What does SAFE Adoption Homestudy stand for?

S - Structured
A - Analysis
F - Family
E - Evaluation

A SAFE Adoption Homestudy is a strengths-based, mutual evaluation process that strives to screen families in, not out, of the adoption process. Through PRIDE and SAFE, the goal is to prepare, educate and assess families so that children are adopted into families who are prepared, able and committed to meeting their life-long needs.

What is involved with a SAFE Homestudy?

You will be assessed and further educated about adoption through a series of interviews that focus on your willingness, skills and ability to meet the individual needs of a child through the PRIDE six essential competency categories. You will be asked to fill out various questionnaires and forms to assist with the education and assessment process. You will also be assisted to gather the documentation required for all Ontario adoption homestudies as well as country-specific documents.

Through your participation in PRIDE Training and a SAFE Adoption Homestudy, the age and needs of the child you are best able to parent will be determined. Your homestudy will be written to reflect the qualities and skills that you offer to adoptive parenthood and it will conclude with a recommendation describing the type of child you are best able and prepared to adopt.

After Donna completes my homestudy, what happens?

Your homestudy package will be sent to the licensed international adoption agency, private domestic adoption agency or the Children's Aid Society where you have registered to adopt through. In some cases, you may be pursuing more than one avenue of adoption and therefore, be registered with more than one agency. In that case, an adoption homestudy package will be sent to both agencies.

For international adoption, your homestudy package will be sent by the licensed agency to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for review and approval. Upon approval, the licensed agency will then work with the child's country of origin to match the needs of a child with the qualities, skills and country-specific characteristics required of your family.

For domestic private adoption, a copy of your homestudy package will remain with any private agencies you have registered with until such time that the needs of a child are matched with the qualities and skills of your family.

The Children's Aid Society is legally mandated to approve adoption homestudies and to administer adoption placements for children in their care. Once your homestudy package is sent to the Society, you will be assigned an agency adoption worker who will become your family's worker. If your family is matched with the needs of a specific child, you are most welcome to consult with Donna.

What happens when there is a child "matched" with my family?

For domestic private or international adoption, if your family is matched with the needs of a specific child, the licensed adoption agency will provide Donna with the information they have obtained about the child. Donna will then meet with you to review and determine if the child's needs are within the skills, abilities and interests your family offers. Donna will help you to analyze the child's information profile by sharing her knowledge and by helping you to gain further knowledge through research and contacting international adoption specialists and/or your family doctor/pediatrician. After you have fully reviewed and considered the information, Donna will write a report for the Ministry of Child and Youth Services who will then make the final decision whether to approve the adoption placement. You are responsible to cover the fees for the support, education and assessment services provided by Donna.

For a child welfare adoption, if your family is matched with the needs of a specific child, you are most welcome to consult with Donna. In most cases, the Society will do all of the follow-up adoption placement work with you, but if requested to assist with the adoption, Donna will be available on a fee-for-service basis to be paid by you or the Society.

After the child's placement in my home is approved, what happens next?

The licensed adoption agency or Children's Aid Society will co-ordinate and arrange for the adoption placement during which time Donna will be available to offer support and consultation services.

What happens after the adoption placement?

After the adoption placement, Donna will conduct any post-placement home visits and follow-up reports required by the child's country of origin or the Children's Aid Society.

If the child's adoption will finalize in Ontario, Donna will visit with you during the required timeframe, generally six months to one year, and then, do the paperwork required to assist with the adoption finalization.

How do I contact Donna?

Donna Durant
Approved Adoption Practitioner & PRIDE Lead-Trainer
donna@familyfocusadoption.com
905-627-9883

14 Sunrise Crescent
Dundas, ON  L9H 3R9