Proposed amendments to the Adoptions Act under Bill 2 confirm and clarify established adoption policy in B.C. to connect children and youth to forever homes.

Once enacted, the amendments will ensure that out-of-province adoptions can be considered where it is in the best interests of the child, and confirm the B.C. director of adoption’s role as the sole guardian of a child in care to streamline the adoption process.

Changes also adjust restrictions on the sharing of personal information obtained under the Adoption Act to allow, for example, information sharing with Indigenous communities to support Aboriginal children post-adoption. This amendment is in line with recommendations from Grand Chief Ed John’s report on Indigenous Child Welfare in B.C.: http://fns.bc.ca/pdf/Final-Report-of-Grand-Chief-Ed-John-re-Indig-Child-Welfare-in-BC-November-2016.pdf

Quick Facts:

• Through adoption and other options like guardianship that transfer the custody of a child into a permanent home, the ministry is on target to find 600 permanent homes for the year ending March 31, 2017.
• The ministry completed 368 adoptions in 2015-16, marking the highest annual adoption count since the Adoption Act came into effect in 1997.
• There are currently about 1,000 children in B.C. waiting for the stability and care of an adoptive family, including teenagers, those with special needs and sibling groups.
• B.C.’s new online adoption site, Adopt BC Kids, allows prospective adoptive parents to apply, track and manage their own application online, freeing adoption workers to focus on finding the right family for waiting children. More than 200 prospective adoptive families have signed up for Adopt BC Kids since November 2016: www.gov.bc.ca/adoptbckids
• This year, the ministry has allocated $31.2 million for adoption.
• The Ministry of Children and Family Development partners with the Adoptive Families Association of BC to provide pre and post adoption support services and educational events: www.bcadoption.com
• Adoptive parents come from diverse backgrounds and have a range of life experiences. Any Canadian aged 19 and over who is interested in providing a nurturing home may apply to adopt.
• Those interested in becoming an adoptive parent to one of B.C.’s children or youth, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/adoptbckids, call 1 877 ADOPT-07, or contact the Adoption Reunion Registry toll-free at 1 877 387-3660 or visit: http://ow.ly/lNQs307aonF