Learn About Adoption

Written Materials and Resources

Important information is available to help you learn about the adoption process and raising an adopted child or children. Some resources include:

Children's Aid Societies (CAS), authorized under provincial legislation and located throughout Canada, work to promote the best interests, protection, and well being of children. There are 53 Children's Aid Societies in Ontario and several others in various provinces or territories. Two CAS in Ontario are Wendy's Wonderful Kids grantees of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Canada:

     Children's Aid Society of Toronto
     (416) 924-4640; www.torontocas.ca

     Children's Aid Society of Windsor-Essex
     (519) 252-1171; www.wecas.on.ca

CanadianAdoption.com is an online resource for Canadian families offering information about the process as well as a variety of resources. Click here to learn more.

The Adoption Council of Canada (ACC) promotes adoption in Canada by raising public awareness of adoption, promoting the placement of waiting children and stressing the importance of post-adoption services. The Council provides information, education and support to all parties involved with adoption. The ACC web site contains the latest information about adoption and provides links to Canada’s Waiting Kids program as well as produces a bilingual newsletter on adoption. To request a list of local adoption contacts and other adoption resources, contact:

      The Adoption Council of Canada / Conseil d'adoption du Canada
      Phone: (888) 54-ADOPT (888-542-3678) or (613) 235-0344
      E-mail: info@adoption.ca
      Website: www.adoption.ca

Canada's Waiting Kids, a program of the Adoption Council of Canada, contains photos and descriptions of Canadian waiting children as well as valuable adoption information.

      Canada's Waiting Kids
      Phone: (888) 54-ADOPT (888-542-3678)
      Website: www.canadaswaitingkids.ca

North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) maintains a listing of adoptive parent support groups and sources of information for Canada and the United States. It also has sources of information about special needs adoption. Contact:

      NACAC
      Phone: (651) 644-3036
      E-mail: info@nacac.org
      Website: www.nacac.org

Your phone book. Adoption agencies, adoption professionals, provincial and territorial contacts (see Adoption Resources section), advocates and support groups are typically listed in the Yellow Pages under "Adoption."

Your public library. Most libraries now have online access so you can use the Internet, find listings of periodicals and do inter-library transfers. A wealth of free information can be obtained through libraries.

In addition, some publishers and booksellers produce or market many helpful materials. Some of the best known include:

      Parentbooks
      Phone: (416) 537-8334
      E-mail: info@parentbooks.ca
      Website: www.parentbooks.ca

      Child Welfare League of Canada
      Phone: (613) 235-4412
      E-mail: info@cwlc.ca
      Website: www.cwlc.ca

      Perspectives Press
      Phone: (317) 872-3055
      E-mail: info@perspectivespress.com
      Website: www.perspectivespress.com

      Family Helper
      E-mail: helper@familyhelper.net
      Website: www.familyhelper.net

      Groundwork Press
      Phone: (604) 687-3114
      E-mail: info@groundworkpress.com
      Website: www.groundworkpress.com

Decide If You Are Ready

Children do not need perfect parents, just one or two loving individuals willing to meet the unique challenges of parenting and make a lifetime commitment to caring for and nurturing their children. Important personal characteristics include:

A belief in adoption and ability to commit;
Patience and perseverance;
A good sense of humour and talent for keeping life in perspective;
A love of children and parenting;
The ability to accept without judging and to love unconditionally;
Awareness that healing does not always come quickly; and
Resourcefulness.

If you have all or most of these qualities, then ask yourself these questions:

Do I clearly understand why I want to adopt?
Do my partner and I work as a team? Are we both committed to adoption?
Does my lifestyle allow me the time necessary to meet the needs of a child?
If I am adopting as a single parent, do I have good supports in place?

Really think about your answers to these questions. You may decide that you want to pursue a different type of adoption, or investigate foster care, or that adoption really is not for you. Take the time to make a good decision, because it is a decision you and your adoptive child will live with for the rest of your lives.