Adoption
Our primary goal is to support children to live safely with their families. When this is not possible, living with another family, preferably known to the child, is important so the child can flourish and grow.
Adoption is one of several options available when looking for lifelong connections for children that offer permanent stability and security that children and youth need and deserve. Linck is committed to the foster to permanency model as the pathway for adoption.
Considering Adoption
In Ontario, adoption takes place in several ways. Adoption is often explored in all three systems:
- Public child welfare system
- Private adoption agencies
- Inter-country adoption agencies
The Adoption in Ontario: Private, Public and Inter-Country brochure outlines the three adoption streams in Ontario and how to access them.
Click here to read the brochure.
The pathway to adoption at Linck is through the foster to permanency model.
Linck is committed to anti-oppression and providing services to children, youth, families, and resource communities in an inclusive and equitable manner. We encourage and welcome individuals who identify as part of an equity-seeking group, such as individuals from the 2SLGBTQ+ community or individuals who identify as persons of colour to apply.
If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the process, please visit the Adoption Council of Ontario’s website. On this site, information is available including answers to frequently asked questions and a “How to Adopt” webinar that you can register to complete.
If you are interested in exploring adoption with Linck, we host information sessions (two to three times per year) to provide specific details about foster to permanency. Participating in an information session is one of the first steps required to begin your journey of foster to permanency with Linck.
Please email foster.permanency@linck.org for the next scheduled date of an information session with our agency.
The SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) home study is a comprehensive assessment to determine eligibility, suitability, and readiness to become a foster or adoptive parent.
PRIDE is Ontario’s standardized training curriculum for foster, kinship in care and adoptive applicants. This is a mandatory 27-hour training that all applicants are required to complete as part of the assessment and approval process.
We honour the importance of ensuring birth families have a role in the ongoing lives of children through various ways. In some cases, birth families may be involved in the selection of an adoptive family for their child.
Prior to placing a child with an adoptive family, the birth parents are encouraged to provide as much information as possible about their family, heritage, religion, traditions so that careful consideration occurs when choosing a potential adoptive family. Birth parents may also have regular written correspondence, face-to-face contact, or share in certain traditions together as a way of staying connected.
Openness between adoptive and birth family members is a common occurrence in many adoptions. The degree of openness a child needs, a birth parent wants, or an adopting family can accept, is carefully examined early in the adoption process.
If you are considering adopting through your local CAS, you should consider that maintaining a level of openness with a child’s birth family will be discussed with you when considering adopting a child.
For more information about openness, please refer to the Making Openness Work for Kids and Families Webinar, available on demand through the Adoption Council of Ontario website: Webinars – Adoption Council of Ontario
Adoption disclosure is a service that responds to requests for information about finalized adoptions.
Sometimes families want or need support after adoption has been finalized. Families may want or need assistance understanding various services available to help support their family.
We are able to provide information about community services, financial assistance, or support groups that support the child and family’s needs. Adoptive families are always encouraged to call us if they have any questions or need support.
Contact us by calling 519-352-0440.
