The answers to the questions are written below the questions!

1. Which of the following are required to be eligible to adopt in Ontario (select all that apply)

A) Be over the age of 18
B) Have a permanent address in Ontario
C) Have a letter of recommendation from your local school board 
D) Have completed PRIDE education and HomeStudy

[Answer: A, B and D] 

2. Which of the following are required to be eligible to adopt in Ontario (select all that apply)

A) True
B) False

[Answer: False! Anyone* who meets the criteria for adoption in Ontario outlined in question one could be selected to provide permanency for a child, regardless of marital status. The unique needs of the child will determine the best adoptive family in each situation. *parents seeking to adopt Internationally should be aware that each country has its own guidelines stating who is eligible to adopt from their country, which may not be the same as those in Ontario] 

3. Who can work with a family seeking to adopt to facilitate the adoption process? 

A) Private Adoption Practitioners
B) Adoption workers through the Children’s Aid Society (CAS)
C) All of the Above
D) None of the Above

[Answer: C. In Ontario, only those licensed by the Ministry of Family, Community and Children’s services may facilitate the adoption process] 

4. Which option below best describes the necessary process to be completed before adopting?

A) Attended an adoption information session and was assigned a CAS Adoption Worker
B) Researching adoption in Ontario, determining eligibility, and determining the best path for you and your family
C) Completing PRIDE training and a Homestudy
D) None of the Above 

[Answer: C. Before adopting, a family seeking to adopt must complete a 27-hour course known as Parent Resource Information, Development and Education; and their Homestudy, which involves a combination of a written report and supplementary documentation. The Ministry of Family, Community, and Children’s services recognises the SAFE Homestudy, SPIRIT and HEART – the latter two of which are offered by Indigenous Child and Family Wellbeing Agencies] 

5. In Ontario, what are the four mainstream pathways to adoption?

A) Public, Private, Kin and Intercountry
B) Legal, Facilitated, Informal and Foreign
C) Private, Within-Canada, American and International
D) None of the Above

[Answer: A. Public adoption is facilitated by the Children’s Aid Society, and Private and Intercountry are facilitated by a Private practitioner. Kin adoption refers to the adoption of a stepchild or relative. Learn more about the different pathways of adoption in Ontario here] 

6.  When pursuing public adoption, who can prospective adoptive parent(s) work with?

A) A Private Practitioner
B) A CAS Adoption Worker
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above 

[Answer: C – Families can apply to work their local CAS to have their HomeStudy and PRIDE training done publicly, and be represented by a CAS Adoption Worker for the purpose of pursuing public adoption only. Families may also choose to do their Homestudy and PRIDE training privately (at a cost), and either be represented by a private practitioner with the intent of pursuing public adoption; or apply as an AdoptReady family to be represented by the local CAS. Families are encouraged to speak with their local CAS to see if they are taking applications, and to evaluate which option will be the best fit for them.]

7. True or False: CAS facilitates the adoption of children and youth between the ages of 0 to 18

True
False
[Answer: True. While CAS works with children anywhere between 0-18 years of age, the average age of a child seeking permanency is over the age of six] 

8. What is AdoptOntario? 

A) A program combining technology and clinical skills that facilitate connections between waiting children and youth in Ontario with Ontario families seeking to adopt 
B) A website with information about public adoption
C) A group of people who have knowledge of adoption
D) None of the Above

[Answer: A – The AdoptOntario program is centred on the core value that all children and youth in Extended Society Care (meaning a child or youth in the long-term care of CAS) should have the opportunity to experience family who can provide them with lifelong support through adoption or other permanency relationships. The program combines clinical social work with technology using a trauma-informed and child-centered lens] 

9. How do you learn more about a child supported through the AdoptOntario program?  

A) Submitting an Expression of Interest Form
B) Emailing [email protected]
C) Speaking with a clinical coordinator
D) All of the above 

[Answer: D – All of the above! A family who wishes to learn more about a child involved in the AdoptOntario program should get in contact with the clinical coordinator connected to the child’s file. The best way to get in contact with the correct clinical coordinator is to email [email protected], who will forward your request to the right coordinator. A family might also submit an expression of interest, which will flag to the coordinator that the family wishes to learn more] 

10. What is an Adoption Resource Event? 

A) An event hosted by AdoptOntario to provide education pertaining to adoption
B) An event hosted by AdoptOntario to support one or more children seeking permanency
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above

[Answer: C – An Adoption Resource Event (or ARE) is an event hosted by the AdoptOntario team geared towards supporting a child or multiple children seeking permanency in the program. Families seeking to adopt are invited to attend to learn more about these incredible children, and each event is typically accompanied by an educational piece. Some events are tailored to the specific cultural or developmental needs of a child or children and therefore are only open to families who have indicated capacity to meet those needs]

11. True or False: Adopting publicly typically takes 2 years 

True
False

[Answer: False. There is no timeline for being matched with a child seeking permanency (Adoption, or other permanent forms of familial connection) in Ontario, publicly or privately, as the matching process is dependent on the needs of the child. Matching could occur in 6 months, 2 years, 7 years, and for some it might not happen.] 

12. Which of the following best describes the term “openness” in the field of Adoption? 

A) Keeping an open mind throughout the adoption journey
B) Maintaining a connection to original family members, be it psychologically or through an ongoing, active relationship  
C) Opening one’s home to children and youth seeking permanency
D) None of the Above

[Answer: B – Adoption has been described as being similar to a marriage, where both parties enter into a new relationship, each having previous familial connections and bonds. Adoption means growing up knowing that you have two families – a family of origin and an adoptive family. One can learn more about openness here and here]

13. Where have you gained the majority of your current knowledge on adoption? (select all that apply) 

A) The Adoption Council of Ontario Website and Events
B) Central Adoption Intake Services
C) AdoptOntario Website and Events
D) Government Websites
E) Adoption Blogs and Forums (not including ACO related Content)
F) Children’s Aid Society information services
G) Personal Experience or the Experience of a Friend/relative 

[There is no correct answer! It is just based on your personal experience.]

14. How did you find out about AdoptOntario?

A) Online Google Search
B) Referral from a Friend
C) Referral from the Children’s Aid Society
D) Online Advertisement
E) Other

[There is no correct answer! It is just based on your personal experience.]