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Home > Books & Resources > Birth Parents, Adoptees, and Reunion Birth Parents, Adoptees, and Reunion Placing a child for adoption is a life-changing and extremely difficult decision the effects of which do not disappear once the adoption has gone through. If you are considering making an adoption plan, we are here to explain all of your options and to direct you to the support you will need. Please feel free to contact us; we have staff right across BC. AFABC does not arrange adoptions, only BC's licensed adoption agencies or the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development can do that. What are my adoption options? If you are interested in making an adoption plan, contact one of BC's licensed adoption agencies. They will provide you with information and counselling on all your options, including deciding to parent your child. There is no charge for such services. Agencies provide confidential services to birth parents. If you decide to go ahead with an adoption plan, the agency will provide you with information on parents who have been approved for adoption. Using this information, you can choose which family will best meet the needs of your child. Though most birth parents don't change their minds about the adoption plan, some do. As a birth parent, you have 30 days after your child is placed with an adoptive family in which to change your decision. These days, many birth parents and adoptive parents remain in contact after the child is placed. This is called openness, and most experts believe that it is in the best interests of the child, the birth family, and the adoptive family. Openness comes in a variety of forms, involving different levels of contact. Please visit the Openness section of our Resource Centre to learn more. Direct Placements In a Direct Placement, you choose to place your child with someone you know that is not a relative. A licensed adoption agency will help you meet the requirements that must be met before your child is placed, these include; a preplacement assessment of the prospective adoptive parents and a gathering of the birth family's medical and social history. You and the adoptive parents will have joint guardianship until the adoption order is granted. If you choose to do this, you must notify the agency of your intentions immediately to avoid delay in the placement of your child, as the preplacement assessment must be completed before your child lives with the adoptive parents. Relative/Step Parent Adoption This is where either your partner, or someone related to you (a parent, sister, aunt) adopts your child. Neither agencies nor the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development are involved in this sort of adoption, unless a judge deems it necessary. Most people use a lawyer to arrange such an adoption, but a self-help kit is available from your local BC Supreme Court office. What is the Birth Father Registry? If you believe you are the father of a child who may be placed for adoption, you can register your name on the Birth Father Registry to receive notification of the proposed adoption. You can register before the child is born or up to 150 days after placement. For more information, visit www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/birth_fath_reg.htm, or call 250-387-3660. How do I get information about a child I placed for adoption but have no information about? After the adopted person's 19th birthday, you can apply to the Vital Statistics Agency for a copy of their birth registration and adoption order. You will receive information that includes the adopted person's name after the adoption unless a disclosure veto has been placed on the file. The adult adopted person may obtain the same documentation, which also contains information about their birth parent(s). How do I open up a closed adoption? If the child is under 19 years of age, you may register with the Post-Adoption Openness Registry. If both you and the adoptive parents have registered, registry staff will contact you to discuss the type of openness you are interested in, and they will assist in reaching an agreement acceptable to both parties. You can contact the Post-Adoption Openness Registry at 250-387-3660. I was adopted and would like information on my birth parents, what do I do? You can apply to the Vital Statistics Agency for a copy of your birth registration and adoption order. You will receive information about your birth parents unless a disclosure veto has been placed on the file. Reunion is an emotional and life-changing process for all involved. It is always useful to get advice and support before, during and after the process. The Forget Me Not Society, a BC non-profit, volunteer-run organization that has helped hundreds of adoptees who are interested in or in the process of reuniting with their birth parents. They can be reached at 604-777-2920 or 604-857-2177. You an also call AFABC for help. |
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