As we wrap up Adoption and Permanence Education Month, we’re sharing the story of Adrianna, whose journey of love, identity, and family illustrates the deep bonds formed through adoption. Adrianna’s story began in 2002, when she was just 8 months old. She was adopted by Ella, a mother who had
The Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto works very hard to assist families in keeping their children with them when struggling. When this is not possible, extended family members or community members known to the family are sought. It is critical for children and youth to remain connected to their communities and culture and it is for this reason that adoption placements, particularly where the adopters are unknown to the child, are the last alternative.
Adoptive caregivers are selected based on the current and anticipated needs of the children and youth for whom we are seeking permanency. The goal is to find families for children and youth who share their unique racial, cultural, religious, and identity needs and are able to support their emotional and developmental needs.
Equally important is ensuring the child or youth’s wishes are considered and that remains at the centre and forefront of adoption work.
We recognize the distinct rights of Indigenous communities to address children’s needs for lifelong access and connections to their communities and culture. There will be no consideration of placing Indigenous children in non-Indigenous adoptive families without consultation and agreement from the child’s Band or community.
The number of children being adopted has decreased steadily in the last eight years. This is because of the increased focus of CASs on keeping children living safely with their families.
In 2019–2020, 686 adoptions were completed through Ontario Children’s Aid Societies.
Despite the recent increases in permanency supports for children and youth in care, there remain thousands of children in care in Ontario with Extended Society Care status who are not available for adoption. Some children and youth are not emotionally prepared to engage in the process of seeking an adoptive family, with significant needs for healing from grief and loss experiences.
Many of these youth will remain in their current foster families, with a focus on how to best support these families in committing to a lifelong and legally permanent relationship to these children through either adoption or legal custody.
Children’s Aid Societies do not charge fees for home studies, training, or adoption services. There are also subsidies available for families who meet the eligibility requirements.
It’s all about the match. The needs of the child come first, and a successful match takes place when a family is found that possesses all the skills and characteristics that can provide for the child’s needs.
Every child/youth is unique. And because of this, every adoption will be unique.
It takes time. The process to complete training, complete a home study, and find the right match, have a home study done, and complete the training can be a lengthly process. The time it takes to go through the adoption process also varies depending on the needs and situation of the child/youth.
If you are NEW to considering adoption in Ontario, we invite you to first contact Centralized Adoption Intake through the Adoption Council of Ontario to get more information. Once you have done this and continue to feel that public adoption at CCAS is right for you please call 416-395-1520 to further explore the possibility and to complete the application process.
Applicants in Ontario must complete the following requirements in order to adopt:
The homestudy is a comprehensive assessment which will include interviews, home visits, and the submission of supporting documents such as criminal reference checks, personal references, and financial/medical forms.
PRIDE pre-service training is a nine-module (27-hour) program used to prepare and educate families interested in adoption, kinship care, customary care, and fostering. The curriculum includes:
The following are the minimum requirements to begin the application process:
Any previous CAS service involvement will be evaluated on an individual basis.There are many steps in the adoption process. Some move quickly, while other steps require more time and careful consideration.
You will first speak with an adoption worker to review the process and criteria.
There is no charge for a public adoption.
If you are NEW to considering adoption in Ontario, we invite you to first contact Centralized Adoption Intake through the Adoption Council of Ontario at www.adoption.on.ca/CI to get more information. Once you have done this and continue to feel that public adoption at CCAS is right for you please call 416-395-1520 to further explore the possibility and to complete the application process.
Adoption openness can include written, verbal or face-to-face contact or communication between a child and any person that is deemed to be an important connection to the child. Communication may be direct or indirect and may include either identifying or non-identifying information.
The Adoption Council of Ontario is a not-for-profit organization providing outreach, support, and education to all adoptees, adoptive parents, potential adoptive parents, birth families, and adoption professionals in Ontario.
A photo listing website that connects children from CASs in Ontario waiting for adoption with families in Ontario. Adopt Ontario is a program of the Adoption Council of Ontario.
The Adoption Resource Exchange conference is an MCCSS funded program that helps locate and match adoptive families with Ontario children needing adoption. These events are hosted a few times a year by the Adoption Council of Ontario.
Interwoven Connection’s organization for kin, customary care, and adoptive parents and caregivers, is a community of people with lived experience that strengthens and empowers parents and caregivers to achieve permanency for children so that they reach their full potential.
MCCSS provides oversight of CASs and CAS children and youth who are available to be adopted.
All children and young people receiving services through a Children’s Aid Society have rights that must be respected and a voice that must be heard.
Find out more about your rights, who to talk to if you have questions, and what to do if you think your rights are not being respected, with the Government of Ontario’s
