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In Ontario, there are two ways:

• Consent of the parents — In this case the birth parent(s) sign a consent, giving their permission for their child to be adopted.
• Crown Wardship — In this case, we ask a Judge to make a child a ward of the Crown because there are concerns that the birth parents are unable to meet the child's needs. After a child has been made a Crown Ward without access, they are legally free to be adopted and we match them to a permanent adoptive home. The matching process is slightly different for those Fostering with a View to Adopt.

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Children of all ages and stages of development can be adopted, but the majority are aged three and over. These children 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.

Many of the older children waiting to be adopted have had painful experiences and need time to adjust to a new home. Others may have developmental or physical challenges. Each child is different, but all can benefit from becoming part of a warm and loving family.

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We match children and families taking into consideration the needs of the child and the ability and willingness of the adoptive family.

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Individuals and couples, over the age of 18, who are willing and able to provide a safe and loving home can adopt.  You may be single, divorced, common-law, married, gay or transgendered, there are no restrictions applied to life circumstances. You need not be wealthy, but you should be financially able to provide for a child or children.

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There are many children of all ages waiting for a "forever family".

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Contact us and we will guide you through the process. You should be aware that, references, police clearances, medical reports, attendance at PRIDE Pre Service training as well as a SAFE home assessment will be required.

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We must assess and prepare prospective families carefully, as children and youth need stable placements with families capable of meeting their needs. For these reasons, the homestudy assessment, training and approval process usually takes about three to six months.

After being approved an adoptive family may wait from one month to several years for a placement. The length of time a family must wait depends on the age of the child they wish to adopt, the number of children they are prepared to welcome into their family, and the special needs they feel they can cope with. There is often a longer waiting period for people who want to adopt an infant. Once a child has been placed with your family it will be at least six months and possibly longer until an adoption can be finalized.

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Yes. Children who have always known they were adopted are likely to have good feelings about it, especially if the word "adoption" has had happy associations for them from an early age. It is important to respect the child’s cultural heritage, and support them in developing a strong and positive sense of identity.

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Those interested in adoption need to understand a child's connectedness to their birth family/kin and be willing to engage in some form of contact to allow for the continuation of meaningful and beneficial relationships. This contact is referred to as ‘Openness’ and can range from the direct or indirect exchange of cards, letters and photographs to visits with birth family and kin.  Openness is considered in all planning for the child, but is not a requirement in all adoptions.  Openness is considered on a case by case basis taking into account the best interests of the child.

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In general, adoptive applicants are expected to be able to financially meet the expenses of raising a child. In some adoption placements, we may approve a financial subsidy to help parents who wish to adopt a child with specific special needs or a group of siblings. This means the adoptive family can receive some financial support, even after the adoption is finalized.