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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Zambia Department of Social Welfare: Services Provided

Republic of Zambia: Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health - Department of Social Welfare, 01 May 2016

This brochure outlines the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme, including services related to inspection of child-care facilities and adoption.

Adoption Bibliography

David Powers - Islamic Studies, Oxford Bibliographies, 28 Apr 2016

This bibliography, prepared by Professor David Powers of Cornell University, includes a list of resources and articles related to adoption within the context of Islam.

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The Value-Added Impact of Fast-Track Adoption Policy on Adoption Rates

Fred Wulczyn, William Vesneski, Scott Huhr, Kerry Monahan-Price, Zach Martinez, Christian Verhulst, Ava Weiss - Global Social Welfare, 26 Apr 2016

This paper examines whether policies that guide the termination of parental rights correspond to state adoption rate differences in the United States.

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Kinship Guardianship, Adoption, and Foster Care: Outcomes from a U.S. National Sample

James A. Rosenthal & Rebecca L. Hegar - Journal of Public Child Welfare, 19 Apr 2016

Using data from a national longitudinal survey of children referred to child protective services (NSCAW II), this article compares behavioral, child/caregiver relationship, and school performance outcomes for children residing in kinship and nonkinship settings.

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Adopted Youth in Residential Care: Prevalence Rate and Professional Training Needs

David Brodzinsky, John Santa & Susan Livingston Smith - Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 18 Apr 2016

In this study, clinical program directors from 59 residential treatment facilities in the US responded to an online survey addressing the representation of adopted youth currently being served by their organization, the extent to which adoption issues are incorporated into clinical intake and treatment processes, and the training needs of clinical staff related to adoption.

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Adopted Youth in Residential Care: Prevalence Rate and Professional Training Needs

David Brodzinsky, John Santa & Susan Livingston Smith - Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 18 Apr 2016

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Country Care Review: Chile

Better Care Network, 13 Apr 2016

This country care review includes the care related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Country Care Review: Kenya

Better Care Network, 21 Mar 2016

This country care review includes the care-related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Country Care Review: Iran

Better Care Network, 14 Mar 2016

This country care review includes the care-related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Child maltreatment: Understanding national and state-level trends

Child Trends, 01 Mar 2016

Child Trends recently released three sets of child welfare fact sheets detailing child maltreatment, foster care, and adoption statistics from the United States for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2013. Each set of 52 fact sheets uses state and national data to tell a story about the U.S.'s most vulnerable children and youth, a story that varies dramatically by state.

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