|
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
|
