How to become an adoptive caregiver with Family & Children’s Service of Guelph and Wellington County (FCSGW)

Please note that we will not be accepting applications for adoption of children 0-4 as we currently have many approved families looking to adopt in this age range. If you feel that you have specialized skills, experience or could meet the diversity needs of children and youth, as an adoptive caregiver, please connect with us to discuss further.

We also ask that before connecting with FCSGW about adoption, that you connect with the Centralized Adoption Intake Service through the Adoption Council of Ontario (ACO’s) – through either their website – adoption.on.ca/ci/ or calling 1-877-ADOPT-20.

This service provides a central point of information and support to help you learn more about adoption and decide whether adoption is right for you. If after connecting with the ACO’s Centralized Intake and you reside in Guelph and Wellington County, please reach out to FCSGW and speak with a Foster and Adoption Inquiry worker at FCSGW for more information by calling 519-824-2410 or 1-800-265-8300 or email us at fosterandadopt@fcsgw.org

A man and a woman and a child sitting together on the ground

What do you need to be an adoptive caregiver?

To want to provide children and youth with stability, warmth, understanding and structure
To work together with birth families, extended families and FCSGW workers
To commit to children and youth lifelong
To want to make a difference for a child or youth
To be warm, compassionate, empathetic and accepting and to embrace difference and diversity
To have a willingness to learn how to meet the needs of children and youth who have experienced loss and trauma

Who can be an adoptive caregiver?

Experienced parents with grown children
Parents currently raising children
People not raising children
Grandparents
Single parents
Same sex couples
Common law couples
Married couples
Single people
People that work full-time
People that do not work full-time

Contact Us

We are currently accepting applications for foster parents who can foster children and youth aged 0 – 18 as there is an urgent need in Guelph & Wellington County.

A Foster and Adoption worker can talk with you about your current situation to see if you are ready to move forward with your application.

For more information about fostering with FCSGW, please call 519-824-2410 or 1-800-265-8300 and ask to speak to a Foster & Adopt Inquiry worker, or email us at fosterandadopt@fcsgw.org.

Adoption and/or Fostering Application Form:

Adoption / Foster Application

Step 1 of 10

Applicant One

Full Legal Name(Required)

First Last

Birth Name

Previous Name(s)

Preferred Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Gender

Your Pronouns

Ethnic Origin

Racial Origin(Required)

Citizenship

Language(s) Spoken

Religion

Education

Occupation

Employer

Native Band Name / Number

Email Address(Required)

Home Phone

Cell Phone

Work Phone

Can a message be left at home?(Required)

Yes

May we contact you at work?(Required)

Yes

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City Province Postal Code

Is there a second applicant?(Required)

Yes

Applicant Two

Full Legal Name(Required)

First Last

Birth Name

Previous Name(s)

Preferred Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Gender

Your Pronouns

Ethnic Origin

Racial Origin(Required)

Citizenship

Language(s) Spoken

Religion

Education

Occupation

Employer

Native Band Name / Number

Email Address(Required)

Home Phone (Applicant 2)

Cell Phone (Applicant 2)

Work Phone (Applicant 2)

Can a message be left at home?(Required)

Yes

May we contact you at work?(Required)

Yes

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City Province Postal Code

Other Children in the Applicant(s) Household

Are There Other Children In The Applicant(s) Home?

Yes

Child One

Child One: Full Name

First Last

Child One: Gender

Child One: Date of Birth

Child One: Lives With…

Child One: Racial/Ethnic Origin

Child Two

Child Two: Full Name

First Last

Child Two: Gender

Child Two: Date of Birth

Child Two: Lives With…

Child Two: Racial/Ethnic Origin

Child Three

Child Three: Full Name

First Last

Child Three: Gender

Child Three: Date of Birth

Child Three: Lives With…

Child Three: Racial/Ethnic Origin

Child Four

Child Four: Full Name

First Last

Child Four: Gender

Child Four: Date of Birth

Child Four: Lives With…

Child Four: Racial/Ethnic Origin

Other Adults Living in Applicant(s) Home

Are There Other Adults In The Applicant(s) Home?

Yes

Other Adult One

Other Adult One: Full Name

First Last

Other Adult One: Gender

Other Adult One: Date of Birth

Other Adult One: Relationship to Applicant(s)

Other Adult Two

Other Adult Two: Full Name

First Last

Other Adult Two: Gender

Other Adult Two: Date of Birth

Other Adult Two: Relationship to Applicant(s)

Other Adult Three

Other Adult Three: Full Name

First Last

Other Adult Three: Gender

Other Adult Three: Date of Birth

Other Adult Three: Relationship to Applicant(s)

Other Adult Four

Other Adult Four: Full Name

First Last

Other Adult Four: Gender

Other Adult Four: Date of Birth

Other Adult Four: Relationship to Applicant(s)

Marriage / Domestic Partnership

As only one Applicant has been selected, this section does not apply to your case. PLEASE SELECT NEXT…

Are Applicant One And Applicant Two Married Or In A Domestic Partnership?

Legally Married

Domestic Partnership

No

Current Marriage Date

Year
Month
Day

Does Either Applicant Have Prior Marriages or Domestic Partnerships?
Yes

Current Domestic Partnership Date

Year
Month
Day

Does Either Applicant Have Prior Marriages or Domestic Partnerships?
Yes

Applicant One:
Past Marriages / Domestic Partnerships

Date Begun

Year
Month
Day

Date Ended

Year
Month
Day

Date Begun

Year
Month
Day

Date Ended

Year
Month
Day

Applicant Two:
Past Marriages / Domestic Partnerships

Date Begun

Year
Month
Day

Date Ended

Year
Month
Day

Date Begun

Year
Month
Day

Date Ended

Year
Month
Day

Present Application
Tell Us What Options You Are Interested In?
Adopt at Children’s Aid Society
Adopt at Children’s Aid Society but also interested in fostering
Adopt Privately
Foster Parent Adopting Foster Child
Fostering and Adopting
Fostering
Wanting to Foster or Adopt a Specific Child
Please Check All That Apply
Type Of Child You Are Considering Parenting
Age Or Age Range Of Child(Required)
If no preference, please enter ‘Any’.
Gender Of Child(Required)

Male

Female

Any

Both
Race / Ethnic Origin Of Child(Required)
If no preference, please enter ‘Any’.
Are You Considering Adopting or Fostering Siblings?(Required)

Yes

No

Unsure

Previous Applications
Have you previously applied to adopt or foster either as an individual, a couple or in a previous relationship?(Required)

Yes

No
Have you previously started or completed an adoption or fostering education program?(Required)

Yes

No
Have you previously started or completed a homestudy assessment?(Required)

Yes

No
Have you previously been involved with a Children's Aid Society or any protection authority outside of Ontario?(Required)

Yes

No
Please Provide Specifics:(Required)

Additional Applicant Comments
Please note any additional information or comments:

Acknowledgements
I/We the undersigned, submit this application with the following acknowledgements:

I/We acknowledge that the process of adoption by Ontario residents is governed by the Child and Family Services Act (CFSA), and the Intercounty Adoption Act (IAA). We acknowledge that the process of fostering is governed by the Child & Family Services Act and Foster Care Licensing Regulations.

I/We acknowledge that our worker’s role is to ensure the best interests of any child who may be placed with me/us when assessing the suitability and eligibility of applicant(s). The worker’s recommendation does not guarantee approval by the Children’s Aid Society in public adoption, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services in Private and International Adoption of Canada Immigration in International adoption, nor the eventual placement of a child in my/our family. We further acknowledge that the worker’s recommendation does not guarantee approval to provide foster care. I/We give full permission to our worker to communicate and exchange information about me/us, in written or verbal form, with other children’s aid societies, child protection authority outside of Ontario, private and international adoption agencies, physicians, mental health professionals, referees, other adoption licensees and practitioners, government agencies/departments, and other sources, as necessary, in order to further my/our application. We also give permission for our worker to search required electronic databases to complete the assessment.

I/We understand that any false statement or omitted information in this application may jeopardize my/our application.
Applicant One: Acknowledgement(Required)
I, “Applicant One” certify to have read and agree to the above acknowledgements.
Applicant Two: Acknowledgement(Required)
I, “Applicant Two” certify to have read and agree to the above acknowledgements.

Reference
Please take a moment to tell us where you heard about fostering/adoption:
Radio Ad
Television Ad
Television Program
Newspaper Ad
Newspaper Article
Agency Website
Agency Pamphlet or Handout
Social Media
Word of Mouth
Personal Involvement
Community Event
Other
If you recall, which radio station did you hear the ad on, and when?
If you recall, which TV station did you see the ad on and when?
If you recall, which TV station did you see the program, what was it about, and when did you see it?
If you recall, which newspaper did you see the ad in?
If you recall, which newspaper did you read the article in, and what was it about?
Which Agency pamphlet or handout did you have?
On which social media network did you come across post(s) about adoption or fostering?
Please tell us more about the conversation you had by word of mouth.
Please elaborate on your personal involvement with fostering or adoption.
At which community event did you learn about adoption or fostering?
Please tell us more:
Consent(Required)
I agree to the privacy policy found here
Email
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Explore Adoption

How to become an adoptive caregiver with Family & Children’s Service of Guelph and Wellington County (FCSGW)

What do you need to be an adoptive caregiver?

Who can be an adoptive caregiver?

Contact Us

Adoption and/or Fostering Application Form:

Adoption / Foster Application

Applicant One

Applicant Two

Other Children in the Applicant(s) Household

Child One

Child Two

Child Three

Child Four

Other Adults Living in Applicant(s) Home

Other Adult One

Other Adult Two

Other Adult Three

Other Adult Four

Marriage / Domestic Partnership

Applicant One:Past Marriages / Domestic Partnerships

Applicant Two:Past Marriages / Domestic Partnerships

Present Application

Type Of Child You Are Considering Parenting

Previous Applications

Additional Applicant Comments

Acknowledgements

Reference

Applicant One:
Past Marriages / Domestic Partnerships

Applicant Two:
Past Marriages / Domestic Partnerships