The adoption process involves a number of steps. It is important that you, and we, take as much time as needed to carefully consider the important decisions to be made. There are five steps and some will take longer than others to complete. The following is general information only. You can learn more about adoption by speaking to one of the representatives in our Adoption Department.
Step 1 - Get more information
If you are interested in adoption - please call us. We will answer any questions you may have and provide you
with some additional information about the adoption experience that will help you decide if you are ready to move
on to the next step. Once a year there is an information session that you may want to attend.
Step 2 - Attend training
Once you have made a decision to adopt and initial information has been gathered by the Society, then you must
attend mandatory training sessions. Adoption Training is called PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, Education). It is based on specific knowledge and skills that will result in a successful adoption. Training groups are held throughout the year but there may be a waiting period to attend as there may be others on the list before you. Some applicants may be prioritized if they are able to adopt children with special needs or children over the age of seven years.
Step 3 - Completing the home study
During the PRIDE training, applicants are assigned a social worker. The homestudy and training are completed at the same time. This mutual family assessment is done through a series of at-home family visits with the worker. The knowledge and skills required of all adoptive parents are discussed during these visits. This may take a few months. At the end of this process a mutual decision will be made regarding the family moving forward to an adoption placement.
Step 4 - Placing a child
When matching children to families we consider the needs of each child and how an adoptive family can address those needs. Once a family has been chosen the adoption worker meets with them to share some information about the child. If there is a 'fit', then a series of visits will be set up to help the child make the transition from the foster home to the adoptive home. This period can be anywhere from a few weeks to few months depending upon the needs of the child.
Step 5 - Finalizing the adoption
The adoption is finalized by the Family Court of Ontario if it is satisfied that the adoption is in the best interests of the child or children.
For more information on adoption contact the Adoption Department by e-mail here or by phone at 1-800-461-4236.
