Adoption is a legal and social process which establishes a parent-child relationship, providing permanence and security for the child/youth.

There have been significant changes in Ontario’s adoption rate as well as in our respective counties.

Most of our adoption placements have been occurring within family and community systems known as kin, or kith. For First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children, we are working closely with their Band or affiliated community to establish Customary Care Agreements, which ensure a child’s lifelong cultural safety and permanent connection to their respective community.

If an adoptive placement is required for children outside their family circle, we seek homes based on their specific needs as the needs of the child come first. A successful match only takes place when a family can meet the needs of the child/youth or children (i.e., in the case of a sibling group.)

Ontario’s adoption rate has declined over the past years. Not only is it now socially acceptable for a young single parent to keep their baby, but the birth rate is lower due to birth control measures and the services that help keep families together have also improved.

In addition to these social and cultural changes, we have been experiencing a trend in adoption in the last several years. Most of our adoption placements have been occurring within family and community systems known as kin, or kith. For First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children, we are working closely with their Band or affiliated community to establish Customary Care Agreements, which ensure a child’s lifelong cultural safety and permanent connection to their respective community.

For more information on adoption in Ontario, you may wish to consult the following sources: