More than 30,000 children are currently waiting to be adopted in Canada, according to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada. Yet, public misconceptions, financial hurdles and a complex legal landscape are posing challenges for potential adoptive parents. A new resource seeks to offer help navigating the various systems and access government support, such as tax credits and parental leave, while the efforts to correct common misunderstandings continues.
A 2022 survey by the Harris Poll also found that 68 percent of Canadian adults believe children waiting to be adopted are, indeed, adoptable – marking a 14 percent increase from 2017. On the other hand, another statistic shows that just over half of Canadians (51%) are mistaken in assuming that children placed in foster care are there because of juvenile delinquency.
“The idea that these children have done something wrong, causing them to be placed in foster care, continues to permeate society,” Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Foundation, said. “It is a misconception that we must continue to fight.”
However, even for those ready to provide a forever home, the journey to adopting a child in Canada remains a complicated, costly and laborious. Processes for adoption vary between provinces and territories, according to Christian thinktank Cardus and this lack of cohesion is an unnecessary stumbling block.
Therefore, Cardus recently launched a new resource aiming to make it easier for adoptive parents and those seeking to support them. Titled ‘Adoption Policies Across Canada’, the online landing page provides a comprehensive overview of the adoption benefits at federal, provincial and territorial levels.
“Cardus aims to help simplify the process for families and policymakers just trying to find their way through the various adoption systems across the country,” said Peter Jon Mitchell, Family Program Director at Cardus.
The resource provides information on financial benefits such as subsidies, tax credits and deductions to give financial leverage for the expenses that come with the adoption process.
A second category is information on direct and financial support services, alongside a third category outlining legal rights for unpaid parental leave under law. The Cardus resource provides information on taking such leave at the same time as paid parental leave via the federal Employment Insurance program.
Cardus pulled the information together by using openly available but scattered government resources and hosting roundtable discussions with adoption experts, family counselors and experienced adoptive parents.
Mitchell told Christian Daily International that the adoption process could be convoluted.
“Adopting children in Canada can be complex and expensive, looking different in every province and territory and leaving many families needing post-adoption support,” said Mitchell.
Thus, the creation of the Cardus resource is aimed to help streamline the process for would-be adoptive parents.
“By placing all available benefits in one easy-to-access document, we hope to make it easier for families to get the information they need,” added Mitchell. “We also want to help governments and others dealing with adoption policy easily learn from jurisdictions other than their own.
“Also, while government benefits highlighted in this report are important, community organizations working directly with families, and the informal network of relationships around adopting families are critically important.”
