Login
|
|
Thursday, February 09, 2012
There are services available in your community to assist with adoption needs (pre- or post-adoption), to give support, to help with general parenting or to provide assessments. Mary would be happy to assist you in assessing what services you may need and in accessing them.
A few of the services you might find useful are: - Financial Assistance
- Health
- Infant & Child Development Programs
- Early Years Centres
- Post-Adoption Support Groups
- Supports for Adopted Children
- Adoption Information Disclosure Legislation
|
Adoption Loans: Financial packages (such as loans or lines of credit) may be offered by vaious banks for the purposes of adoption. For parents wishing to complete an international adoption, such a package is available through National Bank of Canada.
Adoption Grants: Orphan's Hope is the first Canadian charity dedicated to helping finance parents who adopt orphans from outside of North America. While many Canadian families have a great desire to adopt and love a child, they lack the funds to cover the costs of an international adoption. Orphan's Hope gives financial grants of up to $10,000 to qualified families.
Adoption Tax Credit: You may be able to claim a credit for certain adoption expenses when you file your income tax. The maximum eligible expenses related to the adoption of any child under the age of 18 years are $10,000. This credit may be claimed in the year in which you adopt.
Employee Benefits: Some employee benefit plans cover social work counselling and/or adoption expenses. Mary is a registered social worker so you may be able to claim a portion of your payments to her.
Parental Leave Benefits: You may be eligible for up to 35 weeks which can be taken by one or both parents. For more info see: Service Canada.
|
Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Public Health offers this free and voluntary program which may be of value after adopting a child up to 6 years of age. The program ensures that all families have access to effective consistent services, including visits to newborns, advice and/or screenings for speech, hearing, dental health, immunization, growth and development.
Wellington-Dufferin–Guelph Public Health
1-800-265-7293 or 519-846-2715
Email: info@wdghu.org
Other Public Health offices can be found in your local phone book or over the Internet.
For International Adoption:
If you are adopting internationally and want to have your medical information reviewed or would like expert medical follow-up when you return, contact:
|
Infant & Child Development Programs
Trellis Mental Health and Developmental Services
This Infant Development Program provides family support, service coordination, monitoring of growth and development, intervention and specialized assessment teams for FASD and Autism Spectrum Disorder for children birth - 5 years in Guelph, Kitchener, Fergus, Orangeville, and Mount Forest.
176 Wyndham St. North, Suite 2, Guelph
PHONE:  519- 824-5544
www.trellis.on.ca
Other Infant and Child Development programs
Kids Ability - Centre for Child Development
This not-for-profit organization provides services to children from birth to eighteen years of age who have developmental and physical delays or disabilities. There are various centres across the province. The range of services may include assessment, direct intervention, mediator model intervention, consultation, home programming, monitoring, equipment recommendations and referrals to other services, as needed. Children can be seen individually or in a small group by one service provider or a team of service providers, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech and language therapists, doctors, etc. Children may be referred to and/or transitioned to other services within the community or to regional and provincial programs as needs are identified. For service in Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph or Fergus, contact: KidsAbility - Centre For Child Development
For fun facts and child friendly information about adoption, visit Adoption Clubhouse. There is info about famous adoptees, preparing Life Books, writing Family Trees, answering adoption questions, books, and more.
|
Ontario Early Years Centres
Ontario Early Years Centres are places where parents and caregivers can take part with their children in a range of programs and activities, get answers to questions, get information about programs and services that are available for young children and talk to professionals, as well as other parents.
Ontario Early Years Centre (Guelph) Email: oeyc@gchc.on.ca
Main Office: 176 Wyndham Street North, Guelph
Phone: 519-766-1550
Satellite Office: 435 Stone Road West
(Stone Road Mall), 2nd Floor, Guelph
Phone: 519-767-5162
For other Early Years Centre locations, go to: Ontario Early Years Centres
|
Post-Adoption Support Groups
Post Adoption Support Group - Guelph/Wellington
Third Sunday of the month, 7:00 p.m. - Grace Community Church. 7439 Marden Rd. For more information, contact Helen at: afteradoption@gmail.com
GTA West Parent Group - Oakville
3rd Tuesday of the month., 7-9 P.M., Real Canadian Superstore, Dundas/Trafalgar - Upstairs. Enjoy an evening with other adoptive parents. Sponsered. by The Children's Bridge International Adoption Consultants. Contact: Mary at mok@cogeco.ca
Coffee Talk - London
2nd Wednesday of the month, 7 P.M., Williams Coffee Pub, 3030 Wonderland Rd. S. Informal, drop-in forum in which parents of adopted children of all ages can meet to share adoption/parenting ideas. Sponsered by The Children's Bridge International Adoption Consultants. Contact: Kim at 519-652-9574 or kdjones@rogers.com
Momstown
Connect with other moms for support, conversation and fun. Available in your community or online. www.guelph.momstown.ca
|
Adoption Information Disclosure Legislation
As of May 14, 2008, Ontario's new legislation enables adopted adults and birth parents to get information from birth and adoption records, for all adoptions that have been registered in Ontario. As of June 1, 2009 adopted adults will be able to apply for copies of adoption orders and birth registrations and birth parents will be able to apply for information from these documents. Adopted adults and birth parents can file disclosure vetoes if the adoption order was made before September 1, 2008. If an adopted adult or birth parent does not want to be contacted by the other party, he or she can file a no contact notice. If an adopted adult or birth parent wants to let the other party know how he or she wants to be contacted, he or she can file a notice of contact preference.
More questions? Go to: frequently asked questions about searching for adoption records in Ontario
Visit Service Ontario for more information.
|
|