ARCS is a small, personalized, adoption service and has been facilitating open adoptions since 1987.  Karen Roper, the open adoption coordinator, and I work out of my home office, an environment we hope that is relaxed and inviting for our clients.

And what would be a home office without a dog?  Duncan, a Scottish Terrier, is there to greet everyone.

Although ARCS is located in Kingston, Ontario, we work with expectant parents and adoptive parents from all parts of Ontario. How can we do this?

An adoption licensee coordinates all aspects of the adoption.  This kind of work can be done from any location as much of the communication with clients can be done via email, phone and Skype.  However, as it is important to develop a personal relationship with my clients, there are opportunities for us to gather together to plan for the adoption.

This provides adoptive parents with the opportunity to choose to work with a licensee with whom they feel most comfortable.  The licensee can be located any place in Ontario.

Your adoption practitioner, the person who does your homestudy and supervises the adoption placement, needs to be located close to where you live.  Birthparents also need a birthparent counsellor to support them throughout the adoption process.  This person needs to be located in the birthparents’ vicinity. 

ARCS Other Services

Step Parent-Relative Adoption Services

A relative or step parent adoption can be completed directly through an Ontario Family court without the involvement of a private adoption lawyer/licensee or a Children's Aid Society.

However, the legal forms can be confusing.  ARCS offers assistance with completing these adoption forms.

An hourly rate of $250.00 is charged.  The final cost of completing an application to the court for a relative/step parent adoption varies, depending on the complexity of the application.  Expect a fee of $250.00 to $2500.00.

Please contact Jennie E. Painter, MSW, Private adoption licensee, at 613-542-0275 for more information.

For Adoptive Parents:

• Homestudies 
• Consultations for those new to adoption
• Mediation Services for those experiencing open adoption challenges
• Adoption Profile Review and Assessment for those wanting to create a profile that is based on an open adoption philosophy
• Workshops on Open Adoption 

For Birthparents:

• Provide opportunities for birthparents to connect with other birth parents that have placed their children for adoption
• Provide an education program on open adoption
• Provide All About You, a family information booklet for birthparents to complete for his or her child
• Provide information about support services in their community

Other Forms of Adoption:

• Adult Adoptions for those over 18 years of age wanting to be adopted by another adult
• Step-Parent Adoptions 

Counselling:

• Search and Reunion Counselling for birthparents hoping to re-connect with their child and for adoptees hoping to re-connect with their birthparents
• Adoption Mediation Counselling for those experiencing challenges in their adoption relationship

Workshops/Presentations:

• Jennie E. Painter, MSW, provides workshops and presentations on various aspects of open adoption relationships for small and large groups