Alberta Legislature -- LNN

By Dori Modney

Province removes barriers to adoption and simplifies process

Nov 25, 2020 | 4:46 PM

EDMONTON, AB. — As Alberta marks Adoption Awareness Month, the provincial government is taking action to make the process easier to navigate.

Right now, the province has a complex process for adoption, which does more to create barriers for adoptees, birth parents and couples looking to adopt a child.

Children’s Services Minister Rebecca Schulz, expects the changes put forth will make it easier for families to navigate adoptions, increase accountability of adoption agencies, and improve processes for prospective adoptive parents.

As well, Bill 48, the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act 2020, (No. 2), which was tabled on November 16, will provide adult adoptees and former children in care with improved access to their biological and family information.

Alberta’s current adoption legislation has been in force since 2005. If Bill 48 is passed, changes will come into effect Jan. 1, 2021.

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Key Changes include:

— Proclaiming the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (Adoption Advertising), introduced by MLA Aheer in 2017, will allow prospective adoptive parents to advertise their profiles publicly through licensed adoption agencies

– a change parents have been lobbying to implement since its introduction. An order-in-council was granted Nov. 25.

— Improving transparency and accountability of licensed agencies.

— Making it easier for adult adoptees and birth families to connect in the Post Adoption Registry.

— Providing online resources for prospective parents.

— Simplifying and standardizing adoption processes. Searle Turton, the MLA for Spruce Grove-Stony Plain, is an adoptive parent and has first-hand knowledge of how the former system impacted his family.

“As an adoptive parent, I know first-hand the amount of anxiety and stress that the adoption process can cause families. These changes will make life easier for children and parents who simply want a family.”

As well, prospective adoptive parent, Anila Lee Yuen, is also please with the changes.

“As prospective adoptive parents, my husband and I were disappointed in the lack of accountability with our previous adoption agency. These changes will help other adoptive families in their journey and ensure no family will have to go through what we did.”

There are also changes that will benefit adopted children who are now adults, such as Laura (Lawands) Osgood, a survivor of the ’60s Scoop.

“Connecting with my father and my birth family has given me my identity but I’m still filling in the blanks in my life. I’ve lost my language, and my heritage was taken from me. I’m a toddler in my culture. Opening access to adoption information for ‘60s Scoop survivors is incredibly important. Our past is part of our story. And it needs to be shared.”

Facts regarding Alberta adoptions:

— In 2019-20, there were 71 adoptions completed through licensed agencies and 70 international adoptions completed in Alberta.

— The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (Adoption Advertising), allows a licensed adoption agency to publicize the profiles of prospective adoptive parents.

— On May 27, 2019, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta passed Motion 501 “to take all necessary measures to make the process for all forms of adoption more efficient and timely for families.”

— In response to Motion 501, Children’s Services conducted a review of adoption provisions in the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act. The review resulted in recommendations for legislative and regulatory amendments.

More information on adoption in Alberta can be found on the government website.