Adoption Procedure- How to Register

In many movies and dramas when a couple is childless, there are scenes where the couple just  goes to an orphanage and chooses the child they want. It looks as easy as buying a product from a store! In my experience it is so contrary to reality. But then it is a movie or drama where there will always be exaggeration of reality or people will not like to see it. The other day I got a phone call on my mobile asking me if it was Bala Mandir. On my confirmation, the person on the other side explained that he was childless and would like to book online for a child. After which he went on to ask me as to when he could come and take the child. Many times such calls do come and each time I try to explain that there is a process for adoption which would take them a minimum of two to three years for them to be placed with a child after their registration.

All adoptions of children from institutions are now governed by (CARA)- Central Adoption Resource Authority an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. There is a website giving all information for Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) who wish to register and also for parents who have already registered and waiting their turn .

1. All couples wishing to adopt have to log onto www.cara.wcd. gov.in and under the heading Parents- resident Indian parents for those residing in India- newly registering parents – they can read and understand about their eligibility, guidelines for adoption, documents required   are and then they can register online.

2. They will have to choose the Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA) which is closest to their residence to do their home study. The home study is a process by which the Social Worker of the SAA goes to the residence of the PAPs- to check their eligibility in terms of psycho-social, physical and financial ability and also verify the original documents which they have uploaded on the website.

3. After the PAPs are identified, the Home Study Report (HSR) of the PAPs is uploaded on the CARA website. This will then allow PAPs to view their seniority in the list.

4. In the meantime, PAPs are encouraged to read more about adoption and also meet other adoptive parents, to be able to talk and understand more about the process. In most cases seeing the happiness of the couple who have already adopted, gives a boost to their decision.

5. Further process is usually explained by the PAPs who have already adopted or the SAA conducting their HSR.

6. Once the PAPs are matched with a child, CARA will inform them on their registered mobile number and also by email that they have been matched with a child. The PAPs will have to log onto their Ids on the CARA website and view these documents and photo of the child. They are given 48 hours to decide if they want to choose the child or not.

7. The documents they can view are MER – Medical Examination Report of the child prepared by the examining doctor on the SAA side, CSR- Child study prepared by the Social Worker giving some details about the child and photo of the child. Parents can go through the medicals with the help of their doctor and can take a call on  choosing the child. All this is only online and they cannot see the child during this process.

8. After they select the child, within a month’s time they will be called for a meeting with the Adoption Committee of the SAA where they have chosen the child. They have to travel with all their documents including the original HSR for the matching process. After the committee interviews them and is satisfied, only then will the child be shown to them.

9. The process of pre-adoptive foster care is effected and the PAPs can bring the child back to their residence. In the meantime, the SAA will file the case with the District Magistrate (DM) for further processing. The PAPs with the child have to appear for the physical hearing of the DM. On the same day, orders for adoption will be handed over to them.

10. The SAA will do the post adoption follow-up every six months for a period of two years. After the process of placement of the child, it is Happy Parenting for all those who have adopted a child!