Information for Birth Parents

Choosing Adoption For Your Child

What Is Adoption?

There are times when children cannot live with their birth parents. This may be because the birth parents know they are not ready to be parents. Sometimes birth parents are struggling with an addiction, abuse, an illness or their own issues and they know they cannot safely look after their child.

When this happens, birth parents may choose to place their child for adoption. This means that another adult or adults will become the child's legal parent(s). They will be fully responsible to care for and raise the child.

Adoption is forever and it has a life long impact for everyone involved Please make sure that all your questions are answered when you are deciding if this is the right option for you and your child.

How does a child get adopted?

In Ontario, there are two ways for a child to be adopted:

1. Consent of the parents — In this case the parents sign a consent (this means they give their permission) for their child to be adopted. This consent can be signed any time after the child is seven days old. In most situations, the consent must be signed by the child's birth mother and birth father. The birth parents will have to meet and talk with a lawyer to sign the consents. After the signing, the parents have 21 days in which they can change their mind and cancel their consent.
2. Crown Wardship — In this case, the Children's Aid Society has asked a judge to make a child a ward of the Crown because they have concerns that the birth parents are unable to meet the child's needs. After a child has been made a crown ward, the Children's Aid Society will try to find a permanent adoptive home for the child.

How can I be involved in planning my child's adoption?

If you choose to have your child placed with an adoptive family, the Children's Aid Society of the City of Kingston and County of Frontenac will try to involve you in this process.

You may be able to assist us in selecting the family with whom your child is placed. We will ask you about the type of family you hope we can find for your child. We will ask you about your heritage, culture and religion and see if we can find a family with similar beliefs. We may be able to present you with several non-identifying profiles and ask you which family you would like us to approach first.

We will ask you to share information about yourself so that your child's adoptive parents can share this information with your child when he or she is older. We will also request pictures of you and your family that can be shared with your child when appropriate. We will ask you about any significant medical history in your family. It is beneficial for your child to have information about your interests, hobbies, education, employment, heritage and religious beliefs. All of this information can be collected and shared with your child when he or she begins to ask questions about his or her birth family. The more information we have available to your child when he or she is older, the better.

We will encourage you to provide mementos, letters, pictures or gifts for your child at the time of his or her placement with the adoptive family. These mementos can provide the child with an important connection to his or her birth family and heritage.

What should I do if I want to have my child adopted through the Children's Aid Society?

Call our office at 613-542-7351, press 0 and let the person you are talking to know that you are thinking of placing your child for adoption.

Your call will be transferred to a worker who will answer general questions that you have. The worker may also ask for some basic information about you and your child.

A meeting will then be arranged for you to meet your worker. Your worker will meet with you to discuss your plan and to make sure you understand your options. The worker will ask you a lot of questions. Some of these questions will be quite personal but they are all very important in helping us plan your child's adoption. Your worker will continue to support you as you plan your child's adoption.

Choosing adoption for your child is a serious, difficult and courageous decision. If you have any questions or would like our help, please contact the Frontenac Children's Aid Society.