Adoption and Education

What is the PRIDE Program?

PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) training has been required for all CAS adoptions since April 2007. For private domestic and international adoption, PRIDE is required for all adoptive applicants who started their home study after December 31, 2007.

A fundamental purpose for a standardized preparation program is to ensure that adoptive applicants are educated about all their adoption options. Whether considering adoption through Children’s Aid Societies, private domestic adoption, or international adoption, adoptive applicants are welcome to attend any PRIDE training program.

The PRIDE curriculum provides information to help prepare all adoptive parents for the responsibilities involved in raising their children and incorporates information about the following:

  • Adoption and child welfare systems, processes and laws
  • Attachment as a central issue in all adoptions
  • Loss issues in adoption
  • Impact of adoption on your own family
  • Child development, child management and an overview of issues specific to the needs of adopted children
  • The effects of neglect, lack of stimulation, abuse, institutionalization on children
  • Identity formation and the importance of cultural and racial awareness
  • The importance of connections and continuity for children.

(Courtesy of Adopt Ontario)

For more information, you may also visit Adopt Ontario.

PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) is a comprehensive 27-hour educational program that is now recognized as essential preparation for all prospective adoptive parents in Ontario.

TRAINING DATES

The next upcoming available dates in 2023/2024 are:

September 2023 session

Saturday, September 9, 10, 16, 17

October 2023 session

Saturday, October 14, 15, 21, 22

November 2023 session

Saturday, November 25, 26, & December 2, 3

January 2024 session

Saturday, January 6, 7, 13, 14

February/March 2024 session

Saturday, February 24, 25 & March 2, 3

April 2024 session

Saturday, April 6, 7, 13, 14

May/June 2024 session

Saturday, May 25, 26 & June 1, 2

July 2024 session

Saturday, July 6, 7, 13, 14

For more information, please contact Sofie Stergianis at adoption@rogers.com or via www.adoptioneducation.ca.

Beginnings Family Services believes that adoption preparation and training is vital in assisting prospective adoptive parents with tools, resources, and important information regarding the adoption process.  Developing an understanding and awareness of the private domestic adoption process and in particular, openness and navigating relationships with birth families, are key components of this educational support.

As such, Beginnings highly recommends adoptive applicants attend IN-PERSON PRIDE Training for a comprehensive adoption learning experience.

Prospective adoptive applicants who choose to attend ON-LINE PRIDE Training are required by Beginnings to attend supplemental in-person adoption training.  Referral options for in-person supplemental training can be provided via the adoptive applicants’ private adoption practitioner or Beginnings.

For information on Training – www.adoptioneducation.ca

Prospective adoptive families are required to complete this training prior to registering with Beginnings.

This policy is in effect as of February 1, 2019.

Beginnings Education

PRIDE Trainers

Trainer: Tonya Noble, M.A.

An approved adoption practitioner, Tonya has been working in the field of adoption for over a decade. She has counselled birth parents and adoptive families throughout the adoption process and continues to offer support for families throughout the post-placement years. Tonya has a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology and has spent many years as an individual, couple’s and family counsellor. She has specialized in grief and loss issues and has been a workshop facilitator for Beginnings Adoption & Counselling Services for many years. As the Education Coordinator for Beginnings, Tonya also oversees a number of community education programs and services.

Co-Trainer: Angela Krueger

With her husband, Angela is the parent of two children through domestic adoption. As a freelance writer she has shared her adoption and parenting experience with numerous publications including Adoptive Families Magazine, RainbowKids.com and IMPrint, a newsletter published by the Hospital for Sick Children.

As the Adoption Feature Writer for Suite101.com she writes articles about all facets of adoption, many of which have appeared in adoption agency newsletters throughout Canada and the U.S. Angela has also been a speaker at education conferences and participated as a panelist for adoption seminars throughout Ontario.

Beginnings Education

Sign Up and Register

SIGN UP & REGISTRATION

A list of all upcoming PRIDE Pre-service training sessions can be accessed by clicking the link to the AdoptOntario website  (www.adoptontario.ca) and follow to PRIDE training.   Applicants are free to select the PRIDE Pre-service training program that they wish to attend.   If you are interested in taking one of the sessions with Tonya and Angela please see below and download and review the registration form on the left side of this page.

9 Sessions PRIDE Pre-Service Training

(presented by Tonya Noble, M.A. & Angela Krueger)

When:  2016 Sessions

Saturday & Sunday, May 28 & 29; and Saturday & Sunday, June 11 & 12 (9 am – 5 pm)

Saturday & Sunday, September 10 & 11; and Saturday & Sunday, September 24 & 25 (9 am – 5 pm)

Saturday & Sunday, November 5 & 6; and Saturday & Sunday, November 19 & 20 (9 am – 5 pm)

Who:

Anyone interested in adopting from CAS, private licensees/agencies, internationally

Where:

Victoria Park Golf Club East, Guelph
http://www.victoriaparkgolf.com

Beginnings Eduaction

Fees and Forms

$1400 per couple / $700 per person

* fees are subject to change

Please contact Tonya Noble at 519-577-1587 or email her at tnoble@rogers.com; or you may simply register by printing and completing the PRIDE Registration form. You will receive confirmation of your registration as soon as your payment is received. Refunds are subject to a cancellation fee of $400/couple ($200/person) up until two weeks prior to the start of training, after which there are no refunds unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Download Registration Forms (PDF)

PRIDE Registration
PRIDE Registration
PRIDE Registration

Join In. You’re In The Family

Support the Beginnings family in a range of wonderful ways.