The Belonging Network is proud to announce the launch of Learning for Everyone in Adoption and Permanency (LEAP), a new online education program that replaces the former Adoption Education Program (AEP). The course has been comprehensively updated and enhanced to include Indigenous content and perspectives, along with new materials specifically tailored for kinship caregivers and a broader range of permanency families.
Why this matters
The launch of LEAP marks a significant milestone in adoption and permanency education in BC. Over the past several years, the Belonging Network collaborated with community partners, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and adoption and permanency stakeholders to ensure the program is inclusive and reflects the realities of today’s families.
This work was guided by our commitment to truth and reconciliation and to serving all permanency families. Indigenous consultants reviewed every module through an Indigenous lens, ensuring the program aligns with legislative changes that recognize the inherent right of Indigenous peoples in decisions about their children’s welfare.
For the first time, our foundational adoption and permanency education program includes content specifically for kinship families and caregivers providing other forms of permanency for children and youth. These changes provide a more accurate and current understanding of adoption and permanency, helping prospective parents and caregivers prepare for the complexities and responsibilities of welcoming a waiting child or youth into their family.
About LEAP
LEAP is a 10-week online education program for individuals preparing to adopt or provide another type of permanency for children or youth in BC.
For prospective adoptive parents, LEAP fulfills the legal requirement for pre-adoption education. For permanency families of all kinds, including kinship families, legal guardians, or those parenting under the Extended Family Program, LEAP offers useful information, support, and resources — even if they are not pursuing legal adoption.
All participants must first complete the Introduction to Adoption and Permanency course before starting LEAP. This free, self-directed online course takes approximately five hours to complete and covers:
- The adoption process
- Legal and financial considerations
- Children and youth eligible for adoption
Program details
LEAP is delivered through a mix of video, audio, written materials, and live group discussions that explore core topics in adoption and permanency. Participants are required to take part in four mandatory online discussions with their peers. The course covers key issues such as trauma, attachment, openness with birth families, prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol, cultural understanding, and Indigenous perspectives.
A full course overview, including topics, is available here.
Registration information
- Cost: $95 for MCFD-approved clients.
- Availability: Monthly registration is open from September to June (excluding December).
- Process: Participants must provide their social worker’s email during registration. The social worker will receive an email to approve participation in the course.
Next steps
To get started, register for the Introduction to Adoption and Permanency course or complete a LEAP registration form for an upcoming cohort.
Questions? Please contact education@belongingnetwork.com.
