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Adoption

If you choose to continue your pregnancy and arrange for an adoption, there are several types of adoptions to choose from.

  • public adoption
  • private adoption
  • open adoption
  • closed adoption

Adoption procedures vary from province to province, the general information provided below outlines basic adoption options.

Public Adoption

Public adoptions are arranged through public or government agencies such as a child protection agency (for example, the Children’s Aid Society) or Social, Family and Children’s Services Departments. The services provided by these organizations are confidential and free.

Private Adoption

Private adoption is any adoption that is not arranged by a public agency. Provincial ministries have established specific guidelines and requirements for private adoptions and give final approval to all private adoptions. Private adoptions include fees established by the private adoption agency that are paid for by the adoptive parents.

Open vs. Closed Adoption

Adoptions may be open, closed, or somewhere in between. Deciding to have an open or closed adoption is a personal choice which depends on the comfort levels of the birth parent(s) and adoptive parents.

Open Adoption

An open adoption refers to any situation where the adoptive parents and the birth parent(s) know each other and exchange identifying information. Just how much information they exchange depends on a number of factors, but mostly it has to do with how comfortable they are with one another.

With an open adoption, the birth parent(s) may choose how involved they wish to be in the child’s life including:

  • meeting the adoptive parents
  • having an ongoing relationship with the adoptive parents and the child
  • giving letters or photos
  • receiving photos of the child as she/he grows
Closed Adoption

In a closed adoption, no identifying information is exchanged. It is unlikely that the birth parent(s) and the adoptive parents meet. The birth parent(s) may ask that they receive no further information once the child has been placed.

General Information

For more information about adoption in your province contact your local member of the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, Family and Children’s Services or child protection agency or visit the Adoption Council of Canada.

Updated May 9, 2008