Adoption Awareness Month with The Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society this November

The Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society recognizes November as Adoption Awareness Month, raising awareness about the role that everyone can play in helping children and youth achieve permanency and lifelong connections through adoption.

File photo.

They are committed to finding families that have the strengths and skills to support children who may have siblings, complex needs or open adoption relationships with their family of origin, as it can be challenging to find families who are able to meet the needs of older children, large sibling groups or those with complex medical, developmental and behavioural needs.

Adoption is one of several permanency options that children’s aid societies consider when looking for life-long connections for children in care. Kinship, customary care, legal custody and adoption are all options that are considered.

“The benefits of maintaining lasting family connections are numerous and all young people, including those in care, deserve those benefits. These changes offer a more consistent and responsive adoption experience for children, youth and families,” says Karen Kartusch, manager of the Regional Adoption Program for Highland Shores Children’s Aid, Kawartha-Haliburton CAS and Durham CAS. “Our goal is to find the right families for children and youth, and connect them as quickly as possible.”

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) continues to prioritize the government’s strategy to redesign the child welfare system by focusing on the needs of children and youth and by creating solid foundations to support strong families.

According to the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, children living with their own families, in their own culture and in their home communities is the priority. However for some children living with their kin may not be an option, and when it is not, the child deserves a family that is a good fit for them.

The number of children and youth in society care and available to be adopted has steadily decreased over the last five years because the primary goal of children’s aid societies is focused on supporting children to live safely in their own homes.

Learn more about adoption by visiting the Central Adoption Intake Service via the Adoption Council of Ontario website www.adoption.on.ca.

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