Becoming Adopt - Ready: SAFE Homestudy

 The S.A.F.E. (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) assessment is a Ministry-required standardized home-study used by all Ontario adoption practitioners. The report is intended to explore your reasons for adopting, and the assessor assists in determining your readiness and suitability to adopt. 

The home-study is a comprehensive report that explores, in part, your childhood, relationships, and lifestyle, and may touch on issues that are sensitive or personal. The assessment is comprised of an initial 2 hour consultation to review the adoption options in Ontario, and what each process entails. There are a minimum of 4 subsequent interviews of approximately 2 hours each, and there is a home safety check; at least one interview must be done within your home. Interviews can be done with both parties together, but one interview will be done individually. Children in the home will also be interviewed, and adult children will be contacted for input. The home-study is supported by documentation such as financial and medical reports, references, pet vaccinations, and Police and child welfare checks.

Timelines vary for completing a S.A.F.E. assessment. While It is possible to complete a home-study in 4-5 months, this is not guaranteed and may take longer if there are complex issues, subsequent interviews required, or there are delays in obtaining supporting documentation. 

The practitioner reviews topics covered in P.R.I.D.E. such as discipline, openness and loss, and ensures you have a good understanding of the issues and complexities of adoption. The practitioner also assists in determining your preparedness and suitability to adopt. Once completed, the S.A.F.E. assessment is portable and you can transfer it between private, international and domestic agencies.