Adoption is the legal process whereby a person or persons become a child’s legal guardian. The Adoption Services Program is designed to find adoptive parents for children relinquished for adoption or who are in the continuous custody of the Director of Child, Youth and Family Services. Services are offered to birth parents. Social Workers also provide assistance to couples seeking approval to adopt from other parts of Canada, and other countries.

Types of Adoptions:

Infant (0-3 yrs)

• waiting period approximately 10-12 years
• infants not placed with person/persons over age of 45

Older Child (3 and older)

• waiting period depends on individual child

International

• applications may be processed after 6 months of application date

Step-parent/relative

• birth parent must consent to adoption before processing begins