In Québec, only Québec agencies that hold a certificate issued by the Minister of Health and Social Services are authorized to work in the field of international adoptions, in the territory or territories for which they are certified.

A certified agency takes steps, on behalf of potential adoptive parents domiciled in Québec, for the adoption of children domiciled outside Québec. The agency must have good knowledge of the territory or territories for which it is certified, and be aware of legal and procedural obligations, as well as sociocultural practices and constraints.

The certified agency helps a potential adoptive parent prepare the adoption file and submits it to the child's country of origin. It serves as an intermediary between the child's country of origin and the potential adoptive parent at the time of the adoption proposal and the trip abroad. It also takes the administrative and legal steps to obtain a decision granting an adoption. The people in charge of the agency must establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with the authorities in charge of the adoption and the resource persons involved.

Some certified agencies are also involved in social projects abroad. They help improve the living conditions in orphanages by supporting projects that benefit the entire community.

Mandatory services

The certified agency must provide the following minimum services to a potential adoptive parent:

• inform a potential adoptive parent of the services offered, the conditions for adoption in the State of origin, the profile of the children proposed for adoption, the adoption procedure, the documents required by the State of origin and the support services available in Québec after the child's arrival here;
• inform a potential adoptive parent of any change likely to have an impact on the way the adoption plan is to proceed;
• ensure that the file of the potential adoptive parent is complete and that the adoption plan complies with the recommendations contained in the psychosocial assessment;
• oversee the adoption process;
• inform the potential adoptive parent of the procedures after the child arrives in Québec, such as the judicial procedure and the application for citizenship, and conduct follow-up;
• monitor the transmission of the child's progress reports in accordance with the requirements of the State of origin;
• collaborate in searches for family and medical histories and in reunions.