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Adoption Services
Adoption The agency has made a concerted effort to identify and work with those families interested and able to become families for children who are emotionally and legally ready for a new home. "Waiting children" often include children 6 years of age and older, groups of children (2 or more) from one family who need to be together in an adoptive home, and children who are emotionally, physically or mentally challenged. Children of aboriginal ancestry are also often kept waiting for reason of a shortage of culturally appropriate adoptive homes. We hope to continue this focus on finding homes for the children who need them. With regard to infant adoption, the situation is reversed, with many families waiting lengthy periods in hopes of a healthy newborn baby becoming part of the family. We are currently completing adoptive family assessments with people who applied eight years ago. In rare cases, specific requests from birth parents may result in an earlier placement with a family. Earlier placement is even more the case for waiting Aboriginal and Metis Families. We are finding more families are now prepared for and interested in some degree of openness. They have contact with birth parents usually by letter but also, sometimes, in person on or near the time a child is placed.  Adoption Preparation Courses (top) A 6 session Adoption Preparation course conducted for adoptive parents as they approach anticipated placement is also open to those adopting privately or by de facto adoption (those adoptions wherein a family has been maintaining and caring for a child for a period of at least three years prior to the adoption occurring.) should they wish to participate. A panel of adopting families, videotape, prepared material and experience of staff are shared with applicants covering such topics as: ·         Adoptive Families ·         Adopting A Child - Before & After ·         Birth Parents ·         Openness in Adoption ·         Sharing Adoption ·         Infant Care Needs/Special Needs of Older Children (top) We have a growing recognition for the ongoing support needed and deserved by adopting families. Of particular note are the parents accepting a child who has experienced disruptions in their preschool years greatly affecting his/her opportunity to feel safe, connected and bonded to the family. These issues are of particular concern to those who wish to nurture this child through to adulthood. The long waiting period for agency select adoptions continues to be a factor in some couples choosing private adoptions, even when there is a greater element of risk with this alternative. Thought these adoptions are privately arranged, the agency is charged with the responsibility to ensure that the adoption arrangement meets the requirements of Manitoba law, that the birth parents' rights are protected, and that the adoptive parents are able to provide a safe and appropriate environment for the child. The agency has a similar responsibility in relation to de facto adoptions  As an agency, there is active participation in assisting couples planning to adopt internationally. Agency role is to complete the home study assuring the family is approved within the guidelines of our Child and Family Services Act. The couple's responsibility is to assemble the necessary documents for Provincial approval. Then this approval is forwarded to the National Office, which operates as the checkpoint for approved families being considered by another country. This is quite an ongoing involved process for couples that requires their persistence, patience, and commitment. While it is not financially or emotionally every family's choice when considering adoption, there are a growing number of families who have completed the process and are parenting children from other countries. For more information on adoption services in the southwestern Manitoba area contact:  akiazyk@gov.mb.ca (top)