Permanency Planning, Family Finding/Connections and Adoption Services

Children need caregivers to whom they can attach in a loving, safe, permanent relationship. The goal for every child in care is a permanent, loving, and safe home. It is the responsibility of the child welfare system to make every effort to provide the opportunity for a child to belong to a committed, safe, nurturing family.

Adoption services refers to the placement of children in adoptive homes and includes the recruitment and training of adoptive parents, home studies, assessment of children for adoption, adoption information disclosure, counselling, worker participation in the adoption hearing, counselling for birth parents, and the provision of support to adoptive parents once the child is placed in their home.

The Agency also provides Adoption Disclosure services for those adoptees, birth parents, birth siblings or birth grandparents wishing non-identifying information. The Agency can also assist with registration to the Adoption Disclosure Register which can assist with searches to contact a birth relative.

The Family Finding model seeks to build or maintain the youth’s Lifetime Family Support network for all youth who are disconnected or at risk of disconnection through placement outside of their home and community. The process identifies relatives and other supportive adults, estranged from or unknown to the child, especially those who are willing to become permanent connections for him/her. Upon completion of the process, youth have a range of commitments from adults who are able to provide permanency, sustainable relationships within a kinship system, and support in the transition to adulthood and beyond. Keeping safety at the forefront and using a family-driven process, families are empowered to formulate highly realistic and sustainable plans to meet the long-term needs of children and youth. Child outcomes may include increased reunification rates, improved well-being, and placement stability, transition out of the child welfare system, decreased re-entry rates, and a stronger sense of belonging for children.