ADOPTION DEFINITION ADOPTION SARAH What is it ADOPTION

ADOPTION

DEFINITION: ADOPTION - SARAH What is it?

ADOPTION: • Adoption is the legal and permanent transfer of parental rights from a person or couple to another person or couple. Adoptive parents have the same responsibilities and legal rights as biological parents. • Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act • Adoption Regulation • Province of Alberta • Provincially regulated • That means the qualifications and regulations around adoption may change slightly depending upon where you live. • They may also differ depending upon whether you adopt privately, through the public system, or internationally.

TYPES/FORMS OF ADOPTION HANAN

5 TYPES OF ADOPTION: 1. Adopting an infant, child, or youth from the Canadian child welfare system (Public) 2. Adopting an infant or child (Private) 3. Adopting a child from another country (International) 4. Adopting a stepchild/children 5. Adopting a birth relative (Kinship adoption)

TYPES OF ADOPTION (US): • Agency Adoptions: placement of child is up to agencies, either public/private agencies, public = place children from orphanage’s, abandonment, or abuse, private = place children who have been brought by parents who want their child up for adoption • Independent Adoptions: no agencies involved, some direct arrangement between birth parents and adoptive parents, others use middle man such as attorney, doctor, clergyperson, attorney most likely hired to deal with court paperwork, independent adoptions are not allowed in Connecticut, Delaware, or Massachusetts • Identified Adoptions: adopting parents and birth mother are in contact at first and then turn to adoption agency to take over process, hybrid of independent and agency adoptions, prospective adoptive parents dodge waiting lists of agencies by finding birth parents themselves, but loose benefits of agencies, available to states that ban independent adoptions • International Adoptions: new parents adopt child whose citizen of a foreign country, parents must obtain immigrant visa for child through U. S citizenship and immigration services

TYPES OF ADOPTION (US): • Stepparent Adoptions: parents new spouse adopts a child the parent had with previous partner, less inconvenient than agency or independent adoptions, simple process, especially if birth parents consent to adoption, if birth parents aren’t reachable, attorney may be needed • Same-sex Adoptions: rules vary according to state, states that recognize same sex relationships are allowed to adopt children, one partner can adopt other partner’s child too, some states use stepparent adoption procedures • Relative (Kinship) Adoptions: member of child’s family steps in to adopt, grandparents often adopt grandchildren if parents are dead or unable to take care of the child, these adoptions are usually easier in most states, if there are siblings that aren’t all adopted at once, kinship adoption procedures usually allow for contact between them • Adult Adoptions: in most states, an adult can legally adopt another adult if there is a 10 year age difference, must show why the adoption is wanted in the interest of both parties, often these adoptions are stepparent adoptions that wasn’t done when person was a minor but done to ensure inheritance rights

COST What is the cost to adopt?

ASSOCIATED COSTS • The cost of adoption depends on a number of variables: the type of adoption you undertake, whether you work with an agency, the province you reside in and any associated travel costs. It costs very little to adopt through the public child welfare system in Canada. • Range of Adoption Costs • Public (foster care): $0 - $3, 000 • Licensed Private Agency: $10, 000 - $20, 000 • International: $20, 000 - $30, 000

HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE? • The process of adopting can range from 9 months to 9 years, depending upon what type of adoption you undertake. • If you are adopting internationally, the process varies according to the other country involved. One way to help speed up an adoption is to be educated, informed and as proactive as possible.

LEGAL PROCESS – RIMA, SAMSAM, EMAAN Eligibility and Placement

ELIGIBILITY • No matter what province you live in, all potential adoptive parents must complete a home study that has been conducted by a qualified social worker. • Most provinces require some type of adoption readiness training or preparation before parents are permitted to adopt.

PLACEMENT • A child with a family background containing risk factors for future problems, such as drug and alcohol abuse, as well as mental illness, creates special placement consideration when locating a potential family • Special consideration is also called for during the placement of a child with one or more siblings who need to remain together • Appropriate cultural and racial match between child and family • The placement of a child into an adoptive home begins the adoption probation period which usually lasts six months. Adoption probation is essential for the child to integrate with the family • Once probation is over, the adoption is finalized