ADOPTION PROCEDURES
In recent years, Adopt Aware SA's adoption practices have evolved in response to changing societal needs. The organisation remains actively involved in placing orphaned or abandoned children, who cannot be raised by their biological families, with adoptive parents who will provide them with the love and security of a nurturing, caring family life.
ABOUT ADOPTION
In accordance with our core values that a child’s rightful place is with his/her birth parents concerted efforts are therefore first made to assist birth mothers keep their children.
In many instances, birth mothers consider adoption because their income is extremely limited and they are being supported by family members who are already caring for their children. They often do not have a supportive relationship with the birth father and do not have the financial resources to meet the needs of their child.
Adopt Aware SA believes that, with the right support, these are all issues which can be addressed. To this end we therefore strive to ensure that mothers wishing to place their children for adoption are provided with the necessary intervention in order to keep their children if this is deemed to be in the child’s best interest.
Who may adopt?
As adoption involves the transfer of guardianship and custodianship rights from the biological parents to adoptive parents, a thorough screening and training process which meets the following legal requirements must be followed. Once this process is completed an assessment report is written.
WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL?
- All applicants when making an inquiry will be invited to attend an orientation meeting.
- The legal and emotional ramifications of adoption will be explained at this meeting.
- Applicants are free at this point to decide whether to continue with the process or not.
- Should they decide to continue they will be required to complete an application form which they will return to the organization along with certain documentation e.g. (ID; police clearance; form 30 check; proof of permanent residence; medical assessment among others).
- They will need to avail themselves for individual and joint assessment interviews,
- as well as an assessment of their home circumstances.
- In addition, they will also be required to attend workshops which provide training iro certain adoption issues.
Once this process has been completed an assessment report is completed and a recommendation regarding the suitability of the prospective adoptive parents made to a panel. If approved the adoptive parents are informed and placed on a waiting list until a baby becomes available. Their names are also placed on a National register called RACAP.