Adoption options in Quebec
Printer-friendly versionPrepared by: The Adoption Council of Canada
Preface
When it comes to adoption across Canada, every province and territory has their own set of rules and regulations governing the process. The information contained in this article is specific to the province of Quebec 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.
Adoption Options in Quebec
A set of questions and answers will guide the article and we hope that it proves helpful for prospective adoptive families across the province of Quebec.
Q1: What types of adoption exist in Quebec?
A: In Quebec, there are three different adoption options: 1) public adoption; 2) interprovincial adoption; and, 3) international adoption.
Q2: What is public adoption?
A: Public adoption involves working with your local Centre Jeunesse office. To locate the office nearest you, please visit L’association des centres jeunesse du Québec website, www.acjq.qc.ca, and click on “Les centres jeunesse” on the left hand side of the page.
Public adoption may also be broken down into two main types: 1) regular adoption; and 2) “mixed bank program.” Regular adoption most often involves newborns and involves the voluntary consent of the birth parents. This type of adoption requires the assistance of the adoptive family’s local Centre Jeunesse. “Mixed bank adoption” is a project which began in 1988 across Quebec and is now used by all public agencies across the province. It is a two-step process whereby the child is first placed with a family as a foster child and then may proceed into adoption should the Quebec courts deem this as the best option for the child. Some refer to this process as “fostering with the view to adopt.”
Q3: What happens after I call my local office?
A: Should you wish to continue in the process of adopting a child in Quebec, you must have a homestudy completed by your agency (Centre Jeunesse). The homestudy is defined in the ACC’s glossary as “the professional assessment of a prospective parent's suitability to adopt. A social worker conducts interviews to assess reasons for wanting to adopt, preferences in types of children, and strengths and skills in parenting. The process includes education about adoption and parenting issues. The homestudy document summarizes the applicant's family life, education, employment, personality, marital history and medical history. The social worker states what type of child the applicant is approved to adopt.”
Note: the ACC’s glossary contains many terms of interest. We encourage you to visit our website (www.adoption.ca) and click on “About Adoption”. The link to “Glossary” is included on the left hand side of the page.
Q4: What is the timeframe in local adoption?
A: 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: Are there any conditions that must be met in order for me to adopt a child in Quebec?
A: As indicated on the www.quebecadoption.net website (an excellent resource), one must understand that adoption is always in the best interests of the child. This is true for any adoption. The applicant(s) must be at least 18 years of age and must be at least 18 years older than the child they adopt. When it comes to adoption consent, either the birth family or the Centre Jeunesse office will make the decision when the child is a minor. The child must give consent if they are over the age of 10. The courts may still recommend an adoption until the child is 14 years old; however, if the child does not want to be adopted and is over the age of 14, there is a block put on the adoption.
Q6: Are the social workers who conduct my homestudy looking for any special “criteria”?
A: 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 within the 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
Q7: How does interprovincial adoption work in Quebec?
A: It is possible to adopt from another province when you live in Quebec; however, this is considered an international adoption by the province and you must work with the Sécretariat à l’adoption internationale (SAI): http://www.adoption.gouv.qc.ca/site/home.phtml.
Q8: How do I find out about children waiting in other provinces?
A: The ACC runs a national program called Canada’s Waiting Children (CWC): www.canadaswaitingkids.ca. The CWC program operates a national database and website which lists children awaiting adoption. Families can subscribe to the program and receive a password to access the secure website. Many of the children listed on the CWC program website have special needs or are part of a group of two or three siblings. Local or provincial adoption agencies generally refer children to CWC when all other options have failed. Given this, the placement rate of children listed on the CWC site is impressive: over 85% of children referred have found families to adopt them permanently. CWC has already played a role in the placement of over 761 children ranging in age from 4 months to 16 years, and the number continues to grow.
Note: since the ACC and CWC program are NOT adoption agencies, applicants in Quebec should contact the SAI about next steps: http://www.adoption.gouv.qc.ca/site/fr_contact.phtml
Q9: What is the procedure for international adoption (i.e. for children living OUTSIDE of Canada)?
A: Those wanting to adopt internationally must first open a file at the Secrétariat à l'adoption internationale (SAI) and sign a contract with a certified organization representing the country of their choosing. They will then need to undergo a homestudy with either a social worker or psychologist. Additional information about the homestudy is included in Q3.
Q10: What does the SAI do?
A: As stated on the SAI website, “The Secrétariat à l’adoption internationale (SAI) acts on behalf of the Minister of Health and Social Services in all adoptions of children domiciled outside Québec. Its primary mandate is to counsel any individual who wishes to adopt a child from another country. The SAI provides information on international adoption, the conditions and criteria of countries of origin as well as on the procedure to follow. The SAI also makes recommendations to the Minister with respect to the certification of bodies that carry out adoption procedures for adoptive parents.”
Source: http://www.adoption.gouv.qc.ca/site/en_demarches_organisme_agree.phtml
Q11: How do I find a certified agency?
A: Below is a list of certified agencies in Quebec:
Adoption internationale inc. (Ukraine)
4420, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
Westmount (Qc) H3Z 1R2
Phone number: (514) 933-4453
Fax: (514) 934-3134
E-mail: rosiesz@videotron.ca
Website: http://adopt.webhop.org
L'Agence d'adoption africaine "Child of Mine" (Ghana)
9227, rue Verville
Montréal (Qc) H2N 1Y5
Phone number: (514) 495-7878
Fax: (514) 495-3753
E-mail: info@africanadoptionagency.org
Website: www.africanadoptionagency.org
Agence d'adoption les enfants du Mandé (Mali, Niger)
395, Parc Industriel
Longueuil (Qc) J4H 3V7
Phone number: (450) 641-4682
Fax: (450) 641-6886
E-mail: info@enfantsdumande.org
Website: www.enfantsdumande.org
Alliance des familles du Québec (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic)
1144, rue des Géraniums
Laval (Qc) H7Y 2G6
Phone number: (450) 627-2314
Fax: (450) 627-2505
E-mail: info@adoptquebec.org
Website : www.adoptquebec.org
Appel inc. (Adoption permanente pour enfants latino-américains) (Colombia)
1717, rue Schryer
Gatineau (Qc) J8R 1S2
Phone number: (819) 565-0222
Fax: (819) 439-1927
E-mail: info@adoptionappel.org angelaalba@adoptionappel.org
Website: www.adoptionappel.org
Corporation accueillons un enfant (Haiti)
2900, des Quatre Bourgeois Road, Suite 203
Quebec (Qc) G1V 1Y4
Phone number: (418) 651-2608
Fax: (418) 651-2608
E-mail: info@accueillons.org
Website: www.accueillons.org
Enfants d'Orient, adoption et parrainage du Québec (South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand)
12 383, rue Fernand-Gauthier
Montréal (Qc) H1E 6C4
Phone number: (514) 881-1514
Fax: (514) 881-6014
E-mail: info@enfantsdorient.org
Website: www.enfantsdorient.org
Enfants du monde (China, Vietnam)
1600, boulevard Henri-Bourassa Ouest, bureau 542
Montréal (Qc) H3M 3E2
Phone number: (514) 332-6332
Toll free: 1 800 381-3588
Fax: (514) 332-9152
E-mail: info@enfantsdumonde.org
Website: www.enfantsdumonde.org
Société d'adoption internationale un enfant heureux inc. (Ukraine)
2219, boulevard Shevchenko
Montréal (Qc) H8N 2Y1
Phone number: (514) 366-8325
Cellular phone: (514) 927-9712 (President)
Cellular phone: (514) 994-9484 (Vice-president)
Fax: (514) 366-7228
E-mail: mi1216@yahoo.ca
Société d'adoption parents sans frontières (China)
3, rue des Goélettes
Varennes (Qc) J3X 2A2
Phone number: (450) 652-1992
Fax: (450) 652-5455
E-mail: psf@qc.aira.com
Website: www.parentssansfrontieres.com
Société d'adoption québécoise une grande famille (Russia)
506, rue Condora
Saint-Lazare (Qc) J7T 2B4
Phone number: (514) 586-0414
E-mail: adoptionscanada@gmail.com
Société formons une famille inc.
(Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Peru, Vietnam, Philippines)
480, boulevard Roland-Therrien
Longueuil (Qc) J4H 3V9
Phone number: (514) 287-7290 (Montréal area)
Phone number: (418) 386-3080 (Québec area)
Phone number: (418) 706-0575 (Saguenay - Lac-Saint-Jean area)
Fax: (450) 670-0482 (Montréal area)
Fax: (418) 386-4255 (Québec area)
E-mail: info@formonsunefamille.com
Website: www.formonsunefamille.com
Soleil des nations (Colombia, Haiti)
340, boulevard Saint-Maurice
Trois-Rivières (Qc) G9A 3N9
Phone number: (819) 693-3223
Fax number: (819) 693-3206
E-mail: courrier@soleildesnations.org
courrierhaiti@soleildesnations.org (Haiti)
courriercolombie@soleildesnations.org (Colombia)
Website: www.soleildesnations.org
TDH pour les enfants inc. (Honduras, Moldavia, Russia, Vietnam, Ukraine)
2520, rue Lionel-Groulx, 3e étage
Montréal (Qc) H3J 1J8
Phone number: (514) 937-3325
Fax: (514) 933-7125
E-mail: dorinda@tdh.ca
Website: www.tdhpourlesenfants.tdh.ca
Source : http://www.adoption.gouv.qc.ca/site/en_organismes_agrees_liste_des_organismes.phtml
Q12: When do I select a country of interest?
A: It is important to select the country first, as you may only register with one country. This restriction is deemed to be in the best interest of the child; however, applicants may choose to change the country at a later time. As indicated in Bev Hanck’s 2006 article, “the intention here is to avoid creating a situation where more than one child, from than one country, is assigned to you.”
Q13: How much does it cost to adopt?
A: Although there is no cost to adopt locally, several factors influence the costs related to international adoptions. Here are a few:
· the fees charged by government authorities for the issuance of acts of birth or marriage;
· passport fees;
· fees for a medical certificate;
· the cost related to the psychosocial assessment;
· the costs of travel and accommodation in the country of origin (costs will be higher if more than one trip is necessary);
· administration and coordination fees charged by the certified body;
· the donation made or humanitarian contribution requested by the authorities in the country of origin or the orphanage;
· legal and translation fees.
Source: http://www.adoption.gouv.qc.ca/site/en_adoption_internationale_couts.phtml
Note: please contact the SAI and/or a certified agency for a detailed breakdown of fees.
Q14: How do I know which option is best for me?
A: 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.
Q15: How do I connect with families who have already adopted?
A: There are many organizations in Quebec dedicated to adoptive families. A list is provided below:
Association Familles Adoptantes d'Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FAAT)
Présidente: Mme. Luce Joyal
faat02@hotmail.com
Association des familles Québec-Asie (AFQA)
Martin Desrosiers, président
http://www.afqa.org/
Association de parents pour l'adoption québécoise (APAQ)
Association pour l'adoption interne au Québec
Kathleen Neault, présidente
514-990-9144
apaq@quebecadoption.net
Familles au coeur québécois (FACQ)
Joanne Ladouceur, présidente
819-777-3885
facq@quebecadoption.net
Fédération des parents adoptants du Québec (FPAQ)
Claire-Marie Gagnon, présidente
514-696-0508
fpaq@sympatico.ca
Adoption Estrie
Hélène Kouri, présidente
819-562-1535
Adoptive families of Québec
Roberta Fuller
John Fuller
514-694-7665
Regroupement de Parents Enfants d'Ailleurs, famille d'ici du K.R.T.B.
MRC de Kamouraska, Rivière-du-Loup,Témiscouata, Les Basques
Martin Desrosiers
mdesros@videotron.ca
Emmanuel, l'amour qui sauve
Emmanuel regroupe les familles adoptives d'enfants handicapés
819-395-4889
emmanuel01@sympatico.ca
http://www.emmanuel.qc.ca
Regroupement de parents d'adoption internationale de l'Est du Québec
Nicole Ouellet
nicole.jean@globetrotter.net
Regroupement des parents adoptants des Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Martine Martin
418 969 9129
courriel: dimitri4@tlb.sympatico.ca
Société culturelle de familles adoptives d'enfants de Chine
Pierre Coallier, président
450-461-0715
info@enfantsdechine.qc.ca
www.enfantsdechine.qc.ca
Source: www.quebecadoption.net
Q16: Where can I find resources about adoption?
A: There are several resources available to you, including
• Adoption Council of Canada: www.adoption.ca
• Parentbooks: http://www.parentbooks.ca/Adoption.html
• Family Helper: www.familyhelper.net
• Quebec Adoption: www.quebecadoption.net
• EMK Press: www.emkpress.com
• Adoption Clubhouse: www.adoptionclubhouse.org
• Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/
Q17: I still have questions, what do I do?
A: 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!