Search:

CHOICES Adoption & Counselling Services

CHOICES is committed to providing a professional comphrehensive, client centered adoption service which best meets the needs of everyone in the adoption constellation with paramount consideration given to the best interests of the child.

• Home
• News & Events
• International Adoption
• Domestic Adoption
• Expectant Parents
• Resources
• About Us

Requirements

Adoptive Parents

Basic Requirements for Adoptive Families

The prospective adoptive parents may be single or married and must:

• be at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and responsible mature adults.
• complete an application (staff will assist you, if you prefer).
• share information regarding their background and lifestyle.
• provide relative and non-relative references.
• agree to a home study which includes visits with all household members.
• allow staff to complete a criminal history background check and an abuse/neglect check on all adults in the household.
• attend free training to learn about issues of abused and neglected children. This training provides an opportunity for the family and MCFD to assess whether adoption is best for the family. The family may withdraw from the meetings at any time. There is no charge for the meetings.

Some Additional Adoption Requirements

In addition to the basic requirements, families who want to adopt a teen should:

• Give an unconditional lifetime commitment to a teen
• Be flexible as teens need love and understanding
• Be open to community partnerships to help support you and your teen
• Have a sense of humour

Teens

Youth from 10 to 19 years old can be adopted. Tweens are usually from about 10 to 12 years old while teens are 13 to 19 years old. You are never too old to be adopted. Teens who age out of foster care have often commented on how much they want to have an everyday family. Many teens have relationships with their birth family, extended family, foster families and friends. What teens need are everyday families that provide unconditional commitments. Many teens have experienced extensive grief and loss in their lives, and need permanent connections to help them reach their full potential as adults. Teen adoption is happening here on the island! Ask us how teen adoption can be a part of your life.

Estimated Cost

There are no fees in the adoption process for teen adoption.

Timeframe

The homestudy through CHOICES takes approximately three months. Once your homestudy is completed and both the teen and the family have agreed on an adoption plan, you will then begin the transition period. This transition period will take as long as you and the teen need for the adoption to be successful.

Contacts

For more information about becoming an adoptive family through MCFD for a youth, contact Kirsten at CHOICES at 1-888-479-9811 or Brendan at MCFD Victoria at 250-952-4011 or if you are in Nanaimo and North or West Island, please contact your local MCFD office.