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Resource to know: Association Emmanuel
At Options, we meet parents who receive a prenatal diagnosis and begin to wonder what the future might hold for them and their child. We also meet women and men who want to support children in need, including by exploring foster care or adoption.
In these moments, it can be valuable to know what resources are available in Quebec. Association Emmanuel supports families who wish to adopt or welcome children with special needs, while also offering support to biological parents who are raising a child with special needs. The organization provides training, education, accompaniment, and opportunities to connect with other families experiencing similar realities.
In this series, Getting to Know | Resources for Families in Quebec, we introduce you to organizations and resources that can support women, men, and families in different situations. We asked Association Emmanuel a few questions to help you better understand who they are, the families they support, and the assistance they offer.
1. Can you introduce your organization and briefly explain its mission?
Association Emmanuel is the only provincial resource entirely dedicated to the adoption of children with disabilities or special needs for whom social services have been unable to find an adoptive family. Through its network, services, and mutual support among its members, Association Emmanuel supports families throughout the adoption process and even afterward.
The association fulfills its mission by:
Working in collaboration with Santé Québec to promote the adoption of children with special needs;
Recruiting and supporting families wishing to apply to adopt these children, in accordance with Quebec laws and regulations;
Providing pre- and post-adoption follow-up to member families;
Supporting families through appropriate means, including sharing, mutual support, or training meetings, respite assistance, family resources, and more.
2. What types of situations or diagnoses among children and youth do you support?
There is no predetermined list of diagnoses or conditions that determines which children Association Emmanuel will be asked to find a family for. The needs of children seeking a family are very diverse.
Between the ages of 0 and 17, the children referred to Association Emmanuel each have their own history, circumstances, and needs. Some may have specific needs related to development, physical or mental health, learning, behaviour, and so on. Situations therefore vary greatly and may change over time.
Most of the children supported by the association are being considered for adoption or are registered in the Banque Mixteprogram. However, they all have one thing in common: the need for a stable, secure, and permanent living environment where they can grow, thrive, and develop lasting emotional bonds.
Many of these children have experienced neglect, abuse, or other forms of adversity, all of which required the intervention of the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ).
3. What types of families or parents can access your services?
All families who wish to welcome or adopt a child with special needs are welcome to begin the process with the association. A family can also become a member and participate in the various training sessions and conferences offered in order to learn more about the diagnoses or conditions that some children may have.
4. Can a parent who has just received a diagnosis for their child and is wondering what the future may hold contact you?
Absolutely. A parent can become a member of the association and thereby deepen their understanding of a particular diagnosis. We also offer connections with experienced families to better equip and support them throughout their journey.
5. What types of support do you offer to parents and families?
The support offered to families is adapted to the needs of each one. It may take the form of support from our intervention worker, being paired with an experienced family, or participating in training offered by the organization.
6. Do you offer education, training, or tools to parents who want to better understand their child's needs and develop their parenting skills?
In fact, Association Emmanuel offers training and tools to parents who want to better understand their child's needs and develop their parenting skills. In practical terms, this may include topic-specific training sessions, support meetings with our intervention worker, as well as connections with experienced families who share their experiences and strategies. These resources help parents feel better equipped and supported in their role.
7. How do you support parents who may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or alone after receiving a diagnosis?
When parents feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or alone following a diagnosis, we provide personalized support. This may include individual meetings with our intervention worker, being paired with an experienced family who understands their reality, as well as training and tools to help them better understand their child's needs. Our goal is to offer them a safe, reassuring, and supportive space so that they do not have to go through this stage alone.
8. You work, among other things, to find living environments and foster families for children and youth with intellectual or physical disabilities. Can you explain how this process works and how a family can get involved?
When we work to find a permanent living environment for a child with an intellectual or physical disability, the process takes place in close collaboration with the various DPJs across Quebec. They are the ones who send us requests to find a family, along with the child's needs, profile, and specific circumstances.
We then analyze this information to identify families who may be able to adequately meet the child's needs. Interested families can get involved by becoming members, participating in our training sessions, and completing the necessary steps with their DPJ (often through the Banque Mixte program). When a family appears to be a potential match, we send their profile to the DPJ, which remains responsible for the final assessment and matching process.
This process allows us to support children with special needs while also accompanying families who wish to undertake a foster care or adoption journey.
9. Are there any misconceptions or things you wish more people understood about children living with a disability and their families?
There are several misconceptions about children living with disabilities and their families, and we would like more people to understand certain realities. Above all, these children have strengths, personalities, and an equally rich capacity for attachment as other children. Their disability does not define who they are.
We would also like people to recognize the resilience and expertise of parents. They are not automatically “overwhelmed”: they often become experts in the everyday realities of their child's life, capable of great creativity and deep sensitivity to their child's needs.
Finally, it is important to understand that these families are not looking for pity, but rather for respect, inclusion, and appropriate support. Every child deserves to be seen for what they bring, and every family deserves to be supported without judgment.
10. If a parent or family would like to learn more about your organization or find out whether they can benefit from your services, how can they contact you?
Parents or families who would like to learn more about Association Emmanuel or find out whether they are eligible for our services can contact us directly. They can visit our website, follow us on social media, email us, or register for one of our information sessions. Our intervention worker is also available to answer questions and provide initial support if needed.
Contact information:
11. Is there anything else you would like our community to know about your organization or the support you offer families?
We would like the community to know that our organization is first and foremost a place of listening, support, and accompaniment for families. Every situation is unique, and we take the time to understand each person's needs in order to offer support that is appropriate, compassionate, and respectful.
We also want to remind families that they are never alone. Whether through our training, our intervention worker, or experienced families, a caring network is always present to support them throughout their journey.
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