Infant Adoption FAQ

1. Is Beginnings a licensed adoption agency?

Yes. Beginnings is licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to provide adoption services in Ontario. Beyond Ontario, adoption services are presently on a case by case basis. 

2. What adoption services does Beginnings provide?

Beginnings offers information to all persons interested in private adoption, provides placements and foster care homes for children from newborns up to 12 months of age.

3. What adoption services does Beginnings provide to adoptive parents?

Beginnings offers adoptive parents the opportunity for open adoption education seminars, a consultation with the agency adoption practitioner to determine the “best fit”, profile review, access and maintenance on Beginnings Active List, matching services,  facilitation of meetings between birth and adoptive families, collaboration with the adoptive couple’s private adoption practitioner, provision of travel letters and OHIP cards, commissioning of documents, court finalization documentation. Covenant agreements are arranged between birth and adoptive families are facilitated by Beginnings, and Entrustment Ceremonies are available at the time of placement. Follow up support is ongoing for adoptive parents and children adopted through Beginnings throughout the life time.

4. What infant adoption services does Beginnings provide to birth parents?

Beginnings offers birth parents the opportunity for open adoption education, comprehensive, ongoing counselling support, choice of adoptive families, viewing profiles, meetings with adoptive couples, sharing of identifying information and background information about the adoptive couple, hospital support, referral and transportation for independent legal advice and consent signing. Covenant agreements are arranged between birth and adoptive families and facilitated by Beginnings. Birth parents have the opportunity to take part in an Entrustment Ceremony at the time of placement. Follow up support is ongoing for birth parents and their immediate family members throughout the life time.

5. Why does Beginnings facilitate infant adoption?

Private Adoption offers birth parents an alternative option to abortion, or parenting when they are not able or prepared, or apprehension by child welfare agencies. It also offers the option of an open adoption, and empowerment to choose their child’s family and to stay connected. Adoptive parents have the opportunity to become parents from the child’s birth, and to have an ongoing relationship with the birth family.

6. Does Beginnings work out of province?

Yes.  Beginnings is able to provide assistance and would explore each situation.  We do not provide matching services for out of province adoptive families.  However, we will assist Ontario adoptive parents who have made a connection with birth parents outside of Ontario or birth parents outside of Ontario who have made a connection in Ontario.

7. Does Beginnings work with out of country birth mothers and fathers?

No. We only provide domestic adoption services. If birth parents are willing and able to travel to Ontario and be responsible for all medical costs, living costs etc., then it may be possible to place a child with a couple through Beginnings.

8. Does Beginnings work with out-of-country adoptive couples?

No.

About Infant Adoption Legal Considerations

1. What is the legal status of a child in Canada?

A child has full legal status and rights of protection under the law at the time of birth. 

2. What laws, regulations and guidelines relate to infant adoption in Canada?

Every province and territory has their own adoption legislation.   Beginnings works within all provincial and territorial laws.

3.  What about involving birth fathers in adoption planning?

Beginnings encourages the involvement of birth fathers and in many cases it is required by law.   Our counsellors will provide information and support throughout this process.  In situations where birth mothers do not wish to contact the birth father themselves, Beginnings counselors can contact them and mediate the planning.  It is important to have as much background information as possible for the sake of the child.

4. Can birth mothers and fathers change their mind?

In Ontario, birth parents can decide to withdraw their consent within the 21 day waiting period.  Once both birth mother and father sign consents and the 21 day passes, the birth parents lose the right to withdraw consents if the child has been placed with an adoptive family.   

5. What is the process for placing a child for adoption through Beginnings?

See section on Adoption Step By Step.

About Birth Parent and Adoptive Couple Management

1. What does Open Adoption involve?

Open adoption involves ongoing communication and contact between the birth parent (s) and the adoptive parents including the child. This can take the form of letters, emails, phone calls, and/ or visits. The amount of contact is negotiated between the parties and varies from one situation to another. Beginnings believes openness is good for a child as it allows him or her to maintain relationships with important people in his or her life; as he or she grows older, openness allows access to information about his or her origins and background and to any other siblings he or she may have. 

2. Why do birth mothers and fathers need to complete social and medical history?

Birth parents provide important details about their medical history, family background, present health, interests, physical traits and characteristics in order that an adopted child will have information about him/ herself. Health history and information can direct adoptive parents to provide resources and the best care plan for the child as he/ she grows up.

3. Can birth mothers and fathers choose a closed adoption?

In rare circumstances involving safety of the child or where a birth parent refuses openness. Otherwise, Beginnings provides fully identified adoption services with a range of ongoing contact. 

4. What are the basic requirements of the adoptive couples?

Couples who are hoping to adopt through Beginnings need to:

• Be residents of Ontario 
• Complete a home study including references, police and child welfare checks
• Provide a range of acceptance for the kind of adoption situation
• Attend education on open adoption
• Attend a PRIDE training course if adopting in the Province of Ontario
• Accept that it is the birth parents who choose the parents of their child
• Agree to participate in a Covenant contact agreement with birth parents in respect to sharing identifying information as well as on going contact
• Have a consultation with Beginnings Adoption Practitioner
• Provide a profile for review by birth parents
• Agree to meet with birth parents, extended family members and siblings
• Know that the child is under the legal guardianship of Beginnings until the adoption is finalized in court and maintain contact with Beginnings during this supervisory 6 month period follow placement

5. What is a Covenant Agreement?

It is an agreement outlining the specific contact arrangements between birth parents and the adoptive couple. The word Covenant means “promise” and implies a commitment on both sides to carry through with the arrangements they are making – for the sake of the child.  These agreements are not legally binding, but are considered by Beginnings to be a binding promise to stay in touch.

6. What if there is miscommunication after the adoption is finalized, will Beginnings offer support services?

Yes. Beginnings staff is available to offer on going counselling and mediation services for reviewing and resolving contact arrangements.

7. Does Beginnings stay in touch with adoptive couples and birth parents after the adoption is finalized?

Yes. Beginnings adoptive couples and birth parents can be involved in many activities with the agency following the finalization of the adoption. Everyone is considered a member of Beginnings Family Services and are offered follow up services:

• Birth parent counsellors are available to meet with birth parents
• Adoption Staff is available to meet with adoptive couples and adoptees
• Adoptive parent support network is available from “Alumni Parents”
• Birth parents and adoptive couples participate in education panels

8. What is an Entrustment Ceremony?

This is a ceremony that happens at the time a child is placed in the care of an adoptive couple by the birth parent(s). It is an acknowledgment of moving a child from  one family to another and honours the role of birth parents in the lives of their children. Each ceremony is unique and reflects what is important to the people attending. Often there is chosen music, a poem or reading, and candle lighting to join the families in their Covenant agreement.  Beginnings’ Covenant and Entrustment Ceremony form a foundation for the new relationships created through adoption. 

9. What are the steps involved in the matching process?

The process involves the following steps:

• Adoptive parents provide a hard copy profile to Beginnings and are also able to post their profiles on our website.
• Birth parents describe the type of adoptive applicant they would consider.
• Beginnings Adoption Practitioner will contact active list members who are have similar characteristics the birth parents are looking for and provide specific risk information for their consideration.
• If the prospective adoptive applicant agrees to be presented, their profile will be included in the presentation to the birth parents.
• If chosen, the full background information will be shared with the prospective adoptive applicants.
• The prospective adoptive couple’s private adoption practitioner will be contacted and information will be sent to them for review with the adoptive couple prior to a first meeting.
• First meeting will be held with birth parents and any extended family members they wish to include, the birth parent counsellor, the adoptive couple, and their private adoption practitioner.
• Once everyone agrees to move forward, this is considered a match.

 10. Why is a Home Study required of adoptive couples?

A Home Study is an important tool to assess the readiness and suitability of the adoptive applicant to adopt.  There is an education component as well to help couples understand adoption from the child’s perspective.  Home studies take about 3 months to complete although this can vary depending on the situation.  See www.adoptontario.ca

12. How long does the adoption process take from registration to placement?

There is no single answer to this question. Birth parents choose the adoptive parents by looking at their profiles and hearing about them through the information contained in their home study or re application update. This a very individual process, much like how you decide to marry. It can happen quickly if there is the right match, or, it may take some time for this to happen. There is no guarantee that a match will be made through Beginnings.  The staff Adoption Practitioner will work with each adoptive couple to help them through the process. Beginnings also works closely with other private adoption agencies and Children’s Aid Societies when they hear about a match that could work for one of our adoptive couples. 

13. Is there a way to expedite the process?

Yes. If you find a “match” on the internet and come to Beginnings for the counselling and Licensee services.

About Birth Parents

1. Why do birth parents choose an adoption option?

Many women have unplanned pregnancies and look for an agency to talk about their options. After counseling, they may decide they can parent, or they may choose an open adoption option. 

2. Does Beginnings work with birth parents of any age, various ethnic origins, religions or walks of life?

Yes, clients come from all different backgrounds, religious faiths, races, cultures and walks of life. 

 3. Does Beginnings work with birth parents in other provinces and territories?

Yes, Beginnings is able to offer assistance and would explore each situation.

Adoptive Couples

1. Who would hope to adopt an infant through this program?

There are many reasons why people wish to adopt. Some applicants who are unable to conceive a child or carry a child to term may consider adoption as a way to create their family. Others may have genetic diagnoses that preclude having children, or they may be cancer survivors who cannot have a biological child. Some couples see this as a way to augment their family following secondary infertility, or they see adoption as a way to expand their family.

2. Does Beginnings work with adoptive couples of specific ethnic origins, religions or walks of life?

Beginnings works with clients from all races, cultures, faiths and walks of life.

3. Does Beginnings work with single women hoping to adopt an infant?

Beginnings is guided by the expressed wishes of birth parents in terms of choosing adoptive parents.

4. Does Beginnings work with same-sex couples hoping to adopt an infant?

Beginnings is guided by the expressed wishes of birth parents in terms of choosing adoptive parents.

5. Does Beginnings work with couples of any age who are hoping to adopt an infant?

Yes. It is the birth parents who choose their adoptive couple. However, it must be pointed out that older adoptive applicants will find it more difficult to be chosen by young birth parents.

6. What are some of the risks involved in private adoption?

The most difficult risk is that birth parents will reverse their decision to place their child for adoption and withdraw consent. In Ontario, they have all rights to do this until 21 days are completed following the signing of consents. There is also a risk when the birth father has not signed consents up until the time the adoption is finalized.  

Infant Adoption Program Fees

1. What are the costs incurred by the birth parents throughout the process?

There are no costs for birth parents.

2. What are the costs incurred by the adoptive couple throughout the process?

The average cost of an adoption through Beginnings is $14,000 to $18,000. Costs may exceed this amount depending on the complexity of the case. Most of the cost is incurred once the match has been made. Initial costs are as follows:

• Pride Training    $1400
• Homestudy        $2500 and upward
• Registration       $150
• Consultation      $300
• Active List          $250
• Profile posting    $150

For full fee schedule contact Beginnings. 

Out of province adoptions would have differing costs depending on the situation.

3. Does Beginnings offer or arrange financial support for adoption to offset costs associated with the process?

Yes.  Beginnings has an Adoption Assistance Reserve Fund available for couples who find the costs of a private adoption prohibitive, or, who have limited incomes, or, who have changed financial circumstances during the adoption process. They can apply to the AART for a subsidy.

Glossary of Terms

Openness - indentifying information is shared between bith parents and adoptive couples for the sake of the child and for the purpose of providing a life long connection between the two families.

Couple – for all intents and purposes, the word “couple” is used throughout for simplicity, but we recognize that “couple” is not defined by a married male and female partner.  It does not exclude single parents as adoptive applicants

Covenant Agreement- agreement between birth parents and adoptive couples about the terms of contact between themselves and the child. Beginnings agreements are based on the best interests of the child and outline the degree of openness mutually agreed upon. They are not legally binding, but they are created and followed in “good faith”.

Entrustment Ceremony – takes place at the time the child is placed into the care of the adoptive couple. Birth parents, their family members, significant others are invited to attend and participate in this child  honouring event. It is tailored to the occasion and may be conducted in the hospital, foster home, or other place mutually agreed upon. 

Links

Government of  Ontario website: www.serviceontario.ca 

AdoptOntario:  www.adoptontario.ca