Human Services Adoption
Adoption process
Some of the children who are no longer able to live with their biological families and are therefore in the permanent care of Alberta Human Services are ready to be adopted. Children available for adoption through Human Services are all children with special needs. Special needs could include being part of a sibling group that needs to stay together, children who are between eight and 18-years-old and children who may have medical, physical, developmental, learning and emotional problems. Children are matched for adoption with families who are approved and given specialized training by the Ministry.
For some special needs children, we use the media to find adoptive families. You will be able to access information about children through the Wednesday's Child Television Program, Adoption Website profiles, newspapers and newsletters.
The ministry uses adoption caseworkers, as well as Delegated First Nation Agencies to place children for adoption. Caseworkers complete all the legal work for an Adoption Order free of charge to the adoptive families.
The Supports for Permanency Program is available to support adoption of special needs children, with two types of regulated supports:
- Maintenance at 100 per cent of basic foster care rates
- Financial assistance for the purchase of services that the child needs.
The Adoption Process in Alberta
To start your process you will need to complete the Application to Adopt a Child. You can get this form from your local Child & Family Services Authority office or Delegated First Nation Agency.
Your Home Assessment Report is completed if you:
- will accept a child with major physical, emotional, medical or developmental handicaps
- will accept a child seven years of age or over;
- will accept a sibling group of three or more children;
- are a member of an Indian band or Metis Settlement;
- will accept a child who has been featured in the media (Wednesday's Child, Adoption Services website, newspaper);
- want to adopt a foster child who has been in your home at least six months and who is ready for adoption.
Your Child and Family Services Authority caseworker or Delegated First Nation Agency will do the following:
- provide information to you about the adoption program in Alberta.
- deliver your Orientation for Caregivers.
- make final decisions about matches between your family and available special needs children.
- provide background information/documentation to you about the child.
- place the child for adoption with your family if you are selected.
- ensure that the Supports for Permanency you need are in place.
- finalize the adoption order.
