Shock in the Canadian international adoption world

Imagine Adoption, the agency I used to adopt Button (then known as Kids Link) filed for bankruptcy yesterday, amidst speculation and rumours of fraud and embezzlement. Around 500 families are in limbo. Many of those who have successfully gone through the court process (making the children referred to them legally theirs) have gone or are going to Ethiopia to take custody of their children and handle the immigration paperwork themselves. The other families - those who have received a referral but were still waiting to pass through the Ethiopian court system, and those still waiting for a referral - are not so fortunate. Those with referrals have no idea what will happen to their children. Those still waiting for a referral have no idea whether they will get any of their money back (as much as $15,000 paid to the agency - supposedly "in trust" - for necessary expenses) or what will happen with their dream of becoming parents via international adoption. Programs for adoption from Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, and Ecuador are all affected, with the former having the largest number of prospective parents.

Another Ontario agency, Children's Bridge (which has its own Ethiopia adoption program, run in partnership with CAFAC out of Winnipeg). has reportedly requested a meeting with the Ontario Ministry of Community and Youth Services. The intent of the meeting is not known (to me) - whether to advocate for the families, to discuss possibilities of taking over Imagine's operations or case files, to advocate for international adoption in general...

Please pray for all the famlies that are affected, for the children in Ethiopia whose care is in jeopardy (lack of money for operations), for the Ethiopian staff who are responsible for their care, and for the Canadian staff who are affected by something they may have had no control over or part in or knowledge of until it hit them too.

Today's edition of the Globe and Mail has a short article about the bankruptcy.

We would all like answers and more information about what has really happened. Unfortunately, that my take months, if not years, to uncover.