Adoption Practice Goes Virtual<\/p>\n
As with many services during Covid 19, a move to online service has become a part of adoption practice.\u00a0 Historically the use of online interviewing has been viewed with skepticism and concern that a lack of face to face encounters would be too impersonal and simply not work well for conducting an appropriate adoption assessment.\u00a0 \u00a0In my experience over the past four months I have found that virtual interviews through online videoconferencing have worked very well.\u00a0 I feel very connected to applicants and they have been very ready to engage in the various topics and discussions that are part of an adoption home study.\u00a0 In fact, these sessions seem much more efficient and focused while still personal, in depth and even intimate. \u00a0Work that was already started was able to continue.\u00a0 So long as the internet service is reliable the process of working online, in my experience, is VERY effective.\u00a0 It removes the time and stresses of travelling for clients and practitioner alike. \u00a0\u00a0Clients can attend an interview in the comfort of their own home.\u00a0 For myself as a practitioner, it is very easy to conduct interviews after a few short steps to my home office and a few clicks on my computer.\u00a0 Practice seems much simpler to manage.<\/p>\n
In spite of these advantages, adoption assessments still require a home visit and home safety check.\u00a0 There is no substitute for these as one needs to be on site.\u00a0 However, a virtual review and tour prior to the actual home visit can give a lot of information and then the visit itself can generally be a quick visit with masks and social distancing in place.\u00a0 When there are children in the family who need to be interviewed, when I do the home visit, I meet with the children outside whenever possible observing social distancing requirements. \u00a0Summer makes this work well but for wintertime I will likely do more children\u2019s interviews through videoconferencing.<\/p>\n
Adoption Practice goes beyond assessments.\u00a0 Once a placement occurs there is the requirement of supervision and post placement visits with the child and parents in order to support the family integration and development.\u00a0 Nothing can work as well as face to face sessions in the home.\u00a0 A lot can be achieved through virtual meetings but observing interactions, seeing the family together, experiencing the home environment and atmosphere first-hand requires being there at least for some period of time.<\/p>\n
Given that adoption is a lifelong process, there is often a need for continuing support or counselling beyond finalization as part of normal adoptive family development occurs.\u00a0 This, too, can readily be accomplished through virtual sessions.<\/p>\n
For virtual practice, of course, a stable Internet connection is required. \u00a0This can sometimes be a challenge in more rural areas.\u00a0 And one needs to be vigilant about security.\u00a0 None of my clients have expressed any concern about their privacy or the security of our online discussions.\u00a0 However, as professionals ensuring their confidentiality and privacy is important. \u00a0So, encryption and locked meetings are standard procedures.\u00a0 Clients have all been very willing and have shown no hesitation to work online as many of them are using the Internet for working from home so it is a familiar mode of communication.\u00a0 From their perspective it is an easy way to work toward their important goals of building a family, responding to their child\u2019s needs and fostering healthy adoptive family functioning. \u00a0A further bonus for them is that the availability of online services enables them to readily reach beyond their immediate geographical area to obtain the services they need.<\/p>\n
Until Covid 19, Ontario has limited the use of virtual interviews for our work as Adoption Practitioners.\u00a0 It is my hope that with the \u2018new normal\u2019 that adoption professionals will be able to incorporate more online work into day to day practice.<\/p>\n
Adoption Practice Goes Virtual As with many services during Covid 19, a move to online service has become a part of adoption practice.\u00a0 Historically the use of online interviewing has been viewed with skepticism and concern that a lack of face to face encounters would be too impersonal and simply not work well for conducting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":718,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n