Procedure For In Country Adoption

Stage I

• Prospective adoptive parent(s) should register themselves with the local RIPA / LAPA or Adoption Coordinating Agency or with the State Adoption Cell.

Stage II

• A home study report of the prospective adoptive parents will be prepared by the social worker of the Agency. To allay the fears and apprehensions of the prospective adoptive parent(s), pre-adoptive counseling sessions will be undertaken by the social worker during the preparation of the home study report. Assessing the ability of a couple to parent a child not born to them is of crucial importance in a successful adoption. Therefore, their suitability to care for an unrelated child is assessed through this home study and counselling. Documents relating to the financial and health status of the prospective parent(s) will be part of the Home Study Report.
• In case of Inter-State adoption applications by parent(s), they will be accompanied by Home Study prepared by a qualified social worker working in a RIPA/LAPA. Where State Govt.’s have officially delegated such work for its Officials, the Home Study Report could be prepared by the concerned Official.
• Criteria for eligibility of parent(s) will be adhered to, as stated in Para 1.1.7.
• The Agency will make a suitable reference from amongst the admitted children legally free for adoption. If no suitable child is available, the family will be referred to the ACA.

Stage III

• After a Home Study has been accepted and approved, a child will be shown to the parent(s). The agency will take care to match a child meeting the description, if any, desired by the parent(s).
• In case of placement of older children (above the age of 6), both written and verbal consent of the child will be obtained.

Stage IV

• Once a successful matching has been done, the agency will file a petition in the Court/JJB for obtaining the necessary orders under the relevant Act. The above process will normally be completed in 6-8 weeks.
  

  
  Adoption Act

  
  The child can be legally placed with the parent(s) under HAMA/GAWA/JJ-Act 2000. The prospective parents should be informed about the different Acts available and the ramifications of each one. It would be left to them to decide as to which Act they would like to file their petition under, provided that they are eligible to do so under the chosen Act. As stated above, the prospective parents must be made to fully understand the status of their adoption under each Act.
  
  

  Follow up visits
  

  Once an order has been issued, it should be followed by regular follow-up visits and post adoption counseling by the social worker till the child is adjusted in the new environment. The follow up should preferably be for a period of one year at-least or as directed by the Court/JJB. Copies of the follow-up reports will be sent to the District Social Welfare Officer/concerned State Government Department, concerned Scrutiny Agency and the Court/JJB from where the order was obtained.