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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there many children available for adoption?

There is often a waiting period for people who want to adopt a healthy infant. There are however, many children of all ages needing a "forever family".

How do we become an adoptive family?

You will need to complete a police check, medical evaluation and forward references for review. Your full participation in a training programme, individual and family interviews are also required. For more information see Steps to Becoming an Adoptive Family.

How long does it take to adopt a child?

Agencies must assess and prepare prospective families carefully as children and youth need stable placements with capable people who can meet their needs. For these reasons, the homestudy assessment, training and approval process usually takes about three to six months.

After being approved an adoptive family may wait from one month to several years for a placement. The length of time a family must wait depends on the age of the child they wish to adopt, the number of children they are prepared to welcome into their family, the special needs they feel they can cope with and whether or not they wish to provide Resource Foster care for a child who may later become available for adoption.

After a child has been placed with your family it will be at least six months and possibly longer until an adoption can be finalized. The length of this period depends on the individual child's circumstances and whether or not a Crown Wardship order has been obtained. Once a Crown Wardship order has been obtained, the child will be placed on "adoption probation". The period of adoption probation ranges from a few months to a year or more. This is determined by whether or not the child has already been living with the adoptive family and how family members are adjusting to each other.

Should children be told they are adopted?

Yes. Children who have always known they were adopted are likely to have good feelings about it, especially if the word "adoption" has had happy associations for them from an early age.

Can adoptive families receive any financial help?

In general, adoptive applicants are expected to be able to financially meet the basic expenses of raising a child. In some adoption placements arranged by the CAS the agency may approve a financial subsidy to help parents who wish to adopt a child with specific special needs or a group of siblings. This means the adoptive family can receive financial support from the agency, even after the adoption is finalized.