FINDING FOREVER FAMILIES: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO ADOPTION
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada believes that every child deserves a safe, loving and permanent family. Whether you are an adoption professional, a prospective adoptive parent or someone simply interested in learning more about foster care adoption, this guide offers valuable information and resources to help you make a difference in the life of a waiting child.
Placed in foster care at just 2 months old due to neglect, Rhianna spent the next 15 years of her life waiting for a family to adopt her.
Thankfully, her journey changed when Reegan adopted her through the Foundation’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids™ program, in partnership with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.
BUILDING YOUR FOREVER FAMILY
Every child has a story to tell, and every adoptive family has its own set of traditions. This makes every adoption unique. But all adoptions share a common process. Download our complete step-by-step guide to help navigate your adoption journey.
Following are some frequently asked questions:
What are the options for adopting a child?
The main types of adoptions are:
1. Adopting a child from a public child welfare agency
This is the most traditional way to adopt in Canada. Most of the children available for adoption through public agencies are older than 2 years old, and some may have special needs. Some agencies specialize and facilitate only the adoptions of infants, children with special needs and children from other countries.
2. Adopting an infant through a private agency or licensed adoption practitioner
Adoption through a private agency simply means that the adoption is not arranged through a public agency. Private adoption practitioners are provincially licensed specialists who provide pre- and postadoption services to both prospective adoptive and birth parents in a private adoption.
Adoption practitioners, licensed authorities and lawyers can do direct placements, which means the adoption is arranged between a pregnant woman and the adoptive parents without involving an agency. However, check your local laws: direct placements are not allowed in all provinces or territories, and most require the approval of a local authority.
3. Adopting a child from another country
Adopting a child from another country is complicated, but possible. There are many things to take into consideration, like provincial adoption laws, federal immigration laws, the laws of the child’s country of origin, and language and cultural barriers. Private agencies assist with international adoption.
4. Adopting a child, if you are Indigenous, by completing a custom adoption or other customary arrangement
A custom adoption ensures that children of Indigenous descent who have been in long-term foster care are raised within Indigenous families to keep them connected with their extended families, communities and culture.
5. Adopting a child through kinship adoption or stepparent adoption
Kinship adoption is an option if you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle or other member of the extended family. Stepparent adoption is similar. You can complete this type of adoption on your own if you acquire a self-help kit at the court. Check with your ministry or local agency to learn what the procedures are in your province or territory.
How do I find the right adoption agency for me?
To find an adoption agency that is a good fit for your family, compare information from several agencies after asking these questions:
- Is the agency licensed by the province or territory?
- What kind of children does the agency place?
- How many children does the agency place each year?
- How does the agency conduct searches for waiting children?
- What criteria does the agency use to match children with families?
- Can the agency provide references from parents who have recently adopted?
What are the qualifications to adopt? For example, do we as adoptive parents have to be of the same race or have the same ethnic background as the child we adopt? Do we have to be married, or within a certain age range or income level?
Requirements may vary by province, but in general, families are as diverse as the children available for adoption.
What qualities are important for parents who adopt?
Traits like flexibility, patience, good problem-solving skills and a willingness to identify local community resources are all critical. Children don’t need perfect parents, just loving individuals willing to meet the unique challenges of parenting and make a lifetime commitment to caring for and nurturing them.
How much does adoption cost?
Adopting from foster care, depending on the province, care can range from $0 to $4,500. Local private adoptions can range from $15,000 to $25,000, while international adoptions may range from $25,000 to $50,000+. Source: Canada Adopts!
What is the adoption process?
The adoption process can vary depending on the type of adoption; the agency through which you work; the province or territory in which you live; and the province, territory or country in which the child resides. Once you choose an adoption agency, the social worker will walk you through the process. In all cases, a home study, a background check, medical evaluations, references and specialized training are required.
A child’s Indigenous heritage is honoured with every attempt to place them with family or within an Indigenous community. Indigenous child and family service agencies work both on and off reserves and actively participate in adoption processes.
What is a home study?
A home study is an in-depth application and interview process with a social worker that involves in-person interviews, reference checks, background checks and home visits. The study may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and costs an average of $2,500 to $3,000. In some provinces, applicants are also required to take a parenting course called PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education), which may cost up to $1,500. Home studies for foster care adoption are typically free.
How long does the adoption process take?
There are many variables that determine how long it will take to complete the adoption process, like where you live and the availability of training, the length of time to complete the home study and the length of time to identify a child for your family. On average, the adoption process takes 1 to 2 years.
Who are the children waiting to be adopted from foster care?
Children in foster care have been removed from their families due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. A child might live temporarily with extended family, with a foster family or in a group home while social workers try to help the birth family. If the birth family’s problems can’t be resolved, the provincial or territorial authority that has custody of the child goes to court to legally terminate parental rights. At this point, social workers try to find a safe and loving permanent family for the child.
Ages range from infant to teenager, and virtually every race, ethnic group and socioeconomic category is represented. Some children are waiting alone, and others are waiting with siblings.
Are you ready to get started on your adoption journey?
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