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Training & Education
Empower Your Adoption Journey with Expert Guidance
At the Adoption Council of Ontario, we offer specialized training and education for anyone involved in adoption or other forms of permanency, including adoptive families, adoptees, original family members and the professionals who support them. Our programs help you understand the challenges of adoption and permanency, giving everyone the tools they need to succeed.
For professionals, adoption and permanency work is a specialized field that demands a deep understanding of its unique dynamics. Our training equips you with the skills and insights needed to support your clients effectively and compassionately. Join us to enhance your expertise and become a vital part of the adoption community, making a meaningful impact on those you serve.
Most Popular Offerings
Search & Reunion Webinar
for adult adoptees & birth parents
Online Learning Hub
for everyone
How To Adopt
for pre-adoptive families
Pathways
for adoptive, kinship & customary care families
Decoding Sessions
for Pathways alumni
ACT
for professionals
Not Sure Where to Start?
Check out our new online course, the Importance of Permanency for our Children and Youth.
Training Calendar
We offer many multi-day trainings, webinars and presentations. Learn more and register today!
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ACT: an Adoption & Permanency Curriculum for Child Welfare & Mental Health Professionals
What is it?
ACT is a comprehensive adoption and permanency curriculum that provides intensive practice and clinically informed training to child welfare, mental health, adoption and permanency professionals, and community-based counsellors and therapists and service providers.
How long is the program?
ACT is a 48-hour curriculum. Sessions take place virtually twice per week in 3-hour increments, over a two-month period of time.
What is the cost?
The cost of the ACT training is $750/person.
Please note: Agency trainings can be arranged. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
How do I sign up?
https://adoption.on.ca/training-education/act/
Looking Through an Adoption Lens
What is it?
Looking Through an Adoption Lens is an introductory workshop designed to enhance clinical practice working with families created through adoption, kinship and guardianship placements, in meeting often complex and challenging mental health related needs.
If interested in more information about this workshop, please email [email protected]
Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children who have experienced Trauma & Loss
What is it?
Designed for Ontario Families, Empowering Healing and Growth
This program is tailored specifically for Ontario-based adoptive, kinship, and customary care families who are parenting children impacted by trauma and loss. Our goal is to empower parents and caregivers with practical tools and techniques to effectively support their children’s healing journey and foster a nurturing environment where they can thrive.
How long is the program?
The eight-session Pathways to Permanence 2 program is offered to parents and other caregivers over an eight-week period of time. Sessions take place once per week.
What is the cost?
The program is entirely free to join.
How do I sign up?
https://adoption.on.ca/training-education/pathways
How to Adopt
How to Adopt
Suggested audience: Prospective adoptive families & professionals new to adoption/permanency.
Cost: $50
Approx Time Commitment: 2-4 hours
Access Time:90 days
Course description:
In this course you will:
- Learn about adoption and what it’s all about
- Learn about the different ways to adopt in Ontario
- Learn about eligibility requirements
- Learn how to become “Adopt Ready”
- Identify the differences between the primary adoption options in Ontario
- Develop an awareness of the children who are waiting to be adopted
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of the adoption service providers in Ontario
- Consider which type of adoption would be best for you
- Have the info you need to consider the next steps in the process
Learn More www.adoption.on.ca/training-education/how-to-adopt
Educator Workshop: Building Well-Being in our Schools & Classrooms: A Relationship-based Course for Teachers & Educators
Trauma & Loss: Creating School Communities of Well-being is a workshop designed specifically for teachers and educators to build greater awareness of how to create a school culture that emphasizes a positive, safe and welcoming environment for children who experience foster care, adoption and other situations that make them vulnerable.
Becoming AdoptReady & Beyond: Waiting & Preparing
Becoming AdoptReady & Beyond: Waiting & Preparing
- build your knowledge about adoption & permanency and adoptiono & permanency journeys
- have a chance to learn & practice skills, including self-reflection and self-assessment skills
- consider your personal attributes as they relate to parenting in adoption & permanency, and
- start to think about and build supports and resources around you
A Course for Adoptive/Permanency Parents: Grief & Loss
A Course for Adoptive/Permanency Parents: Grief & Loss
Suggested audience: adoptive/permanency parents & caregivers
Cost: $50
Approximate time commitment: 3 hours
Access time: 60 days
Course description:
This course will …
- Deepen your understanding of grief and loss in the context of adoption & permanency journeys
- Help you identify grief & loss & its impact
- Help you find ways to address and work through your grief & loss
- Provide guidance on how to find and work with a therapist
- Help you take care of yourself & invite reflection
A Course for Professionals: Supporting Adoptive/Permanency parents with Grief & Loss
A Course for Professionals: Supporting Adoptive/Permanency parents with Grief & Loss
Suggested Audience: professionals working with adoptive/permanency parents
Cost: $100
Approximate time commitment: 4 hours
Access time: 60 days
Certificate: A completion certificate for 4 hours will be provided.
Course description:
This course will …
- Deepen your understanding of grief and loss in the context of adoption & permanency journeys
- Help you identify grief & loss & its impact in parents and caregivers
- Demonstrate how to work with parents and caregivers in the context of a therapeutic setting
- Help you take care of yourself when working with families impacted by grief and loss
- Invite reflection about working with families on their life-long journeys
Openness
Openness
Suggested audience: For families & professionals
Cost: $75
Approximate time commitment: 15 hours
Access time: 60 days
Course description:
This collection will …
- Deepen your understanding of what openness means and why it is important in adoption & permanency journeys
- Explain the concept of “open-heartedness” and how & why it is important in adoption & permanency journeys
- Provide some historical & legal context to the discussion of openness
- Share stories & perspectives about openness of those living adoption & permanency journeys
- Invite reflection about openness and open-heartedness as it relates to your journey
ACO Webinar Collection – FREE
ACO Webinar Collection
Suggested audience: everyone
Cost: FREE
Approximate time commitment: 10+ hours
Access Time: 30Days
Collection description:
ACO’s Webinar Collection includes webinars/videos on the following topics:
Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Permanency
The 7 Core Issues
Importance of Siblings
Importance of Youth Networks
Parenting Teens
ACES
The Power of Rituals & Ceremonies
Finding a Therapist
Search & Reunion
Resources for Adoptees
Resources for Birth & Original Parents
And a Bonus Webinar…..
Importance of Permanency for our Children & Youth-FREE
Importance of Permanency for our Children & Youth
Suggested audience: For everyone
Cost: FREE
Approx time commitment: 3-5 hours
Access time: 60 days
Course description/Learning Objectives:
In this course you will:
- Learn about and understand what “permanency” means
- Gain a better understand of what permanency journeys are all about from a youth’s perspective
- Learn about the outcomes for youth “aging out” of the foster care system without permanency
- Explore the differences between surviving vs thriving in life & why permanency is critically important
- Learn what permanency can offer to children and youth
- Explore what permanency families and “humans” look like
- Listen and reflect on kids & youth’s thoughts and perspectives – what permanency means and feels like to them
- Learn how to find out more about being a family/human for kids and youth who need lasting permanency
- For professionals, learn how to find out more about permanency and adoption journeys and how to work with those on them
