Inter-Country Adoption

All applications to adopt from overseas are treated in a similar way to domestic adoption applications through a local authority, in that a preparation course, assessment, report and consideration by the Worcestershire Adoption Panel takes place.

This process is explained in more detail on the Steps to Adoption page. After this the papers are sent to the Department of Education for processing.

A charge is made by Worcestershire County Council's Adoption Agency to cover the cost of the preparation course, assessment (Home Study) and the completion of the prospective adopter's report.

All applications have to be made to the local authority and legislation informs the legal process for Inter Country Adoption under the Adoption and Children Act 2005.

We offer applicants who are seriously interested in Inter-Country Adoption a counselling interview with a specialist social worker at an early stage in their thinking. It is necessary for a specific country to be chosen by applicants at the start of the Home Study.

Issues to consider:

Loss/separation/abandonment - When taking the child from their birth family, country, culture and people like themselves. Consideration will need to be given as to how you can address/compensate for this. How much are other cultures represented in your lifestyle now and in particular that country of your choice? Have you the resources, ability and wish to return to the child's birth country in the years ahead and promote the child's culture throughout his/her life? Do you feel you already have a thorough enough understanding of their culture and language to be able to meet their immediate needs and also in the long term?

Difference - How do you cope with issues of difference both within your family and the wider community? How will you cope with these issues with your child? What impact may this have on other family members?

Medical issues and inheritance factors – In most cases minimal or no information is known about the child's birth family, and many of the children have been abandoned. Medical records and background information for the child are usually not available. The children have often spent their early months/years in institutional care which affects the process of attachment and their ability to relate to new people.

Finance - Going abroad to adopt is always expensive. Apart from the Home Study fee, you will have travel expenses, possible translation costs, fees to the adoption agency in the chosen country, donation to the orphanage, legal fees, entry clearance costs, etc.

Timescales - The whole process can often take from two to three years or more. This is dependent on the procedures in the chosen country. Current timescales for particular countries can be advised by the specialist social worker at the initial interview.

These are just a few things for you to think about, there are many more.