Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs
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Adoption
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Adoption?
- Who may adopt?
- Who are the children being adopted?
- What are the steps in adopting a child?
- What is "Openness" in adoption?
- What types of adoption are available in Manitoba?
- How much will an adoption cost?
- How long will it take?
- Am I too old to adopt?
- Can I place a child for adoption if I am under 18?
- How much will I be told about a child's background?
- I am thinking about making an adoption plan for my child. Can I choose the adoptive family?
- Who Provides the services we need?
- How can I learn more about adoption?
What is adoption?
Adoption is the process through which a child becomes a permanent part of a new family. All children need roots and a feeling that they belong to a family. Children who grow up in stable and healthy families become the adults who will build the strong and supportive communities of the future. There are children of all ages who need adoptive families.
Adoptions in Manitoba occur under the legislation of The Adoption Act and The Child and Family Services Act. This includes adoptions of children living in Manitoba and children from other provinces and countries.
In all cases, greatest consideration is given to the child's best interests. This includes the child's opportunity to belong as a wanted member of a family, the adoptive parents' ability to meet the child's mental, emotional and educational needs, and the child's cultural, linguistic, racial and religious heritage.
The legislation is intended to protect the rights of everyone involved in an adoption: the child, the child's birth parents and the adoptive parents. For example, no one can give or receive a payment or reward of any kind in connection with the adoption of a child, except for standard legal fees and fees to agencies for certain services.
Adoptions that occur in Manitoba are made legal by an Order of Adoption granted by a judge in the Court of Queen's Bench.
Who may adopt?
Applicants must be Manitoba residents 18 years of age or older.
Who are the children being adopted?
In some situations where parents are not ready and able to raise their child, they plan adoption. Sometimes they cannot provide the kind of upbringing they want their child to have. Birth Parent Counselling is available at agencies to help them talk about their feelings and discuss their options.
Often there is no one in their extended family who is in a position to raise the child. With some older children who need adoptive families, their parents are unable to cope with the responsibility of raising a child, sometimes as a result of a parent's addiction, illness or disability.
Infants
There are fewer infants now who need adoptive families. There are more families approved for adoption than there are infants, creating a long waiting period for people who want to adopt a healthy infant.
Toddlers, Older Children and Children with Special Needs
Adopting toddlers and older children is very different from adopting an infant. Because older children have had many experiences in their lives, adoptive parents must have an especially high degree of maturity and flexibility to meet their needs. Adoption is not always without problems; it is a lifelong process that requires patience and skill.
Children with special needs are of all ages. They require special understanding and acceptance. Examples of children with special needs are:
- Children who have a history of painful experiences including abuse, neglect, or problems due to separation from their family and familiar surroundings. These children usually need to resolve their emotional hurts, abandonment issues and fears about the future. Where needed, these children receive professional assistance while they are in foster care prior to joining an adoptive family.
- Children who have developmental or physical disabilities.
- Sibling groups who need a family who can adopt them together.
What are the steps in adopting a child?
Application for adoption
After making the decision to adopt, applying is the first step. You need to apply to a Child and Family Services agency for adoption of permanent wards. You may apply to a licensed adoption agency or a Child and Family Services agency for other kinds of adoptions.
Orientation Meetings and Preparation Workshops
These are available with most agencies and will help you decide whether adoption is right for you and for whom you would be the best parents. You will have the opportunity to learn from social workers and from parents who are having real-life experiences in adopting.
The Homestudy
A homestudy is an assessment process between you and a qualified adoption social worker. The homestudy helps decide whether you are able to assume the responsibilities of being an adoptive parent and for which children you are most suitable and capable of being a parent.
Together with the social worker, you will discuss your home and community, your marriage relationship and your thoughts about parenting. You will also discuss many other aspects of being parents of an adopted child, such as your knowledge of adoption issues, including those of separation and loss and their effect on behaviour and development.
The adoption social worker will get to know your family and help you explore feelings, attitudes, capabilities and expectations. He or she will help you get ready for reactions you may have following adoption placement that you didn't expect.
Your social worker may also discuss issues that arise in specific cases, particularly with international adoptions, where special consideration must be given to children of another race or culture who will have to adjust to a new country and language. These children may have experienced institutional care, and there may be limited social and medical history available.
As part of the homestudy process you will need to provide information such as medical reports from your doctor, financial statements, police checks and letters from references.
Following the homestudy process, the agency's social worker will give the agency a report that includes a recommendation about placing the child with you. You are entitled to a copy of the report.
Additional Steps
Find out more about additional steps for the different types of adoption through the links in the section below.
Post-Adoption Registry
Following the adoption of your child, you may register on his or her behalf with the Post-Adoption Registry. The Registry provides non-identifying information, search and reunion services to family members involved in an adoption that was finalized in Manitoba.
What is "Openness" in adoption?
Adoptive parents have the opportunity to have contact with birth family and others. Openness is a standard practice between birth families and adoptive families in private adoption. As well, with adoption of a permanent ward, openness is becoming common, including with older children.
Contact can range from limited or ongoing visits with birth family members to the exchange of cards, letters and photographs, either directly or through an agency.
Where there is an agreement, the degree of openness may be determined between the adoptive family and the birth parents or other appropriate parties such as foster parents, considering the needs of the child. The Adoption Act provides for openness agreements, which formalize the details of contact agreed upon. It is possible to renegotiate the agreement over time.
What types of adoption are available in Manitoba?
Select a type of adoption to learn more:
- Adoption of Permanent Wards who are in the care of a Child and Family Services agency.
- Private adoption facilitated by a Child and Family Services agency or a licensed adoption agency.
- Intercountry adoption facilitated by a Child and Family Services agency or a licensed adoption agency.
- Other: DeFacto adoption, Extended Family adoption, Adoption by Spouse or Common-law Partner of a Child's Parent and Adult adoption.
How much will an adoption cost?
It depends on the kind of adoption. Adoptive parents may need to pay legal fees and agency fees for certain services. Check with the agency you choose about their fee schedule. Birth parents are never charged fees by an agency.
How long will it take?
It depends on the characteristics (for instance, age) of the child you are able to accept and the waiting list of the particular agency you have chosen.
Am I too old to adopt?
There is no age limit, but each situation will be looked at individually and includes factors like health and lifestyle.
Can I place a child for adoption if I am under 18?
You can place a child for adoption and sign the legal forms required in different types of adoption even if you are under 18 years old.
How much will I be told about a child's background?
You will be told everything that is known about the child and his/her background. However, in the case of permanent wards where there is no agreement to share identifying information between the adoptive parents and birth parents, identifying information will not be given.
Medical reports will be made available for your doctor. In a private adoption, identifying information will also be shared between you and the birth parents. If the child is a permanent ward, this will also be given to you in written form.
I am thinking about making an adoption plan for my child. Can I choose the adoptive family?
With private adoption, you select the adoptive parents. With adoption of a permanent ward, Child and Family Services involve birth parents in choosing a family for their child wherever possible. In all cases, the adoptive parents need to be approved by an agency to ensure that they are suitable and capable of raising your child.
Who provides the services we need?
Where required, adoption services are provided by a licensed adoption agency or a Child and Family Services agency. Where a child is not a permanent ward, legal services are usually provided by lawyers.
How can I learn more about adoption?
If you would like more information on adoption contact the adoption department of a Child and Family Services agency or a licensed adoption agency. A worker will explain adoption to you in detail and answer any specific questions you may have.
