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Birth Parents

We designed OAM with you in mind

We know that you are making the difficult decision for adoption out of love for your child and want to make the matching step as straightforward as possible.

Searching for an adoptive family for your child can be extremely stressful. We can’t change the situation, but we can offer you a variety of prospective adopters to explore.

Search for families

Explore our families

The OAM site easily helps you to narrow your search to five regions of Ontario. You can scroll through each region searching for the adoptive family that you believe will be best for your child.

View all Families

We are currently in the process of finding prospective adopters to connect with you.

Support

We want you to know there are counsellors who are trained to support you through your pregnancy. Considering your options with a supportive, trained counsellor can help you decide what is best for you and your baby. Ensuring you have all the information to make an informed decision. You can access FREE pregnancy counselling at JFJ Hope Centre or Beginnings Family Services.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to live in Ontario to use Ontario Adoption Matching (OAM)?

Yes, you must reside in Ontario to use OAM. The prospective adopter(s) have completed the legal preparation process to adopt a child in Ontario. OAM focuses ONLY on Ontario families because some provinces in Canada do not allow private adoption and interprovincial adoption is not always possible.

How can I be assured that the prospective adopters will be good parents to my child?

All prospective adopters profiled on the OAM website have been recommended by an approved adoption practitioner following an in-depth assessment (usually 12-15 hours) and completed a 27-hour adoptive parenting preparation course.

What is the advantage of viewing the profiles of prospective adopter(s)?

Viewing the prospective adopter profiles puts you in control of your adoption plan. You can view as many profiles as you want on your own time instead of waiting for a licensee/licensed agency to share profiles with you. You can contact the prospective adopters with any questions you may have and can decide to meet them if you feel comfortable.

What will I learn about the prospective adopters from their profile?

When you view prospective adopter(s)’ profiles, you will learn a lot about them. You will learn about their relationship (if a couple), careers, families, lifestyle, and parenting values. You will see a video and many photos of the prospective adopter(s) including their home. Viewing the prospective adopter profile will help you decide which family is the best alternative family for your child.

What should I do after I choose profiles of prospective adopter(s) that I am interested in?

After you choose profiles of the prospective adopters that you are interested in, use the posted contact information to send them an email. Tell them you are interested in connecting to learn more about them. Next you need to connect with a birth parent counsellor to help you with the process. If you don't have a counsellor, contact JFJ Hope at 1-905-821-7494 or Beginnings Family Services at 1-877-528-6665. With your counsellor, you and the prospective adopter(s) can begin a conversation through email to learn more about each other. If you want to meet the family after that conversation, the prospective adopters should inform their adoption practitioner about the potential match and ensure that your counsellor is with you for that meeting.

What if I change my mind?

You have the right to change your mind regarding your adoption plan within 21 days of signing the adoption consent form in the presence of a lawyer. If you are thinking of changing your mind, speak to your counselor immediately.

More FAQs about your rights in adoption are explained in the MEMORANDUM OF THE CHILD’S PARENT.