Adoption – A Wonderful Option
Every child deserves to have a family of his or her own. Adoption is one way to bring children who need families together with families who want to parent children. Children in the care of the Children’s Aid Society who are waiting to be adopted come from a variety of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Some are siblings, waiting for a family who can keep them together. Older children waiting to be adopted have experienced challenges in their short lives and need time, patience and help to adjust to a new home. Others may have developmental or physical challenges and require parents willing to learn the skills to care for them.
Although some children may have challenges, they all have one thing in common – a need for a safe and loving home and lifelong connections.
Children looking for adoptive homes range in age from infants to teens, with 61% of children available for adoption aged 13 and up. While 61% of the children and youth available for adoption are 13 or older, this age group constituted only 4% of the 830 children and youth adopted across Ontario last year. Adopting an older child is not the first thing many people think of when they consider adoption, and older youths may have experienced challenges, but they need families too, and you could be the difference they need to successfully transition into adulthood.
Adoptive Parents are as diverse as the children they are adopting, and the Children’s Aid Society is looking to work together with potential parents from any cultural, ethnic, religious, or sexual orientation background to help families grow together.
People wanting to adopt understand the importance of providing each and every child and youth with a safe, loving and nurturing environment — a home where children can reach their full potential. Adoptive parents come in all sorts, with individuals, couples, people unable to have children of their own, parents who already have children and want to add to their growing family, as well as adults whose first choice for building a family is through adoption all potentially making excellent adoptive parents.
People who are open to parenting special needs children, sibling groups or older children are encouraged to consider adoption.
Adoption placements are based on the child’s needs, so the waiting time depends on the best possible match for the child and the adoptive family. If the match is right, the process can happen very quickly!
Once the decision is made, there are several visits to allow the child to get to know the new family and surroundings before actually moving into the home.
By law, adoptions are legally finalized typically six months or more after the child moves into his or her new home. The length of time depends on the needs of the child and the adoptive family. This adjustment period allows the child and family time to work out any challenges that might arise.
When everyone is ready to complete the adoption, the CASO applies to the court for an adoption order. After the court order is made, adoptive parents are the child’s legal parents and the child is a legal member of their family.
To find out if adoption is right for you, contact the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa. By working together, a decision can be made about whether adoption is the right plan for you as well as the kind of child(ren) or youth you could parent.
The process for adopting a child is one that is carefully planned with the child’s well-being in mind. Parents will undergo a home study that involves several visits to their home. During the home study period, parents will be encouraged to assess their own attitudes and abilities. Training, education and ongoing support will be offered to parents to make sure the adoption process is successful.
The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa believes that every child and youth deserves a family that will love and nurture them always. For some children, the family they need comes to them through adoption. Matching the needs of the child to the family and vice versa is a main priority as well. Race, culture and ethnicity are some but not all of the factors weighed when trying to determine the best match for a child.
While every child is unique, the one thing that each child has in common is the need for a family and lifelong connections.
If adoption is being considered as an option for you, please visit our web site at casott.on.ca to review profiles of currently waiting children, or contact the Children’s Aid Society at 613-747-7800 to learn more about the adoption process.