Adoption

Sandra Webb is dedicated to helping biological, adoptive and foster families with trauma/attachment difficulties.  The needs of adoptive families are different and it makes a difference if the therapist understands these families and their special concerns.

Sandra has worked with private domestic adoption since 1979. public adoption at a Children’s Aid Society for 15 years and international adoption since her first adoption from Russia in 1996. Sandra has travelled to Russia in 1997, 2003 and 2009; China in 2010, Haiti in 2010 and India in 2014.  Sandra visited orphanages, met with adoption personnel, judges, prosecutors and doctors.  Sandra attended an international conference in Moscow on adoption and fostering; presented at an international conference in St. Petersburg and provided Play Therapy and Theraplay in Haiti.

Sandra is approved by the Ministry of Youth and Children's Services to conduct homestudies for prospective adoptive parents.

Sandra works through the homestudy process with prospective adoptive parents hoping to adopt a child.

Sandra has facilitated adoptions from Ontario, New Brunswick, Russia, China, Korea, Sri Lanka, Serbia & Montenegro, Ukraine, Haiti and South Africa.

Sandra works with agencies who are licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to place children for adoption.

• Adoptive Parent Counselling
  Pre-adoption counselling
  Review and guidance with child proposals
  Post placement reports
• Birth Parent Counselling
  Guidance and support to birth parents
  Post placement counselling
• Home Studies
  International/domestic adoption
  Post placement reports required by domestic and foreign governments
• Post Adoption Services
  Counselling for adoptive families and adoptees

Private Adoption

All private agencies and adoption practitioners must be licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services to facilitate private domestic adoptions. Private adoption agencies charge fees for their services and the costs will vary. You must have a homestudy done by an approved adoption practitioner.

For a list of agencies who are licensed to facilitate private adoptions, please click here.

For a list of licensees who are licensed to facilitate private adoptions, please click here.

International Adoption

Contact an international adoption agency that is licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. List of licensed international adoption agencies.

Public Adoption

Contact your local Children’s Aid Society.

SAFE Homestudy

As of December 31, 2007, all applicants beginning a private or international homestudy must have their homestudy completed in the SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) format and attend PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information Development and Education) training. The SAFE format is used for public adoption (Children’s Aid Societies) and private adoption.

The homestudy is a process to determine if the prospective adoptive applicants are ready to become adoptive parents. There are appointments with the couple and individually (one in the family home) to discuss childhood history, personality, marriage (if applicable), general parenting and parenting an adopted child. Documents required include local police checks, RCMP fingerprint check, medical reports, references, child welfare agency record checks, and financial statements. Specific documents may be required from the country of choice if pursuing an international adoption. ***Please note that it is best not to begin doing the documents before you consult with an adoption practitioner or a specific adoption agency because documents may become stale dated before the homestudy is completed and then will need to be redone***

PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information Development and Education) training is a 27-hour mandatory education course for prospective adoptive applicants. There is a fee for PRIDE training in the public sector. All adoptive applicants must complete PRIDE training before the completion of the homestudy.

Post Adoption

Post adoption counselling is very important. Biological parenting and parenting an adoptive child is the same and yet different in many ways. Adoption can bring new challenges, concerns and issues that biological parents do not experience. It is helpful to discuss these types of issues with someone who understands the differences and can embrace your experience and concerns. No matter how a child has joined your family, you want to build a strong, healthy attachment.

• Post adoption depression
• Sleep problems
• Attachment related difficulties
• Discussing adoption with your child
• Developing a relationship with birth parents
• Concerns regarding your child's development
• Concerns regarding the child's adjustment in the family, school or community
• Concerns and issues that arise over the years

Below is a collection of Articles on Adoption that you may find interesting and useful.

• Good House Keeping Article (pdf)
• Haiti 2010  pdf
• China 2010  pdf
• All adopted children should be evaluated for nutritional deficiencies. Guide explores Nutrition for Foster and Adoptive Families. pdf  Nov 2012.