When a mother smokes during pregnancy, harmful chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar reach the baby. These substances reduce oxygen supply and impede growth, leading to various health complications....

We get it. This is hard. It can be really challenging supporting a child that you love and care for to move to a permanent placement. As a foster parent,...

In part two of our teen adoption Q&A, Ashleigh Martinflatt, a clinical counsellor, post-secondary instructor, and adoptive parent, dives deeper into the journey of providing permanency for teens. She addresses...

Ashleigh Martinflatt is a registered social worker, clinical counsellor, and post-secondary instructor, teaching courses on trauma, child abuse, and neglect in both Social Work and Child and Youth Care degree...

Liz is 18 years old. For more than a decade, she has moved between foster homes. She has also had to face the sadness of being separated from her sister,...

“Belonging” has become a bit of a buzzword. But for us, it’s more than just a popular term; it’s what we’re all about. After all, it’s our name! But what...

Introducing the Hogan family. After emigrating to Canada, Terry and Paula turned to adoption to start their family together. Their twin daughters have taught them the importance of embracing differences...

Learn about the meaning of permanency, and different ways of creating it for children and youth. The term “permanency” means different things to different people.  Within the context of child...

Four years ago, Erin McKinney shared her story with the Belonging Network about her experience of adopting N, her second cousin. Their story continues as Erin shares updates about their...

Adopting from Romania in the 1990s After four years of attempting to get pregnant through artificial means, Jan and her partner at the time, Lindsey, decided to give up on...

Tracy and Keith recently adopted a little girl through the Ministry. While the ecstatic parents were enthusiastic about telling their story, we cannot use their real names until the adoption...

Starting school can be a major adjustment for any child, but it can be particularly overwhelming for a newly adopted child. However, with the right support, your child can feel...

For adoptive and permanency families, navigating the education system can bring unique challenges. From sensitive assignments to fostering a sense of belonging, there’s a lot to consider. To help you...

One of the most common questions our Family Support Specialist get is “Where are all the babies?” Heather Ratzlaff, former Family Support team member had this to say on the topic. In...

Here, we answer some of the most common questions we get about adoption. If I want to adopt from foster care, do I have to start as a foster parent?...

People with FASD struggle with lifelong behaviour and learning problems. In this article, one young adoptee shares her story of life with FASD. All names have been changed. What assumptions...

Research reveals that prenatal alcohol exposure impacts the entire body, not just the brain. A whole-body disorder For the past several decades, the widely held assumption in the field of...

The Indigenous Perspectives Society (IPS), formerly Caring for First Nations Children Society, is a registered charitable non-profit founded in 1994. IPS has played a significant role in the delivery of...

Meet the Imrie family: Jody is a special education teacher and foster-turned-adoptive mom who lives in Vancouver with her daughter (6) and son (7). How did you get started as...

Advice from a counsellor on how to recognize and help wounded children and youth. Trauma: adoption’s shadow Many children and youth who are adopted have been exposed to highly stressful...