Who are the children available for adoption?
Children of all ages and stages of development can be adopted but children over the age of seven or who have special needs at any age are the ones who wait the longest. They come from a variety of cultural, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Sometimes we have sibling groups that we struggle to place because the Society strongly believes that brothers and sisters should be placed together.
How do children come into the care of a Children's Aid Society?
Children are admitted into care through two methods; either through a voluntary agreement, such as a temporary
care agreement or by a court order. Children come into care because their birth parents are unwilling or unable to
care for them. Not all children coming into care are available for adoption.
Why do they come into care?
Parents suffering from addictions including alcohol and or street drugs, parental mental illness such as depression or other psychiatric diagnosis and cognitive delays are three of the most common themes found in cases where the Children's Aid Society must intervene to protect children. On the rise are children coming into care as a result of domestic violence occurring in their birth family.
How long does it take to adopt a child?
Our foremost concern is the well-being of the child and finding the right home for his or her particular needs. Depending upon those needs a child may be placed within a year or it may take considerably longer. It is important to make the right match and so we go as slowly or quickly as we need to.
Are the birth parents involved?
Under the present legislation in order for a child to be adopted through the Children's Aid Society, that child is made a Ward of the Crown with no access to his birth family. In this circumstance, the birth parents have no further involvement with the child, other than possible yearly contact through cards and/or letters with the adoptive family.
In situations where birth parents wish for their infants to be adopted through the Children's Aid Society, the adoption worker may present to them profiles of several families waiting to adopt an infant. In this way birth parents are given the opportunity to choose a family for their child.
What are the costs associated with adoption?
There is no cost associated when families adopt through the Children's Aid Society. However, private adoption practitioners charge fees for the services they provide.
What legal rights does an adopted child have?
A child who is legally adopted in Ontario acquires the same rights as if the adopted child had been born to the adoptive parents.
For more information on adoption contact the Adoption Department by email here or by phone 1-800-461-4236.
