Families formed through adoption are left out of Budget 2022
The adoptive family community is disappointed that the federal government is not supporting families formed through adoption, kinship and customary care in Budget 2022.
Adoptive parents supporting each other to help kids thrive
Read more at the National Post.
Creating connection for adoptive parent
From the Star: Adopt4Life offers advocacy, support and guidance for parents and caregivers throughout their lifelong adoption journey.
Read the full article on The Star.
Advocates seek privacy rights for foster kids after age 21 so they can get ‘fresh start’
A Barrie woman is leading the charge to get former foster children the same protections as young offenders.
A Barrie woman is leading the charge to get former foster children the same protections as young offenders. Read the full article at Toronto Star by Marg. Bruineman.
An Ontario Grandmother Shares What It's Like Being A Kinship Caregiver Of Two
They play a crucial role, but the lack of support can cause hardships.
They play a crucial role, but the lack of support can cause hardships. Read the full article on Huffington post by Al Donato.
The Stand Up for Kids Award winner announced
For the third consecutive year, dozens of remarkable and inspiring Canadians were nominated for the Lynn Factor Stand Up for Kids National Award. Our own founder and Executive Director, Julie was selected as one of the finalists!
Read the full article at Cafdn.
For the third consecutive year, dozens of remarkable and inspiring Canadians were nominated for the Lynn Factor Stand Up for Kids National Award. The Award is part of the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s Stand Up for Kids national movement mobilizing Canadians who want to help change the future for the country’s most at-risk children and youth.
Our own founder and Executive Director, Julie was selected as one of the finalists!
Julie Despaties, Executive Director and Founder of Adopt4Life, recognized as national finalist for the 2020 Lynn Factor Stand Up for Kids Award
Julie Despaties, Executive Director and Founder of Adopt4Life, recognized as national finalist for the 2020 Lynn Factor Stand Up for Kids Award, from the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.
Post-Adoption Depression Is A Problem We Don't Talk About Enough
Having the blues after your baby or child moves in is actually really normal.
Having the blues after your baby or child moves in is actually really normal. Read more at Huffington Post.
How To Get Help When A Child Or Teen Is Violent Towards A Parent
It's a taboo that isolates parents and is misunderstood among professionals. For some families, the pandemic is only intensifying this crisis.
It's a taboo that isolates parents and is misunderstood among professionals. For some families, the pandemic is only intensifying this crisis. Read more on Huffington Post.
A Call to Action
Governments across Canada must urgently work together to strengthen counseling services, emergency respite and subsidies during the COVID- 19 pandemic, to better support our most vulnerable children, youth and their families (customary caregivers, kinship caregivers, legal guardians, foster families and adoptive families).
Parents, It's Good For Your Mental Health To Cry During A Pandemic
Bawling your heart out might be your best pandemic parenting tool…
By Al Donato
We can all agree that almost nobody is OK right now, and that’s perfectly fine. Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is stressful enough, but keeping it together while taking care of kids full-time adds another level of overwhelm.
Read more at Huffington Post.
Canada’s Foster Youth ‘Age Out’ Of Care Into Uncertainty Of Coronavirus Pandemic
“It's cruel to throw kids, not just off the edge of a cliff, but into a maelstrom.”
Angelina* went into care at age seven, and has been in and out of foster and group homes for the last 11 years. In October, after she turned 18, she “aged out” — meaning it was time for her to leave the child welfare system and navigate the path to adulthood, mostly on her own.
Read more at Huffington Post.
The journey to parenthood through adoption
Kathryn Connors talked about her story of starting a family of three children through adoption, while Alicia Pereira of the Toronto Children’s Aid Society talked about the adoption process.
Kathryn Connors talked about her story of starting a family of three children through adoption, while Alicia Pereira of the Toronto Children’s Aid Society talked about the adoption process.
Watch on CBC News.
Adoption Options... Another Door Opens
For many years, Canadian families adopted children from China and other counties. But, with the changes to China's one-child policy and other global efforts to keep children in their country of origin, international adoptions by Canadians have plummeted. The Agenda discusses what the options are for families who wish to adopt children from countries other than Canada.
With Steve Palkin on The Agenda.
For many years, Canadian families adopted children from China and other counties. But, with the changes to China's one-child policy and other global efforts to keep children in their country of origin, international adoptions by Canadians have plummeted. The Agenda discusses what the options are for families who wish to adopt children from countries other than Canada.
Watch the full segment on TVO’s The Agenda.
Parents who adopt get less paid leave than biological parents. That’s unfair, new report says
Adoptive parents often describe a “honeymoon period” with their new children that can last weeks or months. But as the kids become more comfortable, the layers of trauma begin to reveal themselves…
By Diana Zlomislic for the Toronto Star.
Kathryn Connors and John Amy lost four pregnancies to miscarriage. After the last resulted in massive internal bleeding and near-fatal cardiac arrest, the couple’s doctor advised them to stop trying because he couldn’t guarantee Connors would survive.
“That’s when John said we need to rethink how we’re going to be parents,” Connors said…
Read more on Toronto Star.
The holidays can be triggering. Here’s how to cope
Before adopting my daughter, I’d fantasized for a long time about our perfect first Christmas.
By Sylvia Kyle for Local Love.
Before adopting my daughter, I’d fantasized for a long time about our perfect first Christmas. There’d be a new puppy tearing around the living room, gift mountains, holiday movie marathons, a magnificent tree and happy faces. And last Christmas, after I was matched with a teen girl, my vision was finally manifested. Sort of. We brought home an adorable little yellow lab the week before the holidays, we stacked the sofa so high with presents that we almost broke Instagram, we bookmarked a bunch of festive films on Netflix, and decked a bushy tree out with twinkling fairy lights. All that was missing from our holidays? The joy.
Adoptive parents seek longer leave
Western researchers are leading a national push for 15 more weeks of work leave for adoptive parents as an important way to strengthen the bond between parents and their adopted children.
Western researchers are leading a national push for 15 more weeks of work leave for adoptive parents as an important way to strengthen the bond between parents and their adopted children.
Biological and adoptive parents currently receive parental leave of up to 35 weeks; biological mothers receive an additional 15 weeks of maternity leave.
Adoptive parents need more time off to bond with kids, say Western researchers
A group of Western University researchers and community partners are asking Canadian politicians to grant adoptive parents and caregivers more time to bond with their children during the early stages of adoption.
By Hala Ghonaim for CBC News
A group of Western University researchers and community partners are asking Canadian politicians to grant adoptive parents and caregivers more time to bond with their children during the early stages of adoption.
CBC News: A call for 15 more weeks of parental leave for adoptive parents
Chair of the Ontario's Adoptive Parents Association board and Western University professor and researcher, Carolyn McLeod tells London Morning why adoptive parents could use an additional 15 weeks of parental leave.
On London Morning with Julianne Hazelwood
Chair of the Ontario's Adoptive Parents Association board and Western University professor and researcher, Carolyn McLeod tells London Morning why adoptive parents could use an additional 15 weeks of parental leave.
Listen on London Morning.
Western team advocates for attachment leave for adoptive parents
A team of Western University researchers in partnership with Adopt4Life: Ontario’s Adoptive Parents Association is advocating for a new class of employment insurance benefits for adoptive parents, and customary and kin caregivers.
By Judy Basmaji for the Western Gazette.
A team of Western University researchers in partnership with Adopt4Life: Ontario’s Adoptive Parents Association is advocating for a new class of employment insurance benefits for adoptive parents, and customary and kin caregivers.