Abstract
Thousands of children in Canada are available for adoption, but not being adopted, while many Canadian families are adopting overseas. This study presents a model incorporating four explanatory factors for overseas adoption preferences, and reports on preliminary efforts to test the model. One frequently-heard explanation is that families wanting to adopt are only interested in healthy infants, while crown wards tend to be older children, many with special needs. A sample of 119 families who filled in questionnaires in response to a public awareness campaign did not fit this stereotype; many would be willing to consider a child with special needs, or an older child. Results of a focus group, made up mainly of adoption professionals, suggest that the most significant barriers to adoption may lie in the funding and organization of the agency system. Plans for future research are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adoption Council of Canada (2002). Report to the Dave Thomas Foundation. Ottawa, ON: Dave Thomas Foundation.
Argent, H. (1998). Who wants George? Recruiting alternative families for children with disabilities. Adoption & Fostering, 22(1), pp. 40-45.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (2002). Report on permanent residents admitted as FC-6 or FC-9 (Adoptions) by country of last permanent residence and province of intended destination January to December 2001. Ottawa, ON: Immigration Canada.
Daly, K.J. & Sobol, M.P. (1993). Adoption in Canada: Final report. Guelph, Ontario: University of Guelph.
Dance, C. (1997). Focus on adoption: A snapshot of adoption patterns in England-1995. London: British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering.
Department of Health (1995). Looking After Children: Good parenting, good outcomes. London, England: HMSO.
Federal-Provincial Working Group on Child and Family Services Information (1996). Child and family services annual statistical report, 1992–93 to 1994–95. Hull, Quebec: Government of Canada.
Federal-Provincial Working Group on Child and Family Services Information (2001). Child and family services annual statistical report, 1996–97 to 1998–99. Hull, Quebec: Government of Canada.
Health Canada (1993). Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada.
Jackson, S. (1998). Looking after children: A new approach or just an exercise in form filling? A response to Knight and Caveney. British Journal of Social Work, 28(1), 45-56.
Ministry for Children and Families (1995). Adoption Act-Bill 51. Victoria, B.C.: Queens Printer for the Province of British Columbia.
National Committee for Adoption (1989). 1989 Adoption Factbook. Washington, D.C.: National Committee for Adoption.
Resource Managers Network Sub-Committee Report, (March, 1998). Unpublished report. A quest for permanency planning through adoption. (Available from the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies. 75 Front Street East, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1V9.)
Speirs, C. & Baker, M. (1994). Eligibility to adopt: Models of “suitable” families in legislation and practice. Canadian Social Work Review, 11(1), 89-102.
Unland, K. (1998). Systems failing kids, parents. The Edmonton Journal, May 2, 1998, B7.
Webber, M (1998). As if kids mattered: What's wrong in the world of child protection and adoption. Toronto: Key Porter Books Limited.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Speirs, C.C., Duder, S., Grove, J. et al. Adoptable but Still in Limbo: The Forgotten Children in Canada. Child & Youth Care Forum 32, 75–88 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022562918845
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022562918845