This is a requirement of your homestudy. You spend 4 full days learning about adoption. Since it's a government program the content is controlled. There is a lot of focus on fostering and ontario adoptions which may seem a waste for someone adopting internationally. Having said this, Overall I found this training still very useful.
The useful factors I never even considered was regarding building attachment with your child and also dealing with comments from other people. To build attachment you have to build a relationship with this child by being there for your child. When they cry at night go comfort them, hold their hand while walking, go to them when they fall, hug them, lots of one-on-one time. The child has to learn you are their parents and you are there for them when they need something.
People's comments. This is the craziest part. I touched upon this before with positive adoption language. You will deal with stupid comments from people. Not only will you as adoptive parents, but so will your child. Your child may come home one day and say "suzie at school told me you're not my real parents" or a relative saying "you can't love an adopted child like a biological one". Yes it happens. Our trainers, who were all adopted parents shared examples of how this has happened in their lives. I am not surprised. Just going through the adoption process I have been asked stupid questions so it's good to be prepared to deal with stupid people. Everyone has an opinion and adoption is no different.
The training is very interactive. You sit at round tables with other couples and single parents. You work on questions as a table, you role play, watch videos, hear personal stories from the trainers. It keeps you engaged by changing things up. It is a drag to lose two weekends, but you get through it. The training was very organized and the trainers were all very good. Lots of personal stories, lots of time to ask questions and lots of interaction with others taking the class. That may be a key part of the class. Hearing others that have struggled their way towards adoptions. You see it all. People adopting relatives, adopting domestically, internationally, same sex couples, single moms and even a single dad. I was rooting for the single dad. It's unfortunate he seemed really creepy and wore track suites to training.
It tends to take a more worst case scenario spin and doesn't spoon food you all the good stuff about adoption. I think some people may not be able to handle this, but I found it important. I don't need to hear how great everything will be, I need to prepare myself for potential obstacles. The videos are dated and alsmot comically by the actors attire. It may need a bit of a refresh, but the learnign is still valuable.
Here's a link to the training
https://secure.adoptontario.ca/pride.main.aspx
Current update: Waiting.
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