How to order Post-adoption Potpourri

To order a copy, fill in this form and send, with your cheque to: 220 Summerhill Rd., Southampton, Ont. N0H 2L0 Canada.

A bouquet of questions and answers

In this edition of Post-adoption Helper I've used the same question-and-answer format as in the last Adoption Helper ("Pre-adoption Potpourri"). The difference is that Post-adoption Helper is read in both Canada and the United States, so the answers at times need to consider two perspectives.

Often this is not a problem -- adoptive families everywhere face similar challenges -- but sometimes the jurisdiction matters, as when we discuss legalities like tax credits, parental leave and subsidies.

I think you'll find instructive the comparison of services between Canada and the U.S. If I may make a broad generalization, post-adoption services in the U.S. are far advanced over those in Canada.

It seems the only advantage of living north of the border is that federal law in Canada provides for 35 weeks of paid parental leave, while U.S. federal law gives American adopters 12 weeks of unpaid leave. (Mind you, the comparison is much more complicated at the provincial and state levels.)

Apart from that, Americans have the edge in a generous income tax credit for adoption expenses, automatic citizenship for adoptees from abroad, federal and state subsidies, and lots of adoption benefits from U.S. companies.

With money a pressing concern these days, I thought it appropriate to spend time on financial matters, but not exclusively ... so you'll find answers to your questions on breastfeeding, sleeping, racism and explaining adoption to your child. Finding your child's birth family in an international adoption is tackled by the resourceful Leceta Guibault. And a highlight is the remarkable story of Dave and Deb Ciccarelli -- they expected two children from Russia, but got four.

For those who've asked me for some good books about adoption, I've concluded with list of the best books on 11 post-adoption topics.

My sources for this Post-adoption Potpourri were a variety of government and private web sites, past editions of Adoption Helper and Post-adoption Helper, "News Briefs" at Family Helper web site, and last but not least, an email list, Canadians-adopting, which has all sorts of useful suggestions on raising adopted children. You'll find the comments from Canadians-adopting in the margins.

I've found one of the best sources for U.S. information is the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, and you'll see the note "[NAIC]" when I've used its information.

Other good sources are the Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia (AFABC) and the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC).