Low adoption rates in Phoenix: high demand for Indian babies only

DESPITE a high demand for babies in Phoenix, the adoption rates remained low, particularly for black infants, with only three babies a year being placed by child welfare.

Aroona Chetty, the Director Phoenix Child Welfare (PCW), said the low rate of adoption was due to the demand for Indian babies only.

“There is a demand for Indian babies, but we do not have many. We place about two to three  babies in adoption a year, but that is only if we have a baby that the potential parents want. We struggle to place our black babies. This is unfortunate and we hope that people become more open-minded when considering adoption,” said Chetty. 

She said the PCW followed a strict adoption process and all children who qualified for adoption had to be put on a national register.

“Clients who want to adopt come to us from Phoenix, Mount Moriah and Mount Royal. They have to be screened, go through a criminal check, and be screened against the sexual offenses register. We also have an age category, where at least both or one partner must be under 45 years old. We visit homes and do a thorough investigation before proceeding with an adoption. We call for financial statements, references and medical records. It can take up to six month for all the documents to be processed."

Chetty said there were administrative costs involved as stipulated in the Children's Act.

In Chatsworth, the demand for adoptions are low as a result of fewer adults seeking to adopt. However, the number of children needing adoption was high.

Prenashen Pillay, the Director of Child Welfare Chatsworth, said the demand for foster care was higher, even though they offered free adoptions.

“Despite the importance of adoption, the demand remains significantly lower than that for foster care. Adoption is typically pursued by financially-stable individuals or couples, who are unable to have their own children. Interestingly, our office often sees more children available for adoption than adults seeking to adopt.

“Although the Children’s Act allows for fees to be charged for adoption services, we offer the service free of charge. This is unique in comparison to most other providers, including private social workers, who may charge for their services,” he added.

He said the duration of the adoption process varied.

Private adoption services may proceed quickly due to lighter caseloads, while child protection organisations like CWC manage multiple types of cases, with adoption being just one of our many responsibilities. 

“Delays could also result from challenges such as non-compliance from applicants, relocation, or other unforeseen complications. Adoption is open to individuals or couples, who meet the suitability criteria outlined in the Children’s Act. 

“Prospective adoptive parents are thoroughly assessed by a registered social worker. This assessment considers various factors, including emotional, psychological, physical, and social stability. Applicants must also provide a police clearance and a Form 30 clearance certificate from the National Child Protection Register, confirming they have no history of child abuse or neglect.

“The adoption process is facilitated either by social workers from child protection organisations, or by private social workers. Recently, the Department of Social Development (DSD) had expanded its capacity to deliver adoption services directly,” Pillay said.

Thuba Vilane, the spokesperson for the KZN DSD, said there was no demand for adoptions in the province.

“We host awareness campaigns to increase the demand for adoption, so that families can be found for children who are in need of care and protection and who require permanent placements. Generally there is a preference for adoption of babies as adoptive parents know how important the first 1 000 days of a child is in identifying and bonding with the parent. On average there are about seven or eight adoption applications each month,” he said.

“In terms of the success of adoption, it is generally successful as many person/s who want to adopt children are unable to have children of their own or have chosen to start a family through adoption and they embrace the child as their own.

"In cases of stepparent adoption, the child and stepparent have already established a bond that just strengthens with adoption. Children who have been in the foster care system and are adopted by their foster family already have a strong bond and adoption just reinforces that bond and sense of identity of the child. Children who are adopted for a short while after birth grow up bonding and identifying with the adoptive parents as their own parents."

Vilane said once the process began, the social worker would undertake an assessment of the prospective adoptive parent/s. 

They will be placed on a waiting list of the organisation as well as be registered on the Register for Adoptable Children and Adoptive Parents (RACAP), which is a national register.

The same applies if a child is assessed as adoptable.

However, if the organisation has a screened adoptive parent and is matched with the child, then the child would not be placed on RACAP, he said.

RACAP allows matching of adoptable children and adoptive parents across the country.

“The process of assessment and investigation entails an in-depth assessment, including home circumstances of adoptive parents and family. Adoptive parents and biological parents undergo counselling sessions in preparation for adoption. The same applies with the child depending on age.

"Cross cultural adoptions are supported so long as it is in the child’s best interest in establishing life-long relationships. A person may not be disqualified from adopting a child by virtue of his or her financial status. Any person who adopts a child may apply for social assistance where applicable and this relates to child support grant and disability."

What happens when you have a match:

• Once an adoptive parent is matched with a child, a contact and bonding period is facilitated.
• The adoptive parents must make an application at court for adoption of the child with the assistance of the adoption social worker
• Once all processes of adoption are followed, a comprehensive report is compiled for submission to the DSD
• The social workers report together with a letter of recommendation from the DSD is submitted to the children’s court for a date for inquiry.
• Once the matter is presented and finalised at court, the adoption order is sent to the Central Authority for Adoptions for the Adoption to be registered. This will then be sent to the adoptive parents to allow them to register the child with the Department of Home Affairs with the new name and family surname.

Vilane said currently, adoption services were rendered by adoption social workers from the DSD at no cost.

“There are also 17 child protection organisations and seven private social workers who are accredited to render adoption services in the province. There are costs involved from these adoption service providers, which are regulated by the Children’s Act No. 38 of 2005,” he said.

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