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Children who are waiting to be adopted come from a variety of cultural, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Some are siblings waiting for a family who can adopt them together.  Each child is different, but all can benefit from becoming part of a warm and loving family.
Children and youth in Waterloo Region who are waiting to be adopted could be between 0-18 years of age.  In the last several years, FACS Waterloo has completed approximately 60-70 adoptions per year. 

• More than 75% of the children placed for adoption are between 0-6 years old. 
• Less than 5% of children who find adoptive families are over the age of 12.

Did you know that approximately 50% of children in foster care are age 13 and older?  While many older youth may wish for an adoptive family, most will not receive one.  Most adoptive applicants are seeking to adopt infants or toddlers and rarely consider older children.  Could you provide a permanent home to an older child or youth?

Foster/Adopt

The majority of our adoptions each year are by families who have been fostering the child they plan to adopt.  This minimizes the number of placement moves for children and allows children to remain in the care of families they already know.  Children are matched with families who would be willing to adopt if the child becomes legally free for adoption.  The Foster/Adopt family acts as a foster placement for the child while the court process moves forward.  At the end of the process, almost all children are able to be adopted. 

Our Foster/Adopt program has been in place since 2001 and has been very successful in matching children to permanent families at the earliest stage possible.  Early matching has enormous benefits in terms of attachment and stability for children and families. 

Infant Adoption and Openness

Infants to be placed for adoption often come to the agency's attention through the pregnancy counselor.  The goal of the pregnancy counselor is to assist expectant parents in making informed decisions and plans. Through the expression of hopes and preferences for their child, the birth parents play a deciding role in choosing the child's adoptive parents.
Practices in adoption are moving toward openness between adopting families and birth families. This means that adoptive parents are open to some contact with birth family members and former foster parents after the adoption. This could range from the exchange of cards, letters and photographs (either directly or through the agency) to visits with birth family members. While openness has become increasingly accepted over the last several years, this is a decision that has to be made individually in each adoption. The degree of openness a child needs, the birth parent wants, or what an adoptive family can accept should be carefully examined early in the adoption process.

Our Mailing address is:
Foster Adopt Recruitment Team
Family & Children's Services of the Region of Waterloo
300 Ardelt Avenue
Kitchener, Ontario N2G 2S6
Call (519) 576-0540, ask for a Foster/Adopt Recruitment Worker
E-mail: foster.adoption@facswaterloo.org