Adoption Awareness Month

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, a time when adoptive families throughout Nova Scotia are thanked and recognized for giving the gift of a loving and nurturing home to a child in need.

"The support and security of a permanent home is very important," said Francene Cosman, Minister of Community Services. "Adoptive parents fill that need and allow children the opportunity to develop to their full potential."

There were 193 adoptions granted in Nova Scotia over 1997-98. Ninety-eight were agency adoptions, 82 children were adopted privately by relatives, and 13 were third-party adoptions.

"Adoptive parents give children who cannot return to their birth families the security they need," said Susan Drysdale, manager of adoption and foster care at the Department of Community Services. "Although there are many adoptive families in Nova Scotia, there is a constant demand for permanent homes, especially for children with special needs."

The term "special needs" refers to children with physical, mental or emotional disabilities. It also applies to children who need to be adopted with their brothers and sisters, children who are part of a minority, or children who are over 18 months of age.

There are many children with special needs who need homes now. Parents waiting for an infant or young child can sometimes wait for up to 10 years with no guarantee of a placement.

Parents who have adopted special needs children receive financial assistance from the Department of Community Services. This subsidy is available to ensure the child's particular needs are met.

Anyone interested in becoming an adoptive parent can contact their local children's aid society, or a family and children's services agency, or a district office of the Department of Community Services.