Page 4 EXPRESS November 26, 1997 opinion _______ __,1 GUEST COMMENTARY 1,__ _____ ~ EXPRESS PHONE: (250) 354-3910 EDITORIAL 354-1118 FAX 352-5075 Adoption requires a 554 WARD STREET. NELSON. B.C. VIL 159 E•MAIL: express@netidea.com OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. special commitment AIDS impacts By Janice Issac Throughout the past month attention has been focused on adoption throughout our province. Once a year we have Finding the right family involves careful screening and study, and sometimes months of pre-placement preparation is required for both the family and the child. It is further all of us the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with adoption pro- grams and with the children and families who are brought together by adoption. complicated by our goal to preserve these children's fami- ly and community attachments. This means that place- ments must be sought in the communities where the chil- There are many kinds of adoptions. Some children travel dren reside so that their bonds with family, friends, teach- Next Monday (Dec. 1) is World AIDS Day, from other countries to join Canadian families. Others are ers and other significant persons who are part of the lives and this year's theme is Children Living In A placed from within our communties as infants, and some can be preserved. World With AIDS -- a phrase that dramatical- are adopted by extended family. Both the Ministry for This often involves not only local placement, but also an 1y underscores the devastating impact HIV Children and Families and newly licensed agencies can "openess agreement" in which the child will be allowed place children for adoption. While the Ministry offers ser- and encouraged to maintain contact with birth parents or infection has on the young people infected, vices to all children and prospective adoptive families, our other extended family members. and family and friends affected by the illness. focus is on children who are in care of the government. Currently there are more of these children than there are A new report released by UNAIDS, the These children have the government as their guardian, families available for placement. While these youngsters United Nations program combatting the dis- and most reside for a time in foster homes until adoption offer many challenges to the families who invite them into ease, reveals that every day 1,000 children plans are developed. Unlike the situation for infants, where their homes, they also offer the same bond of affection all there are more adoption homes than children, these special children have for their families. And families who adopt become infected by HIV, and that by the end youngsters may wait years for a placement. These are spe- these children with special needs are rewarded by not only of this year more than one million children cial children who require special families. the satisfaction of helping a child, but by the enrichment of under the age of 15 will be living with the The Ministry has the responsibility for developing spe- an addition to their family. virus and suffering the physical and psycho- cialized placements for these young persons. Each place- Prospective adoptive families must be patient, skilled at ment must be individually selected and built, because each understanding and solving problems, creatively flexible logical consequences of infection. child has special needs. Youngsters who are in continuing and willing to open their homes not only to the child, but Here in the West Kootenay, as is the case all care of the Ministry face many challenges as they grow also to the helping services which are often required to across Canada, front-line workers in and develop. Some are born with physical or emotional support those efforts. They must expect the unexpected, be HIV/AIDS are struggling to cope with the challenges, others have a history of family dysfunction or prepared for successes and defeats and, above all, be able violence, or they find themselves unwanted through no to rise above obstacles which might discourage or defeat increasing number of teenagers who are fault of their own. They all, however, require loving and others. infected with the deadly virus. Disturbing sta- skilled adoption families. The Ministry is looking for "a few good families" who tistics indicate that Canadians are continuing Adoptive families for these children must be very skilled possess these attributes and who want to dedicate their to be infected through unprotected sex, injec- and prepared for unexpected challenges. As well, they will love to very special children. Youngsters are waiting now be asked to participate in specialized training programs for families, and Ministry social workers can be contacted tion drug use and vertical transmission from and to work closely with a variety of community profes- for more information by calling the local office of the mothers to the babies during pregnancy, birth sionals from social, health and educational services. Above Ministry for Children and Families. or breast-feeding. all, they must be dedicated to the care and nurturing of the According to Claire Davison, the volunteer children placed in their care. The aim is to build these Janice Issac is the West Kootenay Adoptions Social coordinator for the West Kootenay/Boundary placements on the individual needs of each child and the Worker for the Ministry for Children and Families. The strengths and talents of each family. office is located at 310 Ward Street in Nelson. For more AIDS Network, Outreach and Support This is a complex and sometimes lengthy process. information, call 1-800-668-2249 or 354-6465. Society (ANKORS), public awareness is still surprisingly limited. City Council "We must continue to develop programs that empower youth to confront HIV/ AIDS and help them develop strong, healthy lives," says @ Whatthey did: Davison. "This disease is I 00 percent pre- [M=@@ * An audience was given to the Nelson Library Board regarding its ventable, but only if we take adequate respon- sibility for our own behavior." V/io @ request for 1998 budget allocation. Board chairperson Lynn Adams, mem- ber Jeanette McLeod and head librarian Deb Thomas were present. Adams AIDS has completely changed the world we live in, and we all share the burden. One by ' - thanked Council for their funding and the library staff for their hard work. tl-f21§j:j1·tt Thomas outlined the budget proposal for 1998. The largest new item is the one we must take on a share of the responsi- lt1 ~ updated system will permitautomation system. The system now in use is JO years old, and the proposed the staff to serve library patrons much more efficiently by providing bility to help end the suffering. The median ~-. quicker access to information. age of new infections has dropped from 32 * An audience was also given to Nelson Museum director Shawn Lamb, who introduced Council to a new book years-of age in those infected before 1983 to published by the museum, entitled A Perfect Childhood: One Hundred Years of Heritage Homes in Nelson. 23 years in the 1985-90 period. That means Revenue from the sale of the book will go to the museum. that half of all infections in that period ,.... rianne D•m• Alice John occurred in people 23 years old or younger. MOTION Bond Elliott Gary Exner Judy Gayton Doug Jay Mayrhofer Neville World AIDS Day is an important interna- That the City participate in the promotion of tional event that unites nations and communi- Nelson in the CPL Map Directory Guide for No No Yes No No No Yes ties against a common enemy. Only through 1998, at a cost of $1,300. Defeated. public education, awareness and participation That Councillor Jay be appointed as Nelson can that enemy be defeated. An information night and non-denomina- City Director on the RDCK Board, with Mayor Exner as alternate, effective Dec. 9. Passed. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes tional candlelight memorial serivce for AIDS That the City sell city vehicle No. 96 to the victims will be held Monday evening from 7- 8:30 at Nelson United Church. Plan to attend. Public Works Superintendent for $9,000, to be Yes Yes Yes Yes. Yes Yes Yes paid by monthly payroll deductions. Passed. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF and PUBLISHER: Nelson Becker EDITOR: Murray Greig ADVERTISING: Panny Caron Letters policy A□.DES!GN ~~fa~ require some research, and should offer new infonnation as and PRODUCTION: A. Tremb~ay,E. Falconer wa;f~re;:~~a:e~~rt~e;ii;sc~':n~~~;~ 1~ 5 Qi~:n;;~ well as an RECEPTION: Manna K1bom DISTRIBUTION MANAGER. Eugene Schmunk (354-1100) mation.participatein a discussionor expressan opinion. opinkm. If you wish to write a commentary, please contact November 26, 1997 Volume 9 Number 53 ISSN 1196-7471 Please address letters meant for publication to the the Editor. The Express Newspaper is owned by Kootenay Express Communication Corp. Editor.We do not acceptopen lettersor poetryof any kind. All letters and commentaries must be signed and include Letters must be short (200 words maximum) and to the your name, address and phone number. We will not print point. 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