Starting the Adoption Process

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Now that you've made the decision to adopt, probably the first question in your mind is "Where do I begin?"

Joining support groups such as SPA is a good start. You can get a great deal of information from people who have been there before you. There are many other support groups as well (see Links to search some out). There are also on-line discussion groups and if you go to groups.yahoo.com you can search for the one(s) that are right for you.

No matter which adoption option you choose, you will need:

1. an adoption agency or licencee (an independent person, such as a lawyer, who is licenced by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services to oversee adoptions)
2. an adoption worker

You will also need to complete a homestudy (see FAQ's). Beyond this, the process varies depending on whether you have chosen domestic private, domestic public or international.

Domestic Private
Your first contact here will probably be an adoption agency or licencee (see Links to find a list of adoption agencies and licencees approved by the Ministry). Once you have found one that is right for you, you will need to find a private adoption worker (see Links to find a list of approved adoption workers) to complete your homestudy. Once completed, your homestudy will need to be approved by the Ministry.

Once you have Ministry approval, you must wait for a birthmother to choose you. After the baby is born, there is a period of 7 days before the birthmother can consent to the adoption and after this there is a further 21 days in which she can revoke her consent. After this period has passed, the legal adoption process can proceed.

Domestic Public
Simply call your local Children's Aid Society (see Links to find contact information for your local CAS office) and express your interest in adopting a waiting child. You will be invited to an intake session where you will find out more about the process. If you wish to proceed, then you will be invited to a series of training sessions where you will find out more about the types of children that are waiting.

Once you have completed the training, you will be assigned a CAS worker to complete your homestudy. Once the homestudy is completed, it must be approved internally by CAS.

Once a child is identified, there is a probation period of at least 6 months, during which time the child is living with you, before the legal adoption process can begin.

International
You will need to research the various countries that have programs with Ontario and find the one that is right for you. Then, you need to find an agency that works with that country (see Links). You will also need to find a private adoption worker (see Links) to complete your homestudy. Once completed, your homestudy must be approved by the Ministry.

Once you have been approved, your agency will send your homestudy overseas and you wait for a referral. After this, the process varies depending on which country you have chosen. With most countries, the legal adoption process is completed overseas, but with some you are granted legal guardianship and the adoption is completed in Ontario.

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