If you are a resident of India and wish to adopt a child then you must know the legal process of it. We have discussed the soft part of the process earlier now let's get into the practical part of it. The entire process can be broken down to 5 steps, which we will discuss one by one.
Registration for Adoption
Referral of a Child
Pre Adoption Foster Care
Adoption Order
Follow up of Adoption
Let us look at each of the aspect one by one. In this blog I have tried to simply the process, but would recommend to look at the CARA website for specific details if required. (https://cara.wcd.gov.in/Parents/Guideline_RI.html )
Registration for Adoption
The first thing a prospective parent needs to do is register(apply) on a website called the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System on the CARA's (Central Adoption Resource Authority) website. www.cara.wcd.gov.in
Some of the key steps to register are as follows:
They fill out a form online and submit the necessary documents within 30 days to officially register as potential adoptive parents.
They can choose two states where they'd like to adopt a child or select a group of states.
While registering, they must apply to a specific adoption agency near their home for a Home Study, where a social worker assesses their suitability for adoption.
This Home Study Report should be done within 60 days and shared with the potential adoptive parents.
The registration process is complete as soon as they upload the required documents, and the Home Study Report is cleared by the social worker by uploading it to the portal.
They get a registration number to track their application.
Referral of a Child
Adoptive parents are ranked by their registration date on the adoption website.
They will be referred to a maximum of three children, one each month, as long as there are kids available that match their preferences.
Referrals are sent based on the registration date of PAPs (Prospective Adoptive Parents)
Parents have 48 hours to decide if they want to go ahead with adoption of the referred child.
If they don't, the child becomes available to other parents on the waiting list.
An Adoption Committee, made up of experts, helps decide if the parents are a good match for the child. They review documents and have a detailed discussion with the prospective parents.
This matching process is usually completed within 30 days from the date of reserving the child.
If parents are not chosen for a child, the reason must be recorded. If it's not a good reason, their ranking isn't affected.
What if the parents decide not to go ahead with the child they have been referred to? The consequences are based on the following situation:
Parents Don't Reserve The Child: In this case the the seniority of parents do not change and they will be referred another child in a month or two.(Based on availability of children)
Parents Reserve but do not go ahead with Adoption: In this situation they go to the bottom of the waiting list for a future chance, which may extend to about two to three years.
In either of the situations the child is referred to other waiting parents. So, think and act wisely while reserving the child.
Pre-Adoption Foster Care
After matching with a child, adoptive parents can take the child home within ten days after submitting the required documents to the Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA). They also have to sign the undertaking or pre adoption foster care form as provided by the agency.
Adoption Order
The Specialised Adoption Agency(SAA) shall file an application with the District Magistrate of the district through District Child Protection Unit where the child is located, along with relevant documents within ten days from the date of matching of the child with the prospective adoptive parents.
In case of siblings or twins, the Specialised Adoption Agency shall file single application with the District Magistrate through District Child Protection Unit.
The process should not take more than two months. Parents don't have to sign any special agreements since their suitability is already determined through their earlier assessments.
After the adoption is approved, parents get a copy of the order, and the child's birth certificate is updated to show them as the parents.
Follow-Up of Adoption
The adoption agency conducts a follow up study on the child's progress for two years after adoption. They create reports every six months.
If the adoptive family moves or faces difficulties, they must inform the relevant agencies.
Many a times there are adjustment issues that pop up between children and parents, in such situations the parents must seek counselling from the adoption agency. If there are repeated issues, authorities may get involved.
Where the Indian adoptive parents move with the child abroad, within two years from the date of pre-adoption foster care, the concerned Indian Diplomatic Mission in the country of arrival in case of Non-Hague countries and Authorised Foreign Adoption Agencies or Central Authorities in Hague countries, shall be intimated at least fifteen days in advance through a written communication for the purpose of remaining follow up reports by the adoptive parents with their full contact details at the new place.
The onus of getting the balance post-adoption follow-up is with the adoptive parents and they have to bear the professional charges on their own, and further the adoptive parents shall give an undertaking to the Authority to that effect.
Wishing you lots of love and happiness in your journey of heart parenthood!
For more detailed information about the form filling process of registration please check the below links
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