The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable, Chris Tibbs, Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being:

I rise today to recognize November as National Adoption Month and highlight the work our government is doing to help more children find permanent, loving homes.

Every child deserves the stability, support and sense of belonging that comes with a family. That is why our government has made increasing adoptions a priority and set a goal of doubling the number of adoptions this year.

To help achieve that goal, we are strengthening coordination across the province so children can be matched with adoptive families more quickly. We have also developed and implemented new adoption training and added eight dedicated staff positions to focus on this important work.

These changes are helping us build a more responsive adoption system and remove barriers that can delay placements.

The results are encouraging. Twenty-four adoptions were finalized in the first six months of this year, and 32 more children have been placed for adoption, bringing them one step closer to permanent families.

While there is more work to do, we are seeing positive progress. National Adoption Month is an opportunity to recognize that every child deserves a place to call home, and our government remains committed to helping more children and youth find the permanence and connections they need to thrive.

Thank you.