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So, you are interested in adopting through Durham
Children's Aid Society...
There are many children in Ontario who are waiting
for an adoptive family. We are delighted that
families or individuals are interested in our
children and our adoption program.
The following are the minimum requirements to
begin the application process:
- Residency in Durham Region
- Minimum 18 years of age
- Good general health
- Financially self-sufficient
- Stable relationship for two years (including
same-sex couples, common-law, single applicants)
- Consent of all immediate family members
- Demonstrated healthy individual and family
histories
- Sound mental health
- No substance abuse; no condoning of illegal
substances
- No criminal charges pending or significant
criminal background
- No verified or suspected incidents of child
abuse
- No significant previous client involvement
with a CAS
- Adequate living and sleeping premises for
a child
- Demonstrated ability to carry out essential
duties of parenting
- Ability to ensure a child will have appropriate
developmental environment
- Adequate language and communication skills
- Willingness to learn new skills
- Willingness to work with the agency and other
professionals
- Adequate understanding of adoptive care
- Adequate understanding of circumstances around
which children come into the care of CAS
- Sensitivity to cultural differences and backgrounds
of children
There are many steps in the adoption process.
Some are very fast, while other steps require
more time and careful consideration.
If you are interested in adoption please call
us. We will do our best to answer all of your
questions and we will send you an information
package, as well as an application form.
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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 is sent to the 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."
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