management, advocacy, and

effective relationship building with local and foreign authorities. She is fluent in

English and Russian languages. Maria was on Maternity leave from October

2014 until September 2015. She is now back and has resumed her

responsibilities as a Program Manager.

.

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Adoption Program Assistant

Adoption Program Assistant

With deep experience in Program Administration (Government of Canada, TD

Bank), Ms. Aguado devotes her organizational and client service talents to serve

adoptive families. She holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and an

Information Technology degree.

.

India

Devendra Kumar Behera, India Coordinator, is a professional social worker with a Masters in Social

Work/Law. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the social development sector. He also has experience

working with the State Government and Government of India. Mr. Behera routinely liaises with the Indian

central authority and with local agencies to ensure proper processing of intercountry adoptions. He also assesses

children and writes child study reports.

me]

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F l o w C h a r t

Board of Directors

Program Director

P. Mangat

Senior Advisor

M. Ramsey

Volunteers and Student

Placements

Program Manager

M. Shtemberg

Adoption Program Assistant

M. Aguado

Chief Operations Officer Michelle Moore

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Summary of Current Programs

World View has been licensed by the Ontario Ministry

since 2001 and assists Canadian families in many

countries.

At present, World View is actively involved in and

licensed by the Ontario Ministry for the following

countries:

1. Canada (CFSA)

2. Guyana (IAA)

3. India (IAA)

4. Jamaica (CFSA & IAA)

5. Bangladesh (CFSA)

CFSA – Child Family Services Act

IAA – Intercountry Adoption Act

Adoption Programs

Below is a summary of our current programs. Please note that the information provided herein is according

to Ontario Ministry requirements. For specific program details and cost information, please contact World

View Adoption Association. The average costs provided in this report are based on historical and are for

general information only. Costs include agency fees, foreign fees, and some third party fees paid on behalf

of prospective parents. Additional fees may apply. Detailed Fee Schedules per program are provided

during consultation meetings.

CANADA

World View can assist with the private domestic adoption process within Canada. In order to become

eligible to adopt, prospective families must:

Complete PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education) Training;

Complete a Homestudy and obtain the provincial Ministry’s approval;

Wait for birth parents in Canada to select them.

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Children legally available for adoption range from infants to older children. The waiting time for domestic

adoption is not predictable as the birth parents select adoptive parents. Thus, wait times range from less

than three months to several years.

Post Adoption Placement Reporting

There is a six-month supervision period post placement of the child. The adoption practitioner must visit

the home of the adopted child three to four times and write a ROACH report (Report on Adjustment of the

Child in the Home). Post adoption placement reports are completed by adoption practitioners whose fees

vary but may be estimated at $400 per report.

GUYANA

Families and single females are eligible to adopt; common-law couples are also accepted (common law

couples must be together for at least 5 years to be considered for adoption).

Guyana is a small, hospitable country that is currently absorbed in the process of implementing new

legislation and revamping their entire child welfare system. There are more than 800 children in

orphanages, but many have not been cleared for adoption. Although the Childcare and Protection Agency

(CCPA) is accepting applications for adoption of orphanage children, it will take some time to fully

develop the orphanage adoption program. As a result World View adoption is not taking any application

for this program, until process can be established.

World View also has experience with relative adoptions from Guyana. The CCPA takes initial

responsibility for management of the process and submitting its recommendation regarding finalization to

the Adoption Board, which must approve the adoption before it can be finalized through the Court. World

View actively assists families in interacting with the CCPA and in facilitation of the court process. The

process of adoption starts with compliance with the laws of the province where the prospective parents

reside.

Post Adoption Reporting

There are no post placement reporting requirements.

INDIA

Families and single females of Indian and non-Indian backgrounds are eligible to adopt. World View

Adoption has been helping Canadian families adopt children from India since 2001.

Children legally available for adoption from India are usually between the ages of 1-5 years. Special needs,

older children, and sibling groups are also available.

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Who Can Adopt

Prospective parents whose homestudy has been approved by their provincial Ministry; (if you are a relative

of the child you wish to adopt, please go to Relative Adoption.)

Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Non-Residents of India (NRI) may receive priority and may be

matched with a child sooner than foreign couples. However, in the recent months the significance of Indian

status has diminished and both Indian and foreign families are matched with children.

Married couples - at least 2 years of stable relationship; no common law relationships are accepted;

Single female parents allowed; No same sex couples;

Age requirements:

• Child 0-4 years: maximum combined age not more than 90; Female single parent age no more than 45;

• Child 4-8 years and over; maximum combined age not more than 100; Female single parent age no more

than 50;

• Child 4-18: maximum combined age not more than 110; Female single parent age no more than 55

Health must be good with no evidence of contagious or terminal disease;

Post Adoption Reporting

Indian authorities require progress reports to be submitted to them quarterly in the first year of the child’s

arrival and semi-annually in the second. If adoptive parents take longer than 2 years to acquire Canadian

Citizenship for the child, further reports may be necessary. Reports and supervision visits must be

completed by an approved adoption practitioner. Post adoption reports are completed by adoption

practitioners whose fees vary but may be estimated at $400 per report.

INDIA Relative Adoption

India’s guidelines for relative adoption state that the eligibility requirements are the same as for domestic

adoption. However, that depends on which legislation is being applied. Under the Juvenile Justice (Care &

Protection of Children) Act 2015, adoptive parents may adopt a child of the same sex, whereas this would

not be possible under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. The vast majority of relative adoptions are

being completed under HAMA.

A prescribed adoption ceremony must be followed as per HAMA and photograph should be taken of each

step in the ceremonial process. When that has been completed, the adoption must be registered after which

a Deed of Adoption is issued. These are the requirements of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. For the

purposes of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) of India, the family must also obtain an

Order from the Court verifying the adoption.

Adoptive parents should be closely related to the child they are adopting. The guidelines do not specify the

relationship, but it has been our experience that cousins are not considered to be a close relative. Therefore,

we suggest that applicants should restrict the adoptions to niece/nephew or grandchild or in the unusual

event where the applicant has a sibling that is 21 or more years younger.

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JAMAICA (Relatives)

Relative adoptions from Jamaica must first be approved by the Child Development Agency (CDA) in

Jamaica. The adoption is then completed either in Jamaica or in Canada. (The Jamaican Court determines

where the adoption must be completed.) If the adoption is to be completed in Ontario, once the child has

been approved by Canadian immigration and arrives in Canada, the adoption is completed as per the laws

of the province where the child has arrived.

Post Adoption Reporting

If the adoption is being completed in Canada, progress reports may be required. CDA will give instruction

regarding the requirements.

COUNTRIES FOR WHICH WORLD VIEW IS NOT CURRENTLY LICENSED

At times applicants wish to adopt from a country for which no agency in Ontario has a licence. However, it

may still be possible to adopt from those countries. In such cases, World View would consult with the

Ministry of Children and Youth Services and, if appropriate, an application could be made to the ministry

to obtain a licence to facilitate the adoption on a “one-time” basis. For more information about this,

applicants should call World View to speak with the Program Director.

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1. Complaint Procedure & Form

WVAA encourages feedback and strives to ensure that applicants have effective ways for handling

complaints. Also, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services encourages all complaints to be

resolved at the agency level.

Informal Complaint – most difficulties can be resolved at the agency level and should be raised at the

earliest opportunity. Please raise any issues directly with a WVAA staff member.

1. You may voice your informal complaint in person at our office, call 416-743-9324 or email

at adoption@wcic.ca.

Formal Complaint – complaints should be based on non-delivery of service as outlined in our Fees and

Service Agreement.

Stage 1 – Describe the complaint. You may write a letter or use the form provided. The complaint should

include:

1. Reference to the clause in the Fees & Services Agreement which you feel the agency is not

fulfilling.

2. An explanation of the steps you have already taken to resolve the complaint informally and

why the responses you have received are not satisfactory for you.

3. What form of resolution or redress you are seeking.

Stage 2 – Submit the complaint. It is important to keep a copy of the complaint and any documents

submitted with it for your records. Complaints should be addressed to: Board of Directors,

World View Adoption Association. Please submit the complaint as follows:

1. By mail or in person at 130 Westmore Drive, Suite 5, Toronto, ON M9V 5E2.

2. By an e-mail to boardofdirectors@wcic.ca

Stage 3 – Once complaint is submitted:

1. The complaint will be reviewed and investigated by Board Members

2. Complainants should expect an acknowledgement of their complaint within 7 working days.

3. Complainants should expect a written resolution/response within 15 working days. If this is

not possible and more time is required complainants will be informed in writing of the

progress being made regarding their complaint.

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WORLD VIEW ADOPTION ASSOCIATION

COMPLAINT FORM

Date of Complaint

Your Name:

Address:

Telephone: Email:

COMPLAINT DESCRIPTION

Fees and Services Agreement

Item/s (specific Item number/s that you feel the agency

has not fulfilled)

Brief description of the complaint

Explanation of steps you have taken

to resolve the issue informally

What form of resolution or redress

you are seeking

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WORLD VIEW ADOPTION STATISTICS

Country

# of Adoptions

Finalized

# of Ontario

approved families

waiting to adopt

Average # years to

complete adoption

# Adoptions

waiting

finalization

Estimated Cost

Canadian $

Bangladesh orphan

2

0

2

0

$17-20,000

Bangladesh Relative 0 n/a 2 0 $12-15,000

Canada (Domestic) 0 n/a n/a 2 $10-15,000

Guyana Orphan 0 0 Tbd 0 $15-20,000

Guyana Relative 0 0 2 0 $14-18,000

India Orphan 2 7 2.5 7 $25-35,000

India Relative 5 15 5 5 $15-20,000

Jamaica Relative 1 3 2 3 $7-10,000

Jamaica Orphan 0 1* Tbd 0 $10-12,500

Malaysia Orphan 1 0 1 0 $12-14,000

Malaysia Relative 1 0 1 0 $10-12,000

Other countries 3 2 varies 0 Varies

TOTAL

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28

17

*