ABOUT THE KIDS
Children in care come from many different cultural, racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds and range in age from infants up to eighteen. In order to meet their needs, we are committed to matching a child with a family with similar ethnic, cultural and religious practices.
Many children and youth have been exposed to neglect, abusive situations or prenatal use of drugs and alcohol. Some children have special physical or emotional needs. Although each child is different, they all share one thing in common: an immediate need for a safe and loving family. Peel CAS workers, caregivers and adoption families work together to fulfill this need.
Many of the children in our care have complex needs. Currently, we are seeking families for children who have the following special needs:
- Developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder
- Potential Cerebral Palsy diagnosis
- Prenatal Drug and Alcohol Exposure
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- Genetic risks including major mental health conditions such as bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia
Learn more about some of these special needs on our Special Needs Resources page. For more information about caring for a child with special needs, visit the AdoptOntario website, Understanding Special Needs section.
In consultation with a worker, caregivers and adopting families decide the age, the gender, and the child’s level of complexity that would best fit with their family. We try to keep siblings together and are always looking for families to provide care for siblings.
Although we may not always know a child’s full history, caregivers are provided with all relevant information regarding a child before he/she is placed with a family. Some examples of information shared are:
- Why the child is coming into foster care;
- Health information (e.g. allergies, immunizations and medications);
- Religious, cultural or ethnic considerations; and
- Special needs and behavioural issues.
