The Procedure to Adopt
International adoption is a long process with many steps. To help you understand what is all involved, we have included this page.
Our Adoption Agency: Mission of T.E.A.R.S.
Mission of T.E.A.R.S. is the adoption agency through which we are pursuing our adoption. For more information about this adoption agency, visit www.missionoftears.ca, and their affiliate website, www.myadoption.ca. What follows is the four phase process which they have established.
Phase 1: File and Family Preparation
- Application and pre-registration interview - COMPLETED
- Educational Course for South African Adoption, Mission of Tears - COMPLETED
- PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) training - COMPLETED
- Home study and finding an Adoption Practitioner - COMPLETED
- Adoption agency receives home study recommendation, forwards to Ontario Ministry for approval. - IN PROCESS - Transracial Adoption Course, Mission of Tears
- Application for sponsorship from Immigration Canada
- Document accumulation (court files, dossier) prepared to be sent to South Africa
Phase 2: File Preparation Pre-Forwarding
- Ensure travel and documents are in order
- Lawyer Notarization
- Review of File
Phase 3: Preparation for Overseas File Application and Adoption
- Payment to forward files
- File is forwarded to South Africa
- Child Proposal
- Travel to South Africa
- Immigration Medical
Phase 4: Adoption Conclusion
- Bonding
- Official Adoption (through SA court)
- Post-adoption reports and support services through the Adoption Practitioner
- Post-adoptive requirements (Family Adjustment Support Services, send "comfort" files and photos to SA)
- Parent Association Activities - ongoing social gatherings
