What is ARCS?

Adoption Resource and Counselling Services (ARCS)

ARCS - Adoption Resource and Counseling ServicesARCS is a small, private, personalized adoption service.

We facilitate and co-ordinate primarily open adoptions for expectant and adoptive parents throughout Ontario. Jennie E. Painter, the Director, has been licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services since 1987 to place children for adoption.

But we do much more than place children for adoption…

  • We complete homestudies for those hoping to adopt a child.
  • We provide supportive, non-judgemental counselling for expectant parents considering adoption for their child.
  • We provide adoption educational materials & opportunities for our clients.
  • We help adoptive parents create adoption profiles.
  • We provide information on all aspects of adoption in Ontario.
  • We help prepare adoptees and birthparents for reunions.
  • We hold workshops on open adoption for adoptive and birth parents and professionals on the following:
    • The Intricacies Of Open Adoption Relationships
    • Understanding Ontario Adoption Procedures And Options
    • Understanding Adoptees' Loss And Attachment Issues
    • Developing an Open Adoption Practice


ARCS’ Philosophy and Beliefs:

ARCS thoroughly screens hopeful adoptive parents. We make sure they are ready to become parents and really welcome an opportunity to be in an open adoption relationship with you. Then you choose from these “open adoption-ready families”, the family that is right for your child. Because birthparents  choose the family with whom they place their child, ARCS has no age, religious, sexual orientation, or marriage restrictions for prospective adoptive parents.

Since ARCS is based on the belief that honesty, respect, and trust form the basis of healthy human relationships, most of the adoptions facilitated by ARCS are open. Birth and adoptive parents are encouraged to develop a relationship based on trust and respect for one another.

These extended family relationships are developed so the children will be able to have ongoing relationship opportunities with members of their birth family. This is a child-centered approach to family building through adoption. Our goal is to help your child develop a strong sense of self and identity by having questions about his/her adoption answered and expanded upon as your child goes though various developmental stages. Our goal is also to provide your child with a secure sense of being loved and cherished by both you and the adoptive parents.

Not all expectant parents want or choose open adoption. They may have many questions and concerns about open adoption relationships. They might worry that having contact with the child will be too difficult for them emotionally. Some are concerned that the child will become confused. Others may wonder if the adoptive parents really want them involved. Expectant parents already have alot to deal with and the thought of having to form a relationship with strangers may seem like too much at the time.

However, once they are through the initial shock of being pregnant and the crisis of planning an adoption for their child, birthparents often are happy they are in an open adoption or wish they had been in an open adoption relationship. Open adoption is a choice that expectant parents can make – it is your choice and ARCS is here to help you facilitate an open, semi-open or closed adoption.

Because the birthmother chooses the family with whom she will place her child, ARCS has no age, religious, sexual orientation, or marriage restrictions for prospective adoptive parents.