Adoption and Kafala

Adoption is the formal, permanent transfer of parental rights to a family other than a child’s own and the formal assumption by that family of all parenting duties for the child. Where a child’s parents are living and their parental rights have not been terminated, they must provide informed consent for adoption. In some countries it is not culturally acceptable to give the parental rights to a non-family member, and therefore alternative long-term care options must be pursued e.g. kinship care. In some Islamic countries, the term ‘Kafala’ in Islamic law is used to describe a situation similar to adoption, but without the severing of family ties, the transference of inheritance rights, or the change of the child’s family name.

Given the permanency of adoption, it should be used very carefully and only when it is in a child’s best interests. In some cases difficult choices must be made between keeping a child in a temporary care situation in the hope of eventual family reunification, and a child’s developmental need for permanent attachment and care within a family environment. Adoption should not be considered an option in an emergency context. In the case of family separation in an emergency all tracing activities must be exhausted before adoption can be considered.

The long term care of a child requires thorough assessment and planning, and should include the participation of all those affected, especially the child in question. The choice for adoption must meet the child’s long term needs and wishes, and enable their healthy development into adulthood. Wherever possible, children should remain with siblings and encouraged to maintain contact with relatives. All adoptive placements should be in keeping with applicable national law and international standards.

Ideally adoptive parents should come from a similar cultural and religious background to the child, so that the child can retain her heritage and sense of identity. This will be more likely when the adoption is within the country of the child’s origin. The child care policies of a country must therefore provide mechanisms for formal state adoption procedures, and provide workers to support this process. Intercountry or cross border adoptions should be used with caution since the child is likely to grow up in unfamiliar surroundings, and may therefore be more isolated and exposed to risk. When intercountry adoption is in the best interests of a child, international protection agencies should ensure standards are met and procedures should be in keeping with the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption.

This section of papers includes country and policy examples of the use of adoption and guidance on practice.

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Lost in Translation: Cultural Interpretations of Family in East Africa and Implications on Children’s Care

Kelley Bunkers, Beth Bradford, and Karen Smith Rotabi - Brown Journal of World Affairs, 2018

This article explores Intercountry Adoption (ICA) practices and the related expansion of orphanages (also referred to as residential care) in the East African context.

Initial evaluation of the ‘Why Not?’ initiative developed by Care Visions

CELCIS: Vicki Welch and Kenny McGhee, 2018

This short document provides a summary of initial learning from data gathered for an evaluation of the Why Not? initiative in Scotland. The Why Not? initiative within Care Visions services was started in 2014 to ‘improve the way young people are supported when ageing out of care, by offering a different experience of relationships beyond care.’

Helping Your Child Transition from Foster Care to Adoption

Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2018

This factsheet for families offers tips for helping a child transition from foster care to adoption.

Parent perspectives on adoption preparation: Findings from the Modern Adoptive Families project

Bethany R. Lee, Julia M. Kobulsky, David Brodzinsky, Richard P. Barth - Children and Youth Services Review, 06 Dec 2017

This study uses data from the recent Modern Adoptive Families survey to understand parent perspectives on their preparation for adoption.

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Parent perspectives on adoption preparation: Findings from the Modern Adoptive Families project

Bethany R. Lee, Julia M. Kobulsky, David Brodzinsky, Richard P. Barth - Children and Youth Services Review, 06 Dec 2017

This study uses data from the recent Modern Adoptive Families survey to understand parent perspectives on their preparation for adoption.

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Young adults’ perspectives on their experiences of different types of placement in Romania

Mariela Neagu - Thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education at the University of Oxford, 01 Dec 2017

This study explores the childhood experiences and transitions to adulthood of 39 Romanian care leavers and adoptees, born around 1989 - 1990.

Late-adoptions in adolescence: Can attachment and emotion regulation influence behaviour problems? A controlled study using a moderation approach

Cecilia Serena Pace, Simona Di Folco, Viviana Guerriero - Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 28 Nov 2017

The current study explores (a) a moderation model of adoption status on the association between attachment representations (secure, dismissing, preoccupied, and disorganized) and behavioural problems and (b) a moderation model of adoption status on the association between emotion regulation processes (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) and behavioural problems.

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Do children adopted from British foster care show difficulties in executive functioning and social communication?

Alexandra E Wretham, Matt Woolgar, Alexandra E Wretham - Adoption & Fostering, 24 Nov 2017

In this study, 30 primary school aged UK adoptees without a history of institutionalisation completed an assessment of their intellectual, executive functioning and social communication abilities.

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Key factors and characteristics of successful resource parents who care for older youth: A systematic review of research

Angelique Day, Tamarie Willis, Lori Vanderwill, Stella Resko, Debra Patterson, Kris Henneman, Sue Cohick - Children and Youth Services Review, 23 Nov 2017

This study implemented a systematic review process to identify the personal characteristics, skills and abilities of successful resource families that maximize foster and adoptive parent retention and maximize placement permanency of teens placed in out of home care.

Traumatic Separation in Children and Adolescents

National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 14 Nov 2017

This webinar, from the U.S. National Child Traumatic Stress Network, as part of its Childhood Traumatic Grief e-learning series, describes the impact of traumatic separation, attachment, and attachment disruption on children and adolescents.

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