The Path to Permanency: Canadian Perspectives

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Caring Connections

Learn about kinship care, customary care, foster care and adoption—key approaches that support stable, caring homes for Canadian children and youth.

Kinship Care

Kinship care means a child is cared for by a relative or someone close to the child, offering a familiar and loving environment when they cannot live with their parents, and is often the preferred option for Children's Aid Societies and child welfare services in Canada.

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Customary Care

Customary care is a community-based approach to caring for FIRST NATIONS, INUIT, and MÉTIS children. It reflects a shared responsibility for children's well-being and focuses on prevention, cultural connection, and keeping families strong.

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Foster Care

Foster care provides a temporary, supportive home for children who cannot safely stay with their families. Foster caregivers offer stability and care during challenging times, while efforts are made to reunite children with their families whenever possible.

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Adoption

Adoption in Canada is the legal process through which a child becomes the permanent and legal child of a new parent or parents. It creates a “forever family” by transferring all parental rights and responsibilities to the adoptive parents, with the child’s best interests as the top priority.

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