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A public adoption or adoption
of a 'permanent ward' is arranged by Manitoba Child and Family
Services agencies. Children become eligible for adoption through
this government agency because their birth parents have consented
or because the Court has determined that their biological
families are unable to care for the child. Social workers
try to involve most birth parents in the permanency planning
for their child. In Manitoba, there is particular recognition
given to preserving the unique heritage and cultural ties
of Aboriginal children.
All children who are eligible
for adoption and approved adoptive applicants are registered
with the province's Central Adoption Registry. Children may
be placed with an applicant anywhere in Manitoba. In a situation
where more than one applicant is suitable to adopt a child,
the child will be placed with the applicant with the earliest
application date.
Because the child's needs are the main considerations
in adoption planning, Child and Family Services social workers
look for the most suitable family for the child, rather than
finding a child for the adoptive family.
STEP 1: Contact your local
Child and Family Services agency. Click
here for more information.
STEP 2: The homestudy. A
qualified adoption social worker will conduct your homestudy
and together you will discuss your home and community, your
marriage and your thoughts about parenting. You will also
discuss many other aspects of being parents of an adopted
child, such as your knowledge of adoption issues, including
those of separation and loss and their effect on behaviour
and development. As part of the homestudy process you will
be required to provide information such as medical reports
from your doctor, financial statements, police checks and
letters from references. Following the homestudy process,
the agency's social worker will give the agency a report that
includes a recommendation about placing the child with you.
You are entitled to a copy of the report.
STEP 3: Your social worker
or Child and Family Services agency will enter your information
into Manitoba's Central Adoption Registry. This registry has
both eligible children and adoptive applicants registered
so that matches can be made.
STEP 4: Wait for
a match! This part of the process is often the most
difficult for waiting families. There is no set period of
time; some families are matched quickly while others may wait
months or years for a child.
STEP 5: A match is made! Your
adoption social worker will share with you information about
the proposed child. This information will include a social
and medical history, as well as information about the child's
behavioural, intellectual and emotional development. All non-identifying
information that is known will be shared with you.
STEP 6: Transition
home. Before the child is placed with you and depending
on the age of the child, you will visit with the child and
his/her foster family to help everyone get to know each other.
During this time, your child becomes familiar with the new
surroundings before moving into your home.
STEP 7: Supervisory Period. After
the adoption placement day, there is usually a six- to twelve-month
period before the adoption is legalized in Court. This gives
you some time to adjust and to deal with any issues that might
arise. The adoption social worker will continue to provide
support and counsel to your family.
After this post-placement period,
Child and Family Services applies to the Court of Queen's
Bench for an Order of Adoption on your behalf. The result
is that your child is legally considered just as if he or
she were born to you. Counseling and support can be provided
beyond that time if required by the needs of you and your
child.
Following adoption placement
of a permanent ward, financial assistance is available for
families who adopt a child with special needs that require
special services or for families who are adopting more than
one child from the same family.
There are three types of financial assistance:
- One-time start-up costs, such as for
transportation, equipment, or necessary changes to the adoptive
family's home.
- Costs of special services for a child
who has been diagnosed with special needs.
- Ongoing maintenance payments to
help with the daily care of a child with special needs or
who is in a sibling group. The amount is based on the applicants'
income and family size.
Adoptive families might be eligible for
all three types. Assistance may be available until the child
reaches age 18 and may continue even if the family moves to
another province.
There are no fees to adopt a permanent
ward in Manitoba.
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