Pursuing a dream of parenting a child from infancy is the reason many couples choose to adopt a baby through a private agency. With adoption professionals indicating an eight year wait for healthy infants through Children’s Aid Societies, adopting privately is less costly than international adoption and quicker than the public process.
While it is difficult to estimate how many parents are waiting to adopt in Canada, many individuals and couples explore public adoptions at the same time in hope of having a child placed with them sooner. Each process is different and people looking to adopt need to be familiar with the challenges and benefits of each system before making a decision.
Pros of Adopting a Child Privately
With 45 agencies across Canada and 19 licensees in Ontario, private adoption is a process many Canadians explore. Here’s why.
- There is a greater chance of adopting a healthy newborn as birthmothers choosing to have an adoption plan for their babies generally prefer to work with private agencies.
- Open adoptions are more likely through private agencies as the birthmother chooses the family for the child.
- In some provinces and territories, prospective adoptive parents may be able to actively search for a birthmother choosing adoption for her child through advertising.
- Hopeful parents can register with more than one agency or licensee at a time to increase their chances of finding a birthmother who is planning an adoption.
Some private agencies also facilitate international adoptions, so people considering both may find it beneficial to explore the pros and cons of overseas adoptions at the same time.
Cons of Adopting through a Private Agency
As wonderful as it is to bring home a newborn, there are some factors that make adopting privately a challenge for many Canadians.
- The number of babies available for adoption is decreasing each year because more birthmothers are choosing to parent. According to a report completed by Human Resources and Social Development Canada, the number of private adoptions nationwide was less than 500 in 2004 with 174 of them in Ontario. Compare that to just over 100 babies adopted privately in Ontario in 2007.
- Private adoptions generally cost between $10,000 and $20,000. Adopting families are responsible for fees associated with the process even if the adoption falls through.
- The baby’s birthmother can change her mind up to 21 days after the adoption consent forms have been signed. The consent forms are typically signed eight days after the baby was born.
- The selection of adoptive parents is left up to the baby’s birthparents who typically look for married couples having similar values, religious beliefs and cultural ties as themselves. For single people hoping to adopt this is a particular challenge.
- There is no chronological waiting list for private adoptions. As families are chosen by birthparents, some couples may have a child within a few months; where as other waiting couples may never be chosen.
It is also important to remember that adopting a baby through the private domestic adoption process does not guarantee the health of the child. Many factors both genetic and environmental play a role in the child’s long term health.
After exploring the pros and cons of adopting through an agency, prospective parents also need to be familiar with the financial and legal aspects of private adoption within their province or territory. For information on beginning the private adoption process read How to Adopt a Child Through an Adoption Agency.
References
Canada Adopts! website
Child and Family Services Statistical Report, 2000-2001 to 2003-2004, Human Resources and Social Development Canada website
Angela Krueger - As an adoptive parent and PRIDE adoption trainer, Angela uses her insights to help others on their adoption journey.
