Your Guide to Adoption

Who can adopt?

Anybody within New Zealand may make contact with Oranga Tamariki to enquire about adoption. They will guide families from there.

Important considerations

It is strongly recommended by both fertility clinics and Oranga Tamariki that people finish any form of fertility treatment before applying to adopt. Both fertility treatment and the adoption process are emotionally exhausting and require people’s full attention.

Open adoption – what is it?

Open adoptions are based on an agreement reached at the time of placing a child with adoptive parents. In essence, there will be some form of continued contact between the birth parents, the adoptive parent(s) and the child. The nature of this contact varies between people and over time within families. The agreement is voluntary and needs to be flexible.

The process of adoption, explained

The process of adoption is robust and can be lengthy.

Step 1:

Initial contact should be made with the Adoption Services section of Oranga Tamariki. People will be recommended to attend an information session which explains the adoption process and allows time to discuss issues and answer questions.

Step 2:

A number of forms are required to be completed and submitted including the provision of medical information and authority for Oranga Tamariki to conduct police checks and reference checks.

Step 3:

Attendance is then required at a series of seminars to give an understanding of adoption within New Zealand and internationally, and the open adoption system. At this point, people are assigned a social worker to become the contact with Adoption Services.

Step 4

Social worker interviews and home visits from social workers are conducted, which focus on the many issues surrounding adoption.

Step 5

People are then required to create a profile about themselves to be made available to birth parents in order to help selection. When the requirements are completed, the profile is put into the pool for consideration by birth parents. If chosen by birth parents, the adopting parent(s) will be supported through the next stages by their social worker. This time is an exciting and anxious time for adopting parent(s).

Domestic adoption

Deciding to participate in the adoption process, unfortunately, does not guarantee a child. There are many New Zealanders who would like to adopt a child, with only a small number available at any given time. Each region can be different, and as such it is worth discussing with a social worker to determine what the local situation is.

Inter-country adoption (ICA)

New Zealand law allows adoption from certain overseas countries. Inter-country adoption has costs associated with the process; however the likelihood of successfully adopting a child is relatively good once you are approved. Intercountry adoption has special considerations and thorough planning and consideration is strongly recommended.

The first stage of ICA – education and assessment – can be conducted by Adoption First Steps or Oranga Tamariki. The second stage, placement, is available through ICANZ, Oranga Tamariki or Compassion for Orphans.

The new family

It takes time for any new parents to build a lifestyle with their child. Because adoption tends to happen quickly, new parents may find the transition difficult as they come to terms with the impact such as the reduction to a single income; one parent at home during the day; broken nights’ sleep, and the cost of obtaining clothes and equipment.

While this initial adjustment may seem daunting, there is support available and the assigned social worker is available in the early stages to help work through the transition period.

The legal situation

In New Zealand, a birth mother is not legally allowed to sign an interim adoption order until 10 full days have elapsed since the birth of her child. She is required to see a separate lawyer from the adopting parents.

Upon her signing, the adoptive parents are able to sign their side of the agreement to become the legal parents of the child. At that point, the adoptive parents can take the child home to begin their lives together as a family.

This interim order will need to be made final after about a year by applying to the court for the final order. At this point the adopted child is given a new birth certificate. The adoptive parents’ lawyer will be familiar with the process of adoption and will help guide parents through this.

Guardianship and fostering

Guardianship and fostering are other ways Oranga Tamariki can help you become parents. Oranga Tamariki has a policy to find permanent homes for children under 5 years of age as quickly as possible after permanently removing them from their carer. These children are generally not babies but young children.

Guardianship is shared with Oranga Tamariki who can help in understanding this process. Fostering is available through a number of organisations. It can involve short-term care and long-term care. To learn about this option, contact foster care organisations through Oranga Tamariki.

In conclusion

Deciding to commence the adoption process requires thought and discussion. It is a big step, often with a change in focus with different goals and steps along the way. There are counsellors at fertility clinics and social workers at Oranga Tamariki who are trained and able to provide information to help with this transition. Families created by adoption are very similar in most ways to families with children born to them.

For further information contact:

Oranga Tamariki, Adoption unit. Ph 0508 326459  www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/adoption

ICANZ Inter-country Adoption New Zealand Ph: 09 623 9369 Email: office@icanz.gen.nz www.icanz.gen.nz

Adoption First Steps Ph: 027 237 2014 Email: info@adoptionfirststeps.org.nz www. adoptionfirststeps.org.nz

Compassion for Orphans Ph: 0800 236 000 www. cfo.org.nz