WHAT IS ADOPTION?
Adoption is the legal process that gives a new family to a child whose birth family cannot care for him or her. Over the years adoption has changed. Today children of all ages are being adopted, some with very special needs. Adoption is intended to provide the child with permanence and security.

In Ontario, adoption can be arranged either through one of the 53 Children's Aid Societies, a private agency or, in the case of a relative or stepparent, directly through the courts.

Adopting a child is a life long commitment. Adoption can be a beautiful and rewarding experience for a family.

WHO ARE THE CHILDREN BEING ADOPTED?
They are children of all ages and stages of development, but there are far fewer babies than there were in the past. They come from a variety of cultural, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Some are brothers and sisters, waiting for a family who can adopt them together. Most are pre-school and older children who have often had painful experiences and need to deal with emotional scars and fears about the future. Some have developmental or physical challenges. All are unique individuals.

WHERE DO THE CHILDREN COME FROM?
Each Children's Aid Society is responsible for adoption in its own area and the children waiting for adoption are in that agency's care or with another CAS in the province.

The number of children waiting for adoption and families who want to adopt varies from one part of the province to another. An adoption resource exchange tries to bring information about these children and prospective families together.

Not all children in the care of a CAS are available for adoption. Many are living temporarily with foster families while efforts are being made to help their own families function better. Others stay in long-term foster care as a matter of choice: either they don't want to be adopted, or the judge granted access to certain people in their birth families. This happens when it is thought that visits with these people are more important to the child's well being than breaking ties and starting a new life in an adoptive family. Children's Aid Society workers know the children in their care and help to determine if adoption or long-term foster care is in their best interest. If a child is old enough, he or she takes part in this decision.

HOW DO I APPLY TO ADOPT A CHILD?
If applying to this agency, applicants must be a resident of the City of Hamilton and must be the legal minimum age of 18.

When you contact the CAS about adopting a child, you will be invited to an Adoption Information Meeting to learn about adoption. You will also be able to ask questions of an adoption worker. If you decide to go ahead after finding out what is involved in adopting a child, you will take part in a home study consisting of several interviews and a meeting in your home, in addition to pre-adoption training. You will be encouraged to assess your attitude and abilities. You must also provide character references and current medical and police checks.

From this mutual process, a decision can be made about whether adoption is right for you and what kind of child or children you could parent.

Those interested in adopting a newborn from the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton must have their homestudy completed by a private adoption worker before their name can be placed on the waiting list.

IS THE BIRTH PARENT INVOLVED?
The Children's Aid Society encourages birth parents to be involved in deciding on the kind of family whom they would like to adopt their child. The values, lifestyle, education, cultural heritage, and other characteristics that are important to the birth parents are considered carefully when choosing the child's adoptive parents.

There is a move to more openness in adoption between adopting families, and in some cases birth families and former parents.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO ADOPT A CHILD?
Because the child's welfare is the chief concern, the CAS concentrates on finding the most suitable home for the child, rather than finding a child for the adopting family. Sometimes a family receives a child within a year of making their application, while for others, the process may take considerably longer.

Once the choice is made, there will be several visits to allow the child to get to know the new family and surroundings before moving into the home.

By law, there is a minimum six-month (usually longer) waiting period from the time a child moves into the new home until an adoption can be completed. This is the time when relationships can begin to solidify. When everyone is ready to complete the adoption, the Children's Aid Society applies to the court for an Adoption Order, making the adopting parents the child's legal parents and the child a legal member of their family.

WHAT ARE ADOPTION DISCLOSURE SERVICES?
When adopted children grow up, the CAS can arrange for them to meet their birth parents, if both parties agree. The Children's Aid Society provides adoption disclosure services to adult adoptees, birth parents, birth relatives, and adoptive parents, as legislated under the Child and Family Services Act of Ontario.

A pamphlet describing these services can be obtained through this agency, or by call the Provincial Adoption Disclosure Registry in Toronto at 1-416-327-4730.

If you are interested in more information about the Society's adoption services, please contact the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton Adoption Unit at:
905-522-1121

Click here to review more information about Adoption through CAS

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