This Christmas - give the gift of a Baby Box

Let's Adopt! A start-up questionnaire

Where does one start when considering adoption?

Complete our start-up questionnaire in full & summit.

We will be in contact with all the relevant information.

ADOPTION QUICK FACTS

ADOPTION QUICK FACTS

The purpose of adoption is to find a family for a vulnerable child in need of permanency. A child is only becoming available for adoption once the legal assessment has been completed

Profile of children currently in the Abba Specialist Adoptions-system in need of adoption:

• Predominately black South African children
• Because we need to first finalize the legal assessment, children ready for matching is mostly between 6 and 18 months old – we also have a few children between the age of 3 and 6 years awaiting matching
• Health status vary from healthy to minor and severe special needs
• We have experienced that more boys become available for adoption

Need/legal requirements for adoptive parents:

*  People believing that children belong in families and that you can be a good parent! There’s no perfect profile!

*  You can discuss your preferences and wishes and we will give you realistic feedback and insight

*  Black same race and inter-race applicants

*  You need to be a SA-citizen or have permanent SA-residency over the age of 18 and without any criminal/sexual record

*  It is important that prospective adoptive parents are healthy and have a normal life expectancy

*  If applicants are married, the relationship should be stable

*  Single applicants must demonstrate that they have a good support system

*  Be willing to complete the legally required screening process and internal preparation course

How do I start the process?

1.      Read through these quick facts, complete the Let’s adopt!-questionnaire, return it to    Abba Adoptions via e-mail or fax, and one of our social workers will contact you.

2.     Orientation session, where all the details of the process will be discussed and questions  answered.

3.     If you decide to continue with the process, complete all application forms received at  orientation session in full & return to Abba Adoptions.

How long does the adoption process takes?

·         The screening process will take around 6 months after which you will be invited for a    preparation group to equip and prepare you to deal with the adoption journey.

·        After preparation and home visit, you will be placed on the waiting list until there is a  suitable match

·        The court finalization and registration of the adoption could take up to 2 years – at least  the child will already be in your care so the bonding process can start.

What does an adoption cost?

·        The charge of a reasonable fee is mandated by the Act and in absence of full subsidy  from government, an unfortunate reality.  These regulations prescribe the allowed hourly  rate for professional services rendered as part of your process, i.e. therapeutic    sessions, court attendance, administration and after care

·        An income based sliding scale is applied to national adoption applicants where  applicable.  This will be discussed in your orientation session.

·        Actual costs for your legally required medical assessments, travel costs of the social  worker in provinces where we do not receive subsidy will be discussed.   

·        We want to assure you that we will take your financial position into consideration and  not deny a child a family due to your ability to make a contribution towards the service

Abba Specialist Adoptions service points and contact details:

Gauteng and Mpumalanga:	Frieda Tanton – frieda@abbaadoptions.co.za Margaret Nhlanhla – margaret@abbaadoptions.co.za Leonie Greyling – leonie@abbaadoptions.co.za
Western Cape:	Blanche Engelbrecht:  blanche@abbaadoptionwc.co.za Albie Jackson – albie@abbaadoptionwc.co.za
North West:	Heidi Laubsher – heidi@abbaadoptions.co.za Sonto Twala – sonto@abbaadoptions.co.za
Limpopo:	Santie Oberholzer – santie@abbaadoptions.co.za Motshedisi Semenya – Motshedisi@abbaadoptions.co.za
Eastern Cape:	Denise Douglas Henry – ddh@absamail.co.za
Northern Cape	Marianna van der Westhuizen– bophelo.kby@mweb.co.za

We are looking forward to welcome you in our program!

WORLD ADOPTION DAY 2016 - 09 NOVEMBER - JOIN US!

South Africa has one of the highest rates of orphans in the world, with a fifth of all South African children homeless and more than half a million in the foster care system.

Despite these startling numbers, adoptions have decreased dramatically over the past decade and many wanting to adopt are discouraged by the belief that the process is too difficult and too costly, resulting in hundreds, even thousands, of children never getting their promise of a forever family.

On World Adoption Day, 9 November 2016, we will be celebrating the beautiful act of love  -  giving an orphaned child a forever family!

Everyone and anyone can join in creating awareness of adoption on World Adoption Day by...

·         Drawing a smiley face on your hand

·         Take a picture

·         Share on social media (Facebook, Twitter etc)

·         Remember to hashtag  -   #WORLDADOPTIONDAY

·         Let family and friends also join in!

Should you be prepared to create awareness in your community / church / organisation, please follow the link to access the very special stories of the Keyser-family (Afrikaans) and/or Kenana-family (english) in adopting their children.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uqff2bo7g1ogfzg/AABRtM91-zsY4XWUp8QiKjQla?dl=0

Let the celebration begin!

Adoption in SA - our program director, Katinka Pieterse, giving information to the Living & Loving-readers

Adoption in South Africa | Everything you need to know

The process of adopting a child can seem overwhelming when you don’t have all the facts. Here’s what you need to know about adoption in South Africa.

Adoption in South Africa is essentially the same for everyone – whether you already have your own children but choose to adopt for other reasons, or whether you are not able to have your own biological child.

Types of adoption in South Africa

There are two main types of adoption with various subcategories.

• Disclosed/open adoption:

This is when the person who wishes to adopt knows the person giving the child up for adoption. The details and identity of the adoptive parents may be disclosed to the biological parent/s and visa versa. These are mostly family-related or step-parent adoptions.

• Non-disclosed or closed adoption:

There is no disclosureof identity and the personal details of the biological parent/s or guardian/s of the child are not known to the prospective parents. In other words, there is no contact or communication between the parties.

The adoption process in South Africa

If you want to adopt a child in South Africa, you will be required to work through an accredited adoption organisation. A social worker will offer guidance and assistance as there are best-practice guidelines that will need to be followed within the accredited adoption system.
“When the new parents are informed that they have been matched with a child, arrangements will be made for them to meet the child. Unfortunately, the process of adoption doesn’t happen overnight,” says Katinka Pieterse, the chairperson of The National Adoption Coalition of South Africa.
The adoption process is not an easy one. There’s a lot of work that will need to be done and ethical minefields around every corner. Both service providers and adoptive parents need to ensure that the adoption is based on good practice and that all legal requirements are met. Most importantly, everyone needs to remain focussed on the best outcome for the child.

Katinka shares some basics on the adoption process:

Application: When working through an adoption organisation, the prospective adoptive parents start by submitting an application.

Orientation: Each organisation has its own orientation process, but it will involve the adoption process being explained to the prospective parent/s.

Screening: The screening process normally involves orientation meetings, interviews with a social worker, full medicals, marriage and psychological assessments, home visits, police clearance and references. This process allows social workers to get to know prospective adopters as a family, their motivation to adopt, and their ability to offer a loving and stable home.

Waiting list: Once screening is complete, applicants are placed on a waiting list for a child. The applicants will make decisions about the age and sex of the child they would like to adopt, and the organisation will try to meet their expectations as far as possible.

Identifying a child for adoption: There will be an introductory period when the prospective parent/s are introduced to the child. The length of supervised time they spend together will depend on the age of the child. In most cases of non-related adoption, the child’s adoptability process is a separate, legal, one. Only once the child is declared legally adoptable can a potential match with screened adoptive parents take place.

The legalisation: Legal finalisation of the adoption, registration and noting of adoption on the population register are the final steps to be taken. Unfortunately, these can take a year or longer to finalise. Consent from the biological parent/s and other parties involved can be withdrawn up to 60 days after giving legal consent. It is, therefore, strongly recommended that children are only placed after this period has lapsed. The Children’s Act also makes provision for the adoption to be cancelled, even after finalisation, but this can be prevented by ensuring that all legal requirements are met. Once the child has been with the new parents for a period of time, and the social worker has assessed the adoption to be in the best interests of the child, the adoption is finalised through the Children’s Court.

The cost involved

The Children’s Act provides a basic cost structure for accredited organisations. Some organisations are subsidised by the National Department of Social Development, and will charge a nominal fee; others are not subsidised and will charge a bit more. The department is responsible for monitoring accredited service providers to ensure that they charge reasonable fees.

Intercountry adoptions

South Africa is a party to the Hague Convention on intercountry adoptions, and facilitates intercountry adoptions in accordance with the convention’s guiding principles. Most often, people adopt from South Africa rather than the other way around. South Africa has working agreements in place with specific countries and accredited organisations. Katinka explains that adoptable children who can’t be successfully matched with adoptive parents in South Africa are considered for intercountry adoptions.
“Intercountry adoptions are a more difficult process, since they entail the legal requirements and processes of two
countries. Parents could also wait a long time before they are matched, due to the limited number of children placed for inter-country adoptions,” adds Katinka.

Follow this link to read full article as published on www.living&loving.co.za

SUPPORT GROUP FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS

Adopting your Step Child? What's the process?

Elke Day of Adoptcare shares this insightful article with us.

Download it here

THANK YOU!

Mandela Day 2016.

18 July 2016.

It has come and gone...

But it left us feeling deeply grateful towards each and every person that decided to actively participate in changing a little newborn's (and the new mommy's) first days after birth by donating, giving, packing and delivering a baby box/care crib.

We appreciate you. And we thank you.

OUR SANDTRAY...

WE NEED CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS OUR SANDTRAY, WHICH IS USED WITH OUR YOUNG CHILDREN DURING THERAPY.

IF YOU CAN ASSIST, PLEASE E-MAIL tina@abbaadoptions.co.za

MANDELA DAY 2016 - Join us!

18 JULY = MANDELA DAY 2016

WHAT WILL YOU & YOUR COLLEAGUES, YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR SCHOOL OR YOUR CHURCH DO TO INSPIRE CHANGE ON MANDELA DAY 2016?

Don't know yet?

Join us in our Baby Box-project!

How to get involved:

·         *  Donate a R1,000 per baby box

·         *  Collect & donate the content of the baby box  -  see details underneath

·         *  Collect content & pack a baby box on Mandela Day

The baby box & baby mattress are already sponsored and will be delivered to those who wish to pack the boxes themselves.

To arrange drop-off of sponsored empty baby boxes, pick-up of packed baby boxes or any queries, please contact leonie@abbaadoptions.co.za

What happens when adoptive parents no longer want the adopted child?

CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson speaks to Steven Nicholson, the Executive Director of Arise Cape Town to find out what the law says about adoptive parents who want to relinquish their rights as adoptive parents.

See the full article here: http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/14248/what-happens-when-adoptive-parents-no-longer-want-the-adopted-child