Adoption Options in Ontario - Winter 2010 (Revised)
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Adoption Options in Ontario
Prepared by: the Adoption Council of Canada
Preface
When it comes to adoption across Canada, every province and territory has its own set of rules and regulations governing the process. The information contained in this article is specific to the province of Ontario and was compiled at the request of the Infertility Awareness Association of Canada.
Should you wish to learn more about the options in your area, please visit the Adoption Council of Canada’s (ACC) website (www.adoption.ca) and click on “About Adoption”. You may also contact the ACC directly at 1-888-54-ADOPT or email info@adoption.ca.
Special Report: Status of Adoption in Ontario
Before detailing the adoption options in Ontario, the ACC would like to provide some insight into the status of adoption in the province by highlighting an important report released on August 26, 2009: “Raising Expectations: Recommendations of the Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption.” The Expert Panel’s report aims to provide advice on how to improve Ontario’s adoption system and improve access to fertility monitoring and assisted reproduction services.
The report calls for an overhaul of a dated system and David Johnston, Chair of the Expert Panel, notes: "Ontario's adoption and assisted reproduction systems are not working as well as they could – and should – for children and families. There are many dedicated, courageous, and committed people providing and using services in both systems but the structures, policies, laws and costs are barriers."
The numbers are alarming: less than 10% of children available for adoption in Ontario were adopted in 2007-2008. The province can do better and the Expert Panel report provides 64 adoption recommendations on how to improve the system of finding permanent families for waiting children. Some of the recommendations include creating a federal adoption agency, developing tools to manage the adoption system, providing adequate funding that supports the realities of adoption, standardizing permanency planning practices for all children in care, and creating service delivery timelines for parent training and assessment. The full report is available via the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services website: http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/infertility/index.aspx.
Statement from the Adoption Council of Canada (ACC)
The ACC is grateful to the Expert Panel for taking such care in addressing the adoption needs of Ontario. The thorough report released by the Panel demonstrates a clear understanding of the barriers that must be overcome to ensure permanency for the thousands of waiting children across the province.
The ACC hopes the province acts swiftly in implementing the recommendations of the Expert Panel. Ontario has the opportunity to improve the realities of thousands of children and families and to be seen as a leader in child welfare practice in Canada.
Adoption Options in Ontario
Q1: What types of adoption exist in Ontario?
There are four types of adoption in Ontario:
1) Public adoption
2) Private adoption
3) Relative adoption
4) International adoption
Details about each type are provided below in a series of Q&As.
Q2: What is public adoption?
Public adoption is an adoption arranged through a provincial ministry or agency funded by government. Your local Children’s Aid Society is an example of a public agency.
Q3: How do I find my local Children’s Aid Society (CAS)?
To find your local CAS, please visit the website for the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS): www.oacas.org. Click on “locate a society” on the left side of the page.
Q4: What is the timeframe in local adoption?
The timeframe is variable from year to year and from agency to agency. The ACC encourages you to call your local office for an update on wait times in your area.
Q5: What is PRIDE training?
PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) is a nine session course for a total of 27 hours of training that can be offered in a variety of ways, from once a week to sessions on weekends. Whenever possible, applicant participation in a PRIDE training program should be concurrent with the completion of their SAFE homestudy.
The PRIDE curriculum provides information to help prepare all adoptive parents for the responsibilities involved in raising their children and incorporates information about the following:
• Adoption and child welfare systems, processes and laws
• Attachment as a central issue in all adoptions
• Loss issues in adoption
• Impact of adoption on your own family
• Child development, child management and an overview of issues specific to the needs of adopted children
• The effects of neglect, lack of stimulation, abuse, institutionalization on children
• Identity formation and the importance of cultural and racial awareness
• The importance of connections and continuity for children
All PRIDE trainers have received comprehensive training and have been approved by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies which holds the Ontario license for PRIDE. Each session is led by co-leaders, one an adoption professional and the other an experienced adoptive or foster parent. They will address the learning needs of all group participants regardless of their specific adoption plans, as they explore their options.
NOTE: PRIDE training is also required for private and international adoption options.
Source: http://www.adoptontario.ca/pride.main.aspx
Q6: What is a SAFE homestudy?
Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) is a home study methodology that was designed to evaluate families for adoption. SAFE is built upon solid social work practice values that stress the importance of respectfully engaging families in a strength-based, mutual evaluation process that strives to select families in, not out.
Source: http://www.safehomestudy.org/
Q7: Are the social workers who conduct my homestudy looking for any special criteria?
People who adopt are as varied and diverse as the children available for adoption. The adoption worker preparing your homestudy looks for the following attributes in prospective adoptive parents to help ensure a successful adoption:
• Realistic expectations
• Genuine respect for birth parents
• Understanding of loss issues for birth parents, the child and themselves
• Acceptance of child differences
• Unpossessive attitudes toward children
• Assertiveness / ability to advocate
• Openness to support / learning from others
• Flexibility / ability to improvise
• Interchangeable, supportive roles as a couple
• A network of support whether adopting as a single person or a couple
• High tolerance for emotional pain
• Sense of humour
• Sense of spirituality / inner strength / faith
• Ability to meet own personal needs
• Ability to provide an accepting, nurturing and stable environment for children
Source: www.adoptontario.ca
Q8: How do I find out about children waiting in Ontario and in other provinces?
• To learn about children available for adoption in your community, contact your local Children’s Aid Society: www.oacas.org.
• To learn about children available for adoption across Ontario, contact the AdoptOntario program: www.adoptontario.ca.
• To learn about children available for adoption across Canada, contact the Canada’s Waiting Children (CWC) program: www.canadaswaitingkids.ca.
Q9: What is private adoption?
Private adoptions happen when you use a private adoption agency to find a child. Most of these children are under the age of six months. Often their parents are simply unable to raise them. These parents have decided that adoption is the best option for their babies. In Ontario, private adoptions are handled by individuals or agencies licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
Source: www.children.gov.on.ca
Q10: How do I find a private adoption practitioner or private adoption agency?
A list of private practitioners and agencies is available via the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services website: www.children.gov.on.ca. Click on “Resources” and then “Child Well-Being and Protection.” You may also contact the Ministry directly: 1-866-821-7770.
Q11: What are the costs associated with private adoption?
The adoption agency or individual will charge you a fee for its services. The cost of private adoption services can vary from about $10,000 to $20,000.
Source: www.children.gov.on.ca
Q12: What services does the private agency provide?
Individuals or agencies that are licensed to handle private adoptions provide many services, such as counselling for birth parents before and after the baby's birth, support for adoptive parents before and after the adoption, help in completing paperwork and making sure it gets sent to the Ontario government, and court and legal services.
Source: www.children.gov.on.ca
Q13: What is step-parent and relative adoption?
You have remarried and want to adopt your step-child. This is called a step-parent adoption.
Someone in the family can no longer care for their child. You want to adopt that child. This is called a relative adoption.
Source: www.children.gov.on.ca
Q14: How do I adopt a family member if I live in Ontario?
If you, the birth parents and the child are all residents of Ontario, you apply to an Ontario Family Court. To find out how to do this, visit the Ontario Court Services website: http://www.ontariocourtforms.on.ca/english/family/. Alternately, you can ask a lawyer to help you.
Source: www.children.gov.on.ca
Q15: What if the relative I want to adopt lives outside of Ontario and Canada?
If the child you want to adopt lives in another country, you must follow the same process that you follow for an international adoption.
Source: www.children.gov.on.ca
Q16: What is international adoption?
International adoption is the adoption of a child living in a different country from the adoptive parent(s).
Q17: How do I find an agency to help me with international adoption?
A list of licensed international adoption agencies is available via the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services website: www.children.gov.on.ca. Click on “Resources” and then “Child Well-Being and Protection.” You may also contact the Ministry directly: 1-866-821-7770.
Q18: What are the costs associated with international adoption?
Adopting a child from another country usually costs from about $20,000 to $30,000. In some cases, it can cost more.
Source: www.children.gov.on.ca
Q19: How do I know which option is best for me?
The ACC recommends that you gather information about all your options prior to making a decision. We also recommend that you connect with those who have already adopted so that you may learn from their experiences.
You may also want to consider attending a “Getting Started in Adoption Seminar” hosted by the Adoption Council of Ontario (ACO). For more information about these sessions, please contact the ACO directly: 1-877-ADOPT-20 or info@adoption.on.ca.
Q20: How do I connect with families who have already adopted?
There are many organizations in Ontario dedicated to adoptive families. For more information, please contact the ACC: 1-888-54-ADOPT or info@adoption.ca.
Q21: Where can I find resources about adoption?
There are several resources available to you, including:
Adoption Council of Canada: www.adoption.ca
Canada’s Waiting Children Program: www.canadaswaitingkids.ca
Adoption Council of Ontario: www.adoption.on.ca
AdoptOntario: www.adoptontario.ca
Parentbooks: http://www.parentbooks.ca/Adoption.html
Family Helper: www.familyhelper.net
CanadaAdopts!: www.canadaadopts.com
EMK Press: www.emkpress.com
Adoption Clubhouse: www.adoptionclubhouse.org
Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/
North American Council on Adoptable Children: www.nacac.org
Q22: I still have questions. What do I do?
Please do not hesitate to contact the Adoption Council of Canada (ACC) with any questions or concerns about the adoption process: 1-888-54-ADOPT or info@adoption.ca. It is a pleasure to assist you in this journey!