How to Adopt a Child From Ontario's Children's Aid Society

If you hope to adopt a child who cannot return to their birth family, the public route through a children's aid society is one of the main paths in Ontario. It is a structured process with several stages, and many people are surprised by how much of it happens before a child is ever mentioned to them.

This article walks through the stages in order: intake, home study and training, matching, placement and finalization. It also covers who can be matched with a child, what supports exist afterwards, and what to do if you are unsure which adoption route fits your family.

Who public adoption is for

Public adoption is for children who are in the permanent care of a children's aid society. These children are described as being in extended society care, which is the current term for what used to be called Crown wards.

To become an adoptive parent in Ontario you must be a resident. You can apply as a couple or as a single person, and applicants come from a range of backgrounds, religions, ethnicities and sexual orientations.

If you are a relative or stepparent, or you are thinking about a private or international adoption, the route is different. Those paths are worth looking at separately, and a lawyer can help you work out which applies to you.

The steps from first call to court

The public adoption process in Ontario follows a set order of steps.

Each stage has its own timing, and the sections below explain the ones that take the longest.

The home study and PRIDE training

The mandatory public adoption home study is called the SAFE homestudy. It takes four to six interviews over four to six months. The assessment looks at your home environment, your parenting skills and your readiness to adopt.

The training is the 27-hour PRIDE program. You can complete it at the same time as the homestudy, so the two do not have to run one after the other.

For Indigenous children and youth, the HEART homestudy and SPIRIT training may apply instead of SAFE and PRIDE. If this may apply to your situation, ask the society which approach is used.

• Expect several interviews, not a single visit.
• Plan your calendar around the training hours and the interview schedule.
• Ask your society how it schedules PRIDE sessions, since arrangements can differ from one society to another.

Matching, placement and finalization

Matching is decided by the adoption worker, and the child's best interest is the most important consideration. You do not choose a child from a list, and a match is about fit for that particular child.

After a match, your family receives a non-identifying social and medical history and time to consider the placement. The child visits your home before moving in.

After placement there is an adjustment period of at least six months, with regular visits from the adoption worker. If the worker judges the match a good fit, the society then starts finalizing the adoption in an Ontario court. The court issues the adoption order, which makes you the child's legal parent.

There is no set waiting period. After approval, matching typically takes six months to two years or longer. Because the wait can be long and uncertain, it helps to stay in regular contact with your society.

Cost and support after adoption

There is no cost for prospective adoptive parents to adopt through a children's aid society.

Post-adoption subsidies are applied for through the children's aid society. Which subsidy may be available depends on the child's age and whether the child is part of a sibling group, and both types have a combined net family income limit. The dollar amounts and the income limit are set by the province and can change, so confirm the current figures with your society.

Free post-adoption training, called Pathways to Permanence 2, is available to families who have adopted, or have a child placed with them, through a children's aid society.

What to do next

• Contact the Centralized Adoption Intake Service to start the process.
• Attend your local society's orientation and ask what its application looks like.
• Set aside time for the home study interviews and the 27-hour training.
• Ask the society about subsidies before placement, so you know what to expect.
• Speak with a family lawyer if you are unsure whether public adoption, a relative adoption or another route fits your family.

Frequently asked questions