Resources
Helpful Links
PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, & Education). This is mandatory course is part of the home-study. https://secure.adoptontario.ca/pride.main.aspx
Adoption Practitioners. A list of approved adoption practitioners in Ontario. https://www.ontario.ca/page/licensed-agencies-and-individuals-private-adoptions
Adoption Licensees. A list of approved private licensees. http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/adoption/decided-to-adopt/privatelicensees.aspx
Adoption Council of Ontario. This is an excellent resource for how-to, courses, and trainings. https://www.adoption.on.ca
Pathways to Permanence 2: This is a 24-hour course for adoptive families parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss. I strongly recommend this course for all adoptive parents. https://www.adoption.on.ca/pathways-to-permanence-2
Adopt4Life An Ontario-based adoptive parent asso. offering support, advocacy & information to families pre/post adoption https://adoption.on.ca/adoptontario
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Adoption. Information about the adoption process, lists of practitioners/agencies/licensees etc in Ontario. https://www.ontario.ca/page/adoption
Circle of Security: Parent Resources This is an attachment based parenting course. https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/resources-for-parents
Adoptee Voices. Posts and blogs by adoptees of their thoughts and experiences. https://www.adoptivefamilies.com/category/talking-about-adoption/adoptees/
Birth Mother Perspective. An opportunity to learn about another perspective in the adoption galaxy. https://musingsofabirthmom.com/category/adoptee-voices
Parental leave for adoptive parents. A government site explaining eligibility for parental leave. https://www.ontario.ca/document/your-guide-employment-standards-act-0/pregnancy-and-parental-leave#section-2
Adoption Options, The Agenda with Steve Paikin (October 2019) https://www.tvo.org/video/adoption-options
Opening Up Adoption, A Radio One Podcast (January 2019) https://www.cbc.ca/radio/outintheopen/opening-up-adoption-1.4984888
Teddy Bear with Recordable Heart. This teddy bear lets you make recordings so your child can learn your heartbeat or voice. https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/207801615/8-recorder-bear-w-20-sec-digital?ref=share_v4_lx
Adoption Disclosure laws in Ontario. A description of laws around adoption disclosures. https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/s05025
Adoption Storybooks. The founder offers different templates for you to write your child's unique story in book form. https:/ww/.prestophoto.com/help/Keith+Miller:+My+Adoption+Storybook
Books
Books - Planning and Preparing for Adoption
Nurturing Adoptions - D. Gray
Attaching in Adoption - D. Gray
Tree of Strangers by Barbara Summer
Trauma, Attachment & Family Permanence - P. Burwell
What Happened to You - B. Perry
Who Am I Really by Damon Davis
What to Expect When You're Adopting: A Practical Guide - I. Palmer
Nobody Looks Like Me: An Adoptee Experience by Lora K Joy
You Don't Look Adopted by Anne Heffron
A New Family: A First Look at Adoption
Bastards by Mary Anna King
The Whole Life Adoption Book - J. Schooler
Twice A Daughter by Julie McGue
Circle of Security Intervention - Powell/Cooper/Hoffman/Marvin Zeannah Jr.
TIPS: Time in Parenting Strategies - Otto Wieninger
Adopting On Your Own: The Complete Guide to Adoption for Single Parents - L. Varon, 2000
Making Sense of Adoption: A Parent's Guide - L.R. Melina, 1989
American Bastard by Jan Beatty
Parenting From the Inside Out - Siegel, MD/Hartzell
The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to Adoption - E.S. Falker, 2006
The Guild of the Infant Saviour by Megan Culhane Galbraith
Books - With Adoption Themes
Anne of Green Gables
The Jungle Book
The Enchanted Garden
Red Dust Road
That Kind of Mother
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born - J.L. Curtis
I've Loved You Since Forever - H. Kotb
The Invisible String - P. Karst
Over The Moon: An Adoption Tale - K. Katz
We Belong Together - T. Parr
Just Right Family - S. Lopez
And That's Why She's My Mama - T. Nazario
Books - Transracial Adoption
What White People Should Know About Transracial Adoption - M. Guida-Richards
Black Baby, White Hands: A View from the Crib - J. John
Inside Transracial Adoption - B. Hall & G. Steinberg
In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories - R. Simon & R. Roorda
Videos
“Flipping your lid”. An explanation of what is happening in the brain when we lose emotional control. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CpRY9-MIHA
“My Advice to Prospective Adoptive Parents” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNNPhFAzSUs
TED talks on adoption (search youtube)
Babies’ Bodies Remember Separation Trauma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y0CzLv1Iiw
Movies about Adoption
Lion
Found
Annie
Matilda
Blind Side
Meet the Robinsons
Instant Family
Manchester by the Sea
Financial Support & Information
There may be assistance to alleviate some of the costs of adoption.
Employee Benefits: Some benefit packages include coverage for counselling by social workers or possibly even adoption expenses. As I am a registered social worker, you may be able to submit a claim for renumeration.
Adoption Tax Credit: You are able to claim eligible adoption expenses incurred when you adopt a child who is under 18 at the time. You may only submit the claim however in the year the adoption is completed.
The maximum claim for each child is $16,729.
Ontario Permanency Funding: Domestic and kinship adoptions may be eligible for this funding. Please ask the children's worker or review this site. https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=38479&language=en
Banks: Some banks offer loans specifically for adoptions. One example is https://www.nbc.ca/personal/borrowing/adoption.html (This is not an endorsement).
Parental Leave Benefits: You may be eligible for this entitlement of 35 weeks which can be taken by either one or both of you. eks parental leave https://www.ontario.ca/document/your-guide-employment-standards-act-0/pregnancy-and-parental-leave