HOW DOES THE ADOPTIONS PROCESS WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA?

HOW DOES THE ADOPTIONS PROCESS WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA?

Adoption is a legal process that allows individuals or couples to assume the parental responsibilities of a child who is not their biological offspring. In South Africa, adoption is regulated by the Children’s Act of 2005, which sets out the procedures and requirements that must be followed by prospective adoptive parents. The process can take several months, sometimes up to a year, and involves several stages: Application – Prospective adoptive parents must submit an application to the Provincial Department of Social Development, accompanied by relevant documents. Screening – The Department of Social Development will conduct a screening process, which includes a home study, to determine the suitability of the prospective adoptive parents to care for a child. Matching – Once a suitable child becomes available for adoption, the Department of Social Development will match the child with prospective adoptive parents based on a range of criteria. Placement – Prospective adoptive parents will be required to attend pre-adoption workshops and counselling sessions before the child is placed in their care. The child will then be placed in their home for a period of at least three months and monitored by a social worker. Finalization – Once the social worker is satisfied that the placement is successful, the adoptive parents can apply to the Children’s Court to finalize the adoption.