Deciding on Adoption
Some women want to continue the pregnancy through to childbirth but feel for various reasons they are not able to give a child the necessary care and support it will need. They may feel they could not raise a child at this point in their lives. These women may decide that the best alternative is to place the baby for adoption.
Different Kinds of Adoption
There are a few different kinds of adoptions: Confidential/private, Mediated/semi-open, fully disclosed/open, and independent adoption. Each varies in levels of contact between birth and adoptive parents.
- Confidential/Private: Minimal information is shared between adoptive and birth family members and is never transmitted directly; exchange of information stops with the adoptive placement.
- Mediated/Semi-open: Non-identifying information is shared between parties through adoption agency personnel, who serve as go-betweens. Sharing could include the exchange of pictures, letters, gifts or infrequent meetings at which full identifying information is not revealed.
- Fully Disclosed/Open: Involves full disclosure of identifying information between adoptive and birth families; may involve direct meetings in each others' homes or in public places, phone calls, letters and sometimes contact with the extended family.
The Process
Adoptions in Saskatchewan can be arranged privately (through a lawyer, when you know a couple you
would like to adopt your baby) or through the Department of Community Resources (Saskatchewan government).
If you'd like to work through the Department of Community Resources, contact the Teen and Young Parent Program, at 933-7751.
When you contact the Teen and Young Parent Program, you be assigned
a worker who can help you decide whether or not adoption is the right
choice for you - and if it is, what kind of adoption is right for
you. Your worker is there to help you through the process both during
the pregnancy and afterwards, post-adoption.
Birth Father Consent
In Saskatchewan the legislation states that BOTH birth parents have to sign a consent form to release the
child for adoption.
In the instance of abuse there has to be evidence to support the claim. Social Services will then investigate to
determine the credibility of the birth parent in question.
If the birth father will not consent and he is not a suitable parent then he has to have a credible alternative plan.
For example: his mother or close relative would agree to parent the child.
Support/Resources
For more information about adoption, you can contact the local Department of Community Resources at
933-5961, or the Family Support Centre (also the number for the Teen and Young Parent Program) at 933-7751.
Another good resource is the Adoption Support Centre of Saskatchewan. You can reach them at 665-7272, or
toll free at 1-866-869-ASCS (2727), or online.