LAKELAND - In a recent letter from the Diocese, Bishop Gary Franken provided information from Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr stating there is a pressing need for foster families and adoption. The letter was directed at families and parishioners of the Roman Catholic church communities in the Bonnyville, Cold Lake, and St. Paul areas.
Information from Cyr’s office was included in the letter. The information highlights an initiative from the Alberta government, aimed at alleviating the financial challenges associated with adoption for families.
“The Alberta government has introduced a new initiative designed to make adoption more financially accessible to families. By offering a subsidy that can cover up to 50 per cent of adoption costs, this effort falls under the Budget 2023 commitment and is supported by an allocation of $4 million over three years,” according to the letter. “The goal is to facilitate more adoptions and provide more children in government care with the opportunity to be part of a permanent family.”
Additionally, Cyr explained that the subsidy is specifically available to families with a household income below $180,000, who have completed a licensed private agency adoption in Alberta on or after April 1, 2023. The primary objective is to reduce the financial burden of adoption, making it a more feasible option for families, especially considering that agency adoption costs typically range between $11,000 and $15,000.
Cyr said the decision to introduce this adoption subsidy stems from the recognition of high adoption costs as a significant barrier for many families. He stated, "The UCP government's initiative seeks to lower these barriers, making adoption a more accessible and affordable option. This, in turn, is expected to enable more children to find permanent, loving homes."
Cyr shared statistics from the 2022-23 period, revealing an average of 3,114 young people in foster care each month in Alberta, with only 1,540 foster caregiver homes available. To address this shortfall, the province has launched a campaign with the goal of creating 100 additional foster care placements within the next year, reflecting the urgent need for more foster families due to a recent decline in numbers.
Cyr emphasized that financial concerns were a significant deterrent for potential adoptive parents.
"The financial implications of adoption have been a major deterrent for many families, with agency adoption costs ranging from $11,000 to $15,000."
While specific figures for the Lakeland area are not available, Cyr stressed that the overall demand for adoptive families in Alberta indicates a substantial need in Lakeland.
"With 20 children and youth in government care awaiting matching and a general decline in adoptive families, the push to make adoptions more accessible and the campaign to recruit more adoptive families underscore a significant need for adoptive families across the province, including in the Lakeland area.”
Cyr expressed optimism about the subsidy's impact, believing it will encourage more adoptions in the Lakeland area and across Alberta.
