Adoption

Adoption is how a child becomes a permanent member of a family. Every child needs a sense of belonging and connection. Adoptive families range in diversity as do birth families.

Adoptions are regulated by The Adoption Act and greatest consideration is given to the child's best interests. This includes finding a loving, permanent family; making sure the adoptive parents can support the child’s mental, physical, emotional, and educational needs; while considering and respecting the child’s cultural, language, racial, and religious background.

Adoption services are provided by child and family services agencies or licensed adoption agencies; Adoption Options or UAS Eastern European Adoptions Inc. An adoption worker will explain the process to you and answer any questions you have. Where the child being adopted is not a permanent ward, legal services are usually provided by lawyers.

On This Page:


Types of Adoption

For detailed information about the specific type of adoption, please select from the list below.

Adoption of a Permanent Ward

Children become eligible for adoption through child and family services (CFS) either because birth parents have consented to an adoption plan, or because the court has determined that the parents are unable to care for the child. Where possible, CFS adoption workers involve birth parents and the child, if they are old enough, in the adoption planning.

CFS works to honour and preserve each child’s unique cultural background and heritage. The inherent right to retain one’s Indigenous culture is reflected in policy and adoption practices.

Adoption Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available for families who adopt a permanent ward with special needs, or for families who are adopting siblings. 

There are three types of financial assistance: 

  1. One-time start-up costs, such as for transportation, equipment, or furniture.
  2. Costs of special services for a child who has been diagnosed with special needs (such as counselling).
  3. Ongoing maintenance payments to help with the daily care of a child with special needs or a sibling group. The amount is based on the applicants' income and family size.

Adoptive families may be eligible for all three types. Assistance may be available until the child reaches age 18 and may continue even if the family moves to another province. 

 
Adoption Placement

In adoption, the focus is on finding the right family for the child. 

Prior to adoption placement, a CFS adoption worker will share information about the child’s background, including medical and social history with adoptive parents. There will be opportunity for adoptive parents and children to have visits prior to placement. In some cases, contact with the birth family or other important people may continue through an Openness Agreement. 

 
Supervisory Period

After the adoption placement, there is usually a six- to twelve-month period before the adoption is finalized in court. This gives time for everyone to adjust and work through any challenges. During this period, your CFS adoption worker will continue to support your family. 

When ready, the CFS adoption worker will apply to the Court of King’s Bench for an Order of Adoption.  

Adoptive parents may also register with Manitoba Post-Adoption Services on behalf of their child to allow for the exchange of identifying information or contact with birth family members until the child turns 18. After that, adopted individuals can register on their own. 

 

Private Adoption

Private adoptions are arranged through a CFS agency or a licensed adoption agency. In many cases, the adoption process begins when one or both birth parents contact an agency for help.

Birth Parent Counselling is available to both birth parents. It gives them the opportunity to discuss what they want for their child and to get information about their options and rights, including placing their child for adoption.

Birth parents may sign legal consent to adoption 48 hours after the birth of their child. This is done with a lawyer. With these consents signed and with the approval of the agency, the adoptive parents may receive the child.

The birth parents may withdraw their consents up to 21 days after signing them. After the 21-day withdrawal period, the adoptive parents' lawyer may make an application to court for an Order of Adoption.

In a private adoption, adoptive parents are responsible for all agency and legal fees. This includes paying for the legal fees of the birth parents.

Birth parents may enter into an Openness Agreement with the adoptive parents. This agreement outlines the type of contact they may have with the child and adoptive family after the adoption.

Birth parents can also register with Manitoba Post-Adoption Services to request contact with their child. However, contact through this service will only take place once the child turns 18.

Intercountry Adoption

If you live in Manitoba and want to adopt a child from another country, you must work with a licensed adoption agency or a CFS agency.

Manitoba, as a signatory to The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (The Hague Convention), is obligated to ensure that proper safeguards against child trafficking are implemented and that children’s best interests are protected in all cases. Its provisions are law in Manitoba.

Intercountry adoptions are regulated under provincial adoption laws, federal immigration laws, and the laws of the child's country of origin. Adoption authorities in the child’s country of origin are responsible for determining which children are eligible for intercountry adoption and for deciding which child should be matched with an adoptive family.

Caution: In countries that have implemented The Hague Convention, you cannot arrange adoptions privately without the involvement of the Central Authorities in both countries. In Manitoba, the Central Authority is the Director of Child and Family Services appointed under The Child and Family Services Act. Attempting to adopt a child privately in their home country (especially those not party to the Hague Convention) outside of established legal processes can lead to non-compliance. Non-compliant adoptions can significantly delay the process of having the adoption recognized in Canada and bringing the child to Canada.

Prospective adoptive parents frequently need to wait an extended period of time to be matched with a child, depending on the children available for adoption in that country.

To ensure all legal adoption requirements are being followed in the child’s country of origin, you must also choose an adoption agency that is licensed to work with the country you want to adopt from.

Manitoba recommends using a Canadian facilitator agency (PDF) that can provide all the required services in the child’s country of origin. Facilitator adoption agencies handle dossier completion and country-specific processes like travel, accommodation, and translation.

Most intercountry adoptions are legalized in the child’s country of origin. Intercountry adoptions that are legalized in Manitoba follow the requirements of an adoption of a permanent ward.

Manitoba adoption agencies provide prospective adoptive parents with adoption services, including the homestudy, education seminar, placement assistance and support. You’ll need to pay fees to the Manitoba agency, the facilitating agency, and possibly other organizations in the child’s country.

After returning to Manitoba with the adopted child, most countries of origin require post placement progress reports on how the child is doing in their adopted family and new environment. A CFS adoption worker will supervise the placement for at least six months and will prepare documentation needed to legalize the adoption in court. A lawyer is not required.

Prospective adoptive parents planning to adopt through intercountry adoption must also apply for sponsorship or citizenship of the adopted child through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This is typically done after the homestudy is approved and the prospective adoption parents have determined from which country they wish to adopt.

Note: Not all countries allow international adoptions. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada provides information about Countries with adoption suspensions or restrictions.

De Facto Adoption

If you have cared for and financially supported a child for two continuous years, you may apply to court for an order of adoption. You will need to seek legal assistance by contacting a lawyer to complete this type of adoption.

Extended Family Adoption

As a birth parent, you may place your child with a member of your extended family. After your child has been in the care of your extended family for at least six months, an application may be made to court for an Order of Adoption. You will need to seek legal assistance by contacting a lawyer to complete this type of adoption.

Adoption by Spouse or Common-law Partner of Child's Parent

If you are married to, or living permanently with, a child's parent, you can apply to the court to adopt the child. You will need to seek legal assistance by contacting a lawyer to complete this type of adoption.

Adult Adoption

You can apply to adopt an adult if you are significantly older and the court agrees that the reason for the adoption is appropriate. You will need to seek legal assistance by contacting a lawyer to complete this type of adoption.


Steps to becoming an adoptive parent

The steps to becoming an adoptive parent in Manitoba are outlined below.

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility
  • Residency: You must be a resident of Manitoba and at least 18 years of age.
  • Family Status: You can be single, married, or living common-law, with or without children. You can be of any ethnicity, culture, or gender.
  • Out-of-Province Residents: If you live outside Manitoba, you need to contact the adoption authorities in your province or territory to explore local adoption options.
 
Step 2: Attend an Orientation

All Manitoba adoption agencies offer orientation sessions that help you understand that adoption is permanent and that as a parent you will be faced with various parenting challenges. These sessions help you to decide whether adoption is right for you. 

 
Step 3: Submit Your Application

After making the decision to adopt, applying is the first step. You may apply to a licensed adoption agency; Adoption Options or UAS Eastern European Adoptions Inc.; as well as your local child and family services agency. Note: For adoption of children who are permanent wards, you need to apply to your local child and family services agency. 

 
Step 4: Complete Educational Seminars

Participate in seminars designed to prepare you for adoption. These cover a variety of topics, including the emotional and developmental needs of children available for adoption, and offer insights into issues such as separation, loss, trauma, and adjustment. 

 
Step 5: Undergo a Homestudy Assessment

A homestudy is an assessment process between you and a qualified adoption worker to determine whether you are able to assume the responsibilities of being an adoptive parent and helps to identify which children you are most suitable and capable of parenting. 

Together with the adoption worker, you will discuss your home and community, your significant relationships and your values and beliefs about parenting. You will also discuss many other aspects of parenting an adopted child, such as your knowledge of adoption issues, impacts of trauma, early childhood experiences, including those of separation and loss and their effect on behaviour and development.  

The adoption worker will get to know your family and help you explore feelings, attitudes, capabilities and expectations. They will help you get ready for reactions and feelings you may have following adoption placement that you didn't expect. 

The adoption 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, child abuse registry checks, and letters from references.  

 
Step 6: Receive a Placement Recommendation

Following the homestudy process, the adoption worker will give their agency a report that includes a recommendation about placing the child with you. You are entitled to a copy of the report. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

I am thinking about making an adoption plan for my child. Can I choose the adoptive family?

With private adoption, you may choose the adoptive parents. With adoption of a permanent ward, the CFS adoption worker may involve birth parents in choosing a family for their child wherever possible. 

 
Can I place a child for adoption if I am under 18?

Yes, 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. 

 
What is "Openness" in adoption?

Adoptive parents have the opportunity to have contact with birth family and others. Contact can range from limited or ongoing visits; to the exchange of cards, letters and photographs, either directly or through an agency. 

 
How much will an adoption cost?

It depends on the type 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 needs of the children available for adoption at any given time. You will need to speak to your local CFS agency or licensed adoption agency for more detailed time frames. 

 
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, including medical reports. 

 

If you would like more information on adoption, contact your local child and family services agency or a licensed adoption agency; Adoption Options or UAS Eastern European Adoptions Inc.