There are three ways to adopt a child or children in Ontario.

Historically, most adoptions were completed through the Children's Aid Society (CAS). This is a child protection agency that places children who have been neglected, abused or abandoned.

In the 1980s, private adoptions started to increase in number. Private adoptions are those adoptions facilitated by a person licensed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services to place children for adoption. These people are called licensees.

Many of the children placed for adoption through a licensee were newborns.

In the 1990s, international adoptions started to increase in number. This is the most popular way for couples to build their family through adoption today.
However, changes in Ontario's child welfare legislation have resulted in more children coming under the protection of CAS. Twice each year (spring, fall) the Adoption Resource Exchange (ARE) is held. Many of the children available for adoption through all the Ontario Children Aid Societies are presented to couple/individuals hoping to adopt. Contact your local CAS or licensee for the times of the next ARE.

Once you have decided whether you would be interested in adopting an older child, newborn, or a child from another country, you would need to have a homestudy completed. The homestudy is an assessment of your readiness to parent an adopted child. For the nearest licensed adoption social worker or practitioner, please contact the Ministry of Community and Social Services-Adoption Unit) in Toronto. www.gov.on.ca

Jennie Painter is a licensed private adoption social worker and works with couples in eastern Ontario to complete homestudies. Private adoption social workers do adoptions homestudies for those hoping to adopt internationally or privately in Canada. If interested in adopting a child from CAS, contact your local CAS to arrange for a homestudy. It should be noted that some CAS offices now direct their clients to private adoption workers to have their homestudies completed.

The homestudy is an opportunity to review your readiness to become parents and to become prepared to understand the intricacies of parenting an adopted child. Such issues as when do you tell your child that he is adopted is discussed. It is important to choose a social worker with whom you feel comfortable.

In private adoption, once your homestudy is completed, it is important to connect with private adoption licensees. Most licensees will want to meet with you, review your homestudy, and supporting documents. There is a fee for such service. Many couples connect with several licensees. List of licensees can be obtained from www.gov.on.ca

If you are adopting internationally, it is important to connect with several adoption agents to see which program feels right for you. A list of these agents can be obtained from the MCSS.

Costs of these various ways of adopting differ. The services of CAS are covered by your tax dollars, private adoption vary from $10,000 to $14,000, international adoptions vary depending on the country. ($20,000 to 35,000).