The glossary below will help define terms used throughout the text on this site, as well as in the Adoption Act
ADOPTION AGENCY: a society licensed to provide a full range of adoption services in accordance with the Adoption Act and the regulations
ADOPTION ORDER: the court order finalizing the adoption
ADOPTIVE PARENT: a man or woman who has adopted a child
BIRTH PARENT: a child's biological mother or father
CHILD: an unmarried person under the age of 19
CONSENT TO ADOPTION: a legal process whereby a birth parent or guardian voluntarily places a child for adoption
COURT: the Supreme Court of British Columbia
HAGUE CONVENTION ON INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION: an international law that sets minimum standards for participating countries.
HOMESTUDY: includes an assessment of the prospective adoptive parents and an educational component to prepare the family to meet the needs of the child to be adopted
LONO: Letter of no objection
POST-ADOPTION OPENNESS REGISTRY: a passive registry (meaning that both parties must be registered before they are contacted about establishing an agreement) for relatives of the adopted child under age 19.
RELATIVE: someone related to another by birth or adoption
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN: refers to a broad range of needs. Some of the children have a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Effects/Syndrome, but many do not. Those noted as "substance exposed" are generally mild to moderately exposed, based on birth family history information.
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