Some Ontario Adoptive Parents Excluded from New Adoption Subsidy

For the purpose of encouraging older child adoption, starting “June 15 [2012], Ontarians with net family incomes up to  $85,000 who adopt siblings or children age 10 and older from  Children’s Aid will receive monthly subsidies of $950 per child.

But Phaneuf and Barth — and others whose adoptions have already  been finalized — don’t qualify.”

“Families who don’t qualify for the new subsidies are still  eligible for other financial assistance available through their  local Children’s Aid Society, he added.”

“Ontario’s 2009 Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption  recommended a provincial adoption subsidy program for all  children 2 and older.

Panel member William Falk said he is pleased sibling groups  have been included in the new adoption subsidy. Although he said  age 10 is “too high” for other adoption subsidies, it is “still  a good place to start given limited funds.”

New Ontario adoption subsidies exclude parents who have already adopted

[Toronto Star 6/14/12 by Laurie Monsebraaten]

“Many of the province’s Children’s Aid Societies already provide subsidies for children with special needs, but until now it has been a patchwork quilt, said Virginia Rowden of the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, which represents the province’s 53 CASs.

Agencies are pleased the new program sets a specific amount that will be available to all adoptive families across the province with no spending cap, she said. And they are happy local agencies will continue to be able to offer their own subsidies or provide top-ups.

“For people who are contemplating adopting, they know up-front what is available. And it is on-going as long as the families continue to qualify,” Rowden said.

“Overall it’s a better investment than continuing to pay foster care because it provides better outcomes at a better cost,” she added.

There are about 8,300 Crown wards in Ontario. Of the 1,000 children adopted through Children’s Aid last year, 73 per cent were under age 5, just one-quarter were between the ages of 6 and 11, and only 2 per cent were over age 12.”

Ontario will subsidize adoption of kids over 10

[Toronto Star 6/4/12 by Laurie Monsebraaten]

 

REFORM Puzzle Piece

 The $950 per month is ” 60 per cent of the average cost Children’s Aid Societies pay foster parents in Ontario.” It remains to be seen if more parents choose to adopt children over age 10. This seems to be a feel-good legislation that primarily is for cost-cutting and not for better care for the children nor better quality of parents.