PROCESS

Finding a family for our children
In planning for the adoption of a child, the CAS selects adoptive parents that are capable of meeting the needs of the child. The agency is committed to the ongoing local and provincial recruitment of prospective adoptive families who are able to meet the special needs of children available for adoption.

We may consider some of the following when choosing an adoptive home:

• Parent's strengths and abilities
• Experience with children and dealing with difficult situations
• Extended family support
• Parent's ability and willingness to cope with child's needs now and in the future
• Experience with adoption
• Ability and willingness to accept natural family involvement if in best interest of child
• Culturally similar background as child
• Ability to work within agency structure

The agency ensures that, where appropriate, the wishes of the child are taken into consideration in the selection of an adoptive family in accordance with the best interests of the child.

Once a family has been chosen the adoption worker meets with them to share non-identifying information about the child, his or her life experiences, health and family background to ensure that the adoptive family is accepting of the child's background and needs.

Where it is determined that there are no prospective adoptive families within our jurisdiction who can meet the special needs of a child, we broaden the search. An adoption worker compiles a non-identifying profile of the child that can be sent to other CAS's within Ontario.

Where the search within the province does not produce a suitable family, we present the child's profile at the bi-annual Adoption Resource Exchange in Toronto where anyone in the province with an approved Adoption Home Study can view information about all children currently available for adoption. The child's profile can also be placed in a newspaper advertisement called "Today's Child", or on an adoption website “Canada’s Waiting Children”.

Placing a child for adoption
In preparing a child for adoption placement, we determine the child's needs and establish a visiting schedule between the adoptive applicants and the child. This pre-placement visitation period can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on the stage of development of the child.

Adoption probation
Once the child is placed in an adoptive home, a six-month period of adoption probation begins. This is a critical period of adjustment for both the child and adoptive family. This period provides time for the family and child to adjust to each other, and begin the process of integration and bonding.

During the adoption probation period, an adoption worker visits the child and parents to assess the child's adjustment in the home as well as the family's need for support. The adoption worker monitors the placement, offers support and guidance and will make referrals for appropriate services if necessary.

Finalizing the adoption
If the adoption probation has been successful and the Children's Aid Society feels it is in the best interest of the child to remain with the adoptive family then the adoption will be presented to the Family Court of Ontario. The Court will only finalize an adoption if it is satisfied that the adoption is in the child's best interests. An adoption order is final and irrevocable

Post Adoption Support
From time to time, families may require the support of the agency long after the adoption has been finalized. Those families may call us for assistance.
For some families who experience financial hardship in providing fully for an adopted child, due to the special needs of their adopted child, a subsidy may be requested in order to secure stability for the child. Approval is based upon the needs of the child, and the family's ability to provide for the child financially. This subsidy is reviewed with the family on an annual basis.

For other families where the issues are not financial, we may assist in accessing additional community services to support the child and family.

Adoption Disclosure:
Adoption Disclosure is a service that responds to the requests of adult adoptees, birth parents, birth grandparents, birth siblings and adoptive parents who wish information about each other. It also helps with reunions matched and referred by the Adoption Disclosure Register maintained by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

We provide non-identifying information as well as reunion preparation counseling. Many people want information only, while others obtain it before deciding to pursue reunion.
The motivation in seeking adoption disclosure, by adult adoptees, varies by the individual but typically involves such areas as curiosity about their biological family back ground, a need for gentetic/medical information to identify possible health issues for themselves and their own children, and/or a desire to update the birth family on what’s happened since the adoption placement.

Birth family members may receive some comfort in knowing a little about the adoptive family and the child's progress until adoption finalization, but typically receive no information after the adoption is finalized. While there is information in the agency’s files this information will not be current, and the information is on file will vary according to what was recorded at the time of the adoption, and the co-operation and availability of both birth parents. This is why adoption disclosure legislation encourages the collection of updated, non-identifying information from inquiring parties to be placed on file. This can then be passed along to other family members who seek information