MANILA, Philippines ? Who may adopt?
Any person who has passed a thorough home study process to determine his/her suitability for adoptive parenthood?married couples, single, unmarried persons; Filipino citizens and foreign nationals who have lived in the Philippines for at least three years immediately prior to application.
1. Submit a written application with a child placement agency licensed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Preferences in age and gender can be indicated.
2. The agency assigns a social worker to conduct a home study consisting of?
a. series of interviews
b. home visits
c. orientation forum with referrals to support groups of the Adoptive Families Foundation (c/o Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, tel. 9121159; 4211223, Email: affphil@yahoo.com)
3. The child eligible for adoption must be declared legally abandoned by the court if, after publication in the newspaper and after three to six months, no one has claimed the child or if he/she had been surrendered by the mother for adoption with written consent.
4. Matching stage. Factors considered: prospective parents who can meet the needs of the child; age and gender preferences; physical features
5. The DSWD grants Pre-Adoptive Placement Authority to bring the child home for a six-month trial period, which consists of:
a. regular home visits by social worker
b. participation in support group activities
6. Get a lawyer to file a petition to adopt in court
7. Publish a notice of your petition in a local newspaper, once a week for three consecutive weeks
8. Court hearing: parent petitioners and social worker
9. Court issues adoption decree
10. Go to local civil registrar and apply for an amended birth certificate -- new surname for the child and one that identifies you as parents
11. Post-legal adoption counseling
Where to apply?
Child Placement Center
DSWD NCR
399 San Rafael St. cor Legarda St.
San Miguel, Manila
Tel. 7348651,734-4249,7348646
E-mail: regionaldir_ncr@yahoo.com
www.dswd.gov.ph/adoption
Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (KBF)
56 10th Ave. Cubao, QC
Tel 9121159, 4211223
Other Child Caring Agencies:
1. Hospicio de San Jose
Ayala Bridge, Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 734-2367,734-2368
Telfax: 734-2366 Website:www.rcam.org/ministry/socialservices/ hospicio.htm
2. CRIBS Foundation Inc.
Major Dizon St., Industrial Valley Complex
Marikina City 1802
Tel: (632) 681-5921
(632) 681-8078
Fax: (632) 647-1329
E-mail: cribsnet@info.com.ph
Website: www.cribsfoundation.org
3. Heart of Mary Villa
394-M.H. del Pilar St., Malabon, MM
Telfax: 277-1473, 446-7341
Website: www.rcam.org/ministry/socialservices/
heartofmaryvilla.htm
Source: Culled from the Q & A from ?24 Stories of Adoption,? copyright 2000 by Adoptive Families Foundation Inc. Published by Tawid Publications
