Steps to Becoming an Adoptive Family

The children who are brought into the care of the Children's Aid Society often face unique emotional, social, physical, developmental and psychological challenges and require skilled caregivers to meet their needs whether they are placed in foster or adoptive families. As a result, the Children's Aid Society uses the same application, training and home assessment process for families applying to adopt or to foster.

We encourage applications from individuals and families from different walks of life, a variety of cultural, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and with a wide range of child care skills.

If you are interested in becoming an adoptive parent please contact the Children's Aid Society for more information. A worker will discuss with you the steps necessary to apply. Alternately, the Children's Aid Societies within the Eastern Ontario region have jointly created a website from which you can apply to become an adoptive parent.

The following is a brief outline of the steps involved in the application process:

Step 1

Information regarding all members of your household and your interest/motivation to adopt will be discussed. The need for several references, medicals, police check, and agency internal file check will be reviewed.

Application Criteria

If you decide to apply, you'll take part in a home study consisting of several visits to your home. You'll also be asked to provide several character references as well as undergo current medical and police checks on all adults in your home.

The Society includes the following as minimum criteria for consideration of an inquirer's interest:

• over the age of 18 years
• reside in Frontenac county
• people who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay or lesbian
• people of any race, creed or religion
• are not staff of the Society
• if involved in a relationship have been in a stable relationship for at least two years
• if applicants have experienced relationship or marital separations they must have been reunited for at least two years
• other family members are in support of the application
• financial stability can be demonstrated
• experience with children which has been positive
• when the inquirer is employed outside the home the intention is to provide adult supervision that is acceptable to the Society for the child placed in their care
• family constellation does not include a child under one year of age and a female applicant is not pregnant
• current involvement with the Society or other service provider is of a voluntary nature and not related to any concerns related to care or protection of children
• willingness to comply with Society policy that no corporal punishment be used with children
• physical accommodation which is likely to meet regulations
• adults willing to make a lifelong commitment to a child
• adults able to provide unconditional acceptance of a child

Experience caring for children is a definite advantage for an adoptive family but you can apply to adopt even if you have no specific background in childcare. Love of young people, optimism, patience, and consistency are essential qualities of successful parents. A basic understanding of children's needs, as well as a willingness to learn, is also required.

Step 2

Once your application is returned and recommended for next steps, a resource worker is assigned who will call to arrange a time to meet with you and your family in your home. At this meeting the worker will gather some preliminary information and complete a home check, and together you will decide if you wish to proceed further with the application process. During this time police checks, medicals, child welfare checks, and a financial form as well as references are being completed.

Step 3

PRIDE training sessions are provided several times a year. When a series of dates are confirmed an invitation will be sent to you if your application has been received and approved. Attendance at PRIDE training is mandatory for all adult applicants.

While you attend PRIDE your SAFE home assessment occurs. During the home assessment applicants complete questionnaires and interviews are held with each member of the family individually as well as together. The adoption home assessment mutually evaluates the capacities of the applicants for adoptive parenthood and relates these to the needs of the children awaiting adoption. During the home assessment you will learn more about what adoption involves and the adoption process.