Alberta Foster Parent Association Support for Adoptive Families
Welcome to the AFPA online resource centre for pre and post adoption information. The materials included at this site are intended to provide more in-depth information on adoption issues to families and professionals. We hope you find it useful. It is our goal to disseminate information, connect families and promote adoption as a healthy way to build families. As this is a new feature to our web site, we will soon be adding information on important adoption issues, links to sites that will provide excellent information on such topics as parenting the adopted child and special needs issues, and available community resources province wide. If you have information that you think might be helpful to others, we’d be more than happy to hear from you. Please email Lavona@afpaonline.com.
Adoption is by no means a foreign concept in Canada. On the whole, Canadians view adoption quite favorably. A 2005 Ipso-Reid survey of 1,556 Canadian adults, commissioned by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, found that 73% of those surveyed strongly believe that parents who adopt will love their adopted child just as much as a biological child. Fifty-eight percent also strongly believe that adopted children will be as loving to adopted parents as they would be to birth parents.
Three in five Canadians surveyed know someone who was adopted; one in nine have had a personal adoption experience, and one in seven know someone who has placed a child for adoption.
Five percent of those surveyed, the equivalent of 500,000 Canadians, indicated that they have at some point seriously considered adopting a child. The Adoption Council of Canada estimates that over 22,000 children across Canada are available for adoption from foster care. The demand clearly outweighs the availability of children.
So, why are so many children in Canada waiting to be adopted? On any given day in Alberta there are two hundred children with permanent guardianship status with the Department of Children’s Services available for adoption. To see their profiles, please visit the website at www.child.gov.ab.ca and click on Adoptions. One concern that was identified by 78% of those surveyed was “being sure the birth parents could not take the child back”. Perhaps another concern, frequently voiced by prospective adoptive parents, is the assurance that post adoption supports will be readily accessible.
When a child is placed privately for adoption in Alberta, as when a single mother signs a private guardianship agreement upon the child’s birth, the original guardian (i.e. the birth mother) has ten days from the signing of the agreement to change their mind. If they should change their mind, the child must be returned to their care within 48 hours unless the Director of Children’s Services believes that to do so would place the child in need of intervention. Under such circumstances the Director would apply for a temporary guardianship order or offer services to the guardian under the Family Enhancement Act. After one year of the adoption being finalized, no one may apply to have an adoption order set aside except on the ground that the order was procured by fraud. Even under such circumstances, the order would be set aside only if it is in the best interest of the child to do so. It is important to note that adoption breakdown seldom occurs. When good social work is done prior to a placement, the risk of breakdown is lowered considerably. The fact that many parents continue to add to their families through adoption is a testament to the history of successful placements.
The provision of post adoption supports is critical if we are to secure permanent, stable, loving families for the waiting children in Alberta. Prospective adoptive parents need information that will strengthen their families and a network to support them through the challenges of adoption. We in Alberta are not looking for placements alone. We are looking for successful placements; ones that know no adoption breakdown. The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) asserts that services to adoptive families should be provided by people and organizations that are adoption-competent, and should include the following:
- Information and referral from a single entry point (including a toll-free number answered 24 hours a day/7days a week)
- Support groups for adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees
- Support for connections with birth parents and other birth family members and former foster families, whenever possible
- Training on special needs and adoptive parenting
- Education and information services
- Therapeutic counseling
- Respite care
- Full disclosure of all background information
- Case management services
- Advocacy and support for school-related problems
- Other financial assistance when needed
- Crisis intervention
- Mental health services, both in-home and residential
Accordingly, we have good news in the province of Alberta. With the inception of the Child, Youth & Family Enhancement Act of November 1, 2004, which includes Permanency Planning and all of the accompanying support, adoption is becoming a more feasible option. Let’s review the North American Council on Adoptable Children recommendations and see where we stand in Alberta.
- Information and referral from a single entry point is available through the Alberta Foster Parent Association. Our toll free, 24 hour a day, seven days a week support line number is 1 800 667-2372.
- Support groups for adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees are initiated in local communities by interested and concerned organizations and agencies throughout the province. A more concerted effort is needed to inform all concerned parties province wide; a problem we hope to address at this web site.
- Connection with birth parents, other birth family members and former foster families is encouraged right from the start of the adoption process, especially for Aboriginal and other minority children. Matters to be considered in the permanency planning of every child in care of Children’s Services include consideration of their cultural heritage and the significance to the child of familial ties. Court orders frequently require that the child be provided with the opportunity to participate fully in their birth culture. It is expected that bonds formed throughout the child’s years with birth parents, extended family members and foster parents will be respected in the interest of the child’s emotional wellbeing and future development.
On November 1, 2004, the Child, Youth & Family Enhancement Act made future connection with birth families so much easier through the Post Adoption Registry. Children adopted prior to January 1, 2005 and their biological parents can share information about one another such as pictures or letters, provided the terms of sharing are negotiated between the adoptive and biological parent prior to the signing of the adoption agreement. The information exchange is facilitated by the Post Adoption Registry. Once the adopted child reaches the age of 18 years of age or older, the child, their siblings and their birth parents can obtain identifying information about one another. The processing of Requests for Release of Information began on November 29, 2004 and the Registry began releasing information the week of January 17, 2005. Over 5,000 requests have been received since that time and extra help has been needed to meet the demand. Provision has been made for those who wish to have their identifying information remain confidential; they must request a disclosure veto with the Alberta Post Adoption Registry that will prevent the release of any birth registration or adoption information that would identify them. Adoptions completed after January 1, 2005 are considered “open” unless there is a consideration of risk to the child or adoptive family, and there is no option for either the adopted child or the biological family to place a veto on identifying information. All parties are well aware prior to the adoption that the child and the biological parent or siblings are free to seek identifying information about one another once the child reaches the age of eighteen years. For more information about the Post Adoptive Registry, please visit their website at www.child.gov.ab.ca and click on Adoption Reunion.
- Every prospective adoptive parent is required to receive training that will support them in their efforts to make their adoption a success. This training is provided by the Department of Children’s Services. The training includes information on parenting an adopted child, recognizing the parent’s own emotional needs as adoptive parents, understanding the needs of birth parents and their families, and caring for children with special needs. The Family Support for Children With Disabilities Act enables adoptive parents of special needs children to access additional support. Respite, therapeutic counseling, occupational, speech, hearing or psychological therapy, day care for remedial purposes, transportation for treatment purposes and to maintain cultural ties, orthodontic and corrective dental treatment, advocacy and support for school-related problems, mental health services both in-home and residential, information, education and case management services are all available through the Department of Children’s Services and the Family Support for Children With Disabilities.
- Adoption assistance payments equal to the foster care payments are available to adoptive families who are adopting children who are under a Permanent Guardianship Order (PGO) or a Permanent Guardianship Agreement (PGA) with the Department of Children’s Services. Additional financial support is available to adoptive families of special needs children through Family Support for Children with Disabilities. Maintenance and payment for services may begin upon finalization of the adoption order. Payments are reviewed annually or when there are significant changes to the family’s income or the child’s needs. The Department of Children’s Services does not provide financial assistance to families adopting through private agencies. However, financial support is available through Family Support for Children with Disabilities if the child is undergoing assessment for special needs or has been diagnosed as having a disability. There is no maintenance assistance available through Children’s Services to those adopting a child, who at the time of the adoption, is under a permanent guardianship agreement (PGA) with the Department. However, if the child has a disability, the adoptive family would be eligible for support for both the family and the child through Family Support for Children with Disabilities. If there is a suspicion that a disability may be present or become apparent in the future but there has been no formal diagnosis, the family may still be eligible for assistance for such things as respite and counseling under “family support” designation through Family Support for Children with Disabilities. So, even if there has been no diagnostic label for a PGA child, the family may still be eligible for some support. Please call Family Support for Children with Disabilities at (780) 427-4354 and select “3” to speak to an intake worker.
- Crisis intervention is available through Family Support for Children With Disabilities and the Alberta Foster Parent Association’s 24 hour support line.
Initiatives within the Province of Alberta appear to address many of the challenges faced by pre and post adoption families. We invite you to consider joining us in our efforts to provide permanent, stable, loving homes for children who long for a family they can call their own. Make a difference in a child’s life. The Alberta Foster Parent Association will be happy to support you in your endeavor. Call us today.
OFFICE HOURS: 8:15 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. MONDAY TO FRIDAY
PHONE: 429-9923
E-MAIL: Lavona@afpaonline.com
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