In Care

In Care Program
- The In Care program transfers the care and custody of a child or youth to a manager of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development through an order from the court. Only the court can make a legal determination that a child or youth is in need of protective intervention and place the child or youth in the care and custody of a manager on a temporary or permanent basis. If custody is transferred to a manager on a permanent basis this is known as continuous custody and this option is only pursued where it is in the best interest of the child or youth and all other options have been exhausted.
Foster Families
- Foster parents play a significant role in the life of a child or youth in their care. They are entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing and protecting a child or youth, addressing and meeting their developmental needs, helping a child or youth stay connected to their birth family and working as part of a professional planning team to support the child or youth. Foster parents are recruited, assessed, approved and supported by local Children, Seniors and Social Development offices. All applicants must complete the PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) program. PRIDE is a standardized, competency based model for preparing and assessing foster parent applicants. The PRIDE assessment process includes eight information sessions and a comprehensive home assessment.

Adoption

Adoption is the legal process whereby a person or persons become a child’s legal parent or parents. The Adoption Services Program finds permanent homes for children available for adoption. Children relinquished for adoption or who are in the continuous custody of a Manager of Children, Seniors and Social Development are matched with adoptive parents. The program also approves applications to adopt a child from other Canadian provinces and territories and foreign countries.

Making an Application for Adoption

Individual/couples who wish to apply to adopt a child should contact a social worker with the Adoption Services Program at the CSSD office in their region or call (709) 729-4563.

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Types of Adoptions

Domestic

Infant (age 0-24 months)

Applicants may apply to adopt a child under the age of 24 months who is eligible for adoption in Newfoundland and Labrador. The provincial waiting period is approximately six years depending on the number of infants available for adoption.

Older Child (over 24 months)

Applicants may apply to adopt a child over the age of 24 months who is eligible for adoption in Newfoundland and Labrador. The provincial waiting period depends on the number of older children available for adoption. Applications for placement of older children (24 months-5 years) with minimum or no known developmental issues may take approximately 4 years. Applicants willing to accept children with special needs, large sibling groups or children over the age of 5 years may have a significantly less waitlist time depending on the needs they are willing to consider. Older children available for adoption are usually in the continuous custody of a Manager of Children, Seniors and Social Development.

Interprovincial Adoptions

Where another province or territory of Canada requests the placement of a child with a person in this province, The Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development will work with adoption authorities in the child’s province to facilitate the adoption. Applicants must meet the requirements for adoption under the Adoption Act, 2013 in Newfoundland and Labrador and any requirements of the province/territory where the child is originating.

Intercountry

Applicants may apply to adopt a child from a foreign country. Applicants must meet the requirements for adoption under the Adoption Act, 2013 for Newfoundland and Labrador. They must also meet the requirement of the country from which they choose to adopt a child. Applicants typically use a private adoption agency licensed in Canada and the foreign country to help facilitate this complex process. Currently, there are no private agencies in Newfoundland and Labrador, approved to facilitate Intercountry adoptions. Applicants usually avail of services of agencies located in other provinces.

Step-Parent/Relative/Person with Permanent Custody of a Child

Step-parents and relatives (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling or a first cousin of a birth parent or a child by birth or adoption) may apply to adopt a child using the Step-Parent, Relative or Person with Permanent Custody of a Child Self Help Kit.

Adult Adoptions

Persons interested in completing an adult adoption are able to proceed directly to the Court. They may use the services of a lawyer to assist.

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Services to Birth Parents

The Adoption Act, 2013 requires that birth parents be given information regarding adoption, the types of adoption and alternatives to adoption. Providing information about the alternatives to adoption is essential in order for the birth parents to make a fully informed decision about the permanent plan for a child.

Birth parents can contact a social worker at their local CSSD office to determine if they wish to make an adoption plan for the child.

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Access to Adoption Information/Post Adoption Services

The Adoption Act, 2013 provides for openness in the release of adoption information. Persons adopted under this Act or a former Act may, at age 19 years old, apply to Vital Statistics for copies of their original birth registration and adoption order.

When an adopted person has reached their 19th birthday, birth parents may apply to Vital Statistics for copies of:

the adopted person’s original birth registration;
the amended birth registration with the name following adoption; and,
the adoption order with the adoptive parent information removed to respect their right to privacy.

Adopted persons, at age 18 years, and birth parents who wish to maintain their confidentiality are provided with the opportunity to file a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration for adoptions finalized prior to April 30, 2003. The disclosure veto or no-contact declaration remains in effect until cancelled in writing or until one year after the death of the person who filed it.

An adopted person and adult relative may register with the Provincial Director to exchange identifying or non-identifying information providing no disclosure veto or no-contact declaration has been filed.

For further information, contact Post Adoption Services at 709-729-4691.

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