Family and Children's Services provides a number of adoption services including the placement of children for adoption and adoption disclosure services - providing information about, and sometimes reunions with (adult) adopted individuals and birth family members.

Adoption has changed a great deal over the years. Today it is not unusual for young single parents to choose to raise their babies, where in the past they may have chosen adoption. Wider use of birth control and family planning has also impacted the number of infants that might have been available for adoption.

And while both private and international adoption have increased significantly over the years, adoption services remain part of the child welfare mandate and continue to be offered by all children's aid societies including FACS Niagara. We place children who are currently in the permanent care of FACS with adoptive families. We also work with pregnant individuals who are considering placing their infants for adoption.

Adoption is a legal process, which establishes a permanent parent-child relationship. We have many individuals who apply to be adoptive parents and we have many children available for adoption. Our role is to help find the right family for the right child.

The adoption application process is very thorough and includes a medical exam, police checks, a number of references and a series of interviews and home visits. There is also an extensive training and orientation program. Once a family is approved, the search begins both internally and with other agencies.

When a potential match is made, there are some introductory visits to establish the compatibility of the child and family. Once a child is placed, there is a probation period and regular visits by a social worker until the adoption is finalized by the court, making the child legally part of the family.

We encourage anyone considering adoption to read about and research the subject as thoroughly as possible. Consider all your options including public adoption through FACS or children's aid, private and international adoption. And contact your local children's aid or Family and Children's Services for more information.

FAQ

Is there a long waiting list when it comes to adoption?

It depends. The time for each placement varies to allow for the best matching of a child with a family. The more open a family is to the age and type of child they would consider, the less time it may take.

Are there many children available for adoption?

The number of children available for adoption fluctuates as children in our care become legally available for adoption.

Who are the children available for adoption through FACS?

They are children who have come into our care due to child protection concerns, are now permanently in our care and by order of the court will not be returning to their families of origin. We also work with pregnant individuals who have chosen adoption for their children.

These children are of all ages and may or may not have special needs, health or behavioural concerns. We also have a number of sibling groups. We find that with committed families these children thrive.

How much does it cost to undertake the adoption process?

Public adoption through FACS and other children's aid societies is not costly at all. Legal, administrative and home study costs are covered by the agency.

Is adoption only for childless families?

No. Many families who have already had children decide to expand their families through adoption.

How involved are the birth parents/family in the adoption process?

Birth parents can be involved in selecting the family whom they would like to adopt their child. Values, lifestyle, education and heritage may be some of the characteristics they would like to consider. There is a growing move toward openness in adoption these days.

Adoption Disclosure Services

Adoption disclosure enables adult adopted individuals and birth family members to seek information about each other. Some adopted individuals are very curious about their birth families and history, others are not. The same applies to birth family members.

Some seek information for a specific reason - to find out their health and medical history, to verify their band status if they are native or for a variety of personal reasons. Non-identifying information includes the age, ethnic background, education, profession and social history of family members.

Should an individual wish to seek a reunion with family members, we recommend pre-reunion counselling to explore why they have chosen to do this, what their expectations are, possible lifestyle differences, any unresolved issues, anger or other emotions; what kind of relationship they are seeking and how the adoptive and birth families fit into the picture. While reunions can be a tearfully happy occasion, it is also an extremely emotional process.

Adoption disclosure services are offered by most children's aid societies/FACS. Contact your local agency to find out more.