The Adoption Process

The adoption process involves a number of steps. It is important that the applicant and the Society 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 contacting the Society.

Step 1 - Get more information

If you are interested in adoption please call us at 613-264-9991 or 1-866-664-9991. We will answer any questions you may have and provide you with additional information about the adoption experience that will help you decide if you are ready to move on to the next step.

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 upon specific knowledge and skills that will result in a successful adoption. Training groups are held throughout the year.

Step 3 - Completing the safe home study

During the PRIDE training, applicants are assigned a social worker. The Society attempts to complete the home study and the training at the same time. This mutual family assessment is done through a series of at-home family visits with the worker. The adoption home study carefully evaluates the capacities of the applicants for adoptive parenthood in order to make an acceptable match with the children awaiting adoption. It also makes applicants fully aware of what adoption involves; how adoptive parenthood differs from biological parenthood and prepares the applicants for the adoption process. The applicants' home environment is carefully monitored to better make an evaluation regarding adoptive parenthood. 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 the Society considers 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 scheduled 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 a 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 you can contact Lanark CAS at 613-264-9991 or toll free at 1-866-664-9991 or visit www.adoptontario.ca