Child Protection India Project #7716

Move Abandoned Children into Adoption in India

by Catalysts for Social Action

Move Abandoned Children into Adoption in India

Project Report | Jan 2, 2018
SUCCESSFUL GRASS ROOT SENSITIZATION WORKSHOPS

By Wilma Correa | Donor Relations & Communication Manager

Adoption Awareness Grass Root Workshop at Odisha

In India, Adoptions are the responsibility of a Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA), under the WCD (Women & Child Development) Ministry. CARA has laid down guidelines for adoption in India as well International broadly in alignment with the Hague Convention. CARA also operates the central database of all children available for adoption, called CARINGS. CARA is supported by a network of State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) in every state. All adoption agencies are meant to be registered with either CARA or respective SARA for undertaking adoption work.

In intent, policy and laws, India is on the right track and in compliance with the UN and Hague Convention. However, in practice and implementation there are many issues and gaps.

Our mission is to work with all stakeholders including Government to improve policies, streamline implementation and create systemic and attitudinal change. It is imperative to engage critical stakeholders like social workers, Anganwadi workers, police, judiciary, other NGOs in order to create awareness of the role that they can play. CSA conducts awareness and sensitization workshops for different stakeholders on adoption.

In Odisha, in 2017, we have conducted Grassroot level workshops and trained over 1750 Anganwadi (Rural) Workers & Helpers from over 15 districts. A significant outcome has been the receipt of information pertaining to 10 totally orphan children that was communicated to the respective District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) & Child Welfare Committee (CWC). 1 child was moved into an Adoption agency & is awaiting adoption. 2 sibling children were also moved into an Adoption agency & in December 2017, these siblings were adopted!

We are very encouraged by the outcomes of our sensitization work at grass root worker levels - Anganwadi workers. Their awareness and support is essential to identify children for whom adoption may be a good option in the best interest of the child.

Our endeavor in working on the adoption cause will continue unabated and one day, we will make a loving family a reality for every child!

Workers in Rapt Attention at an Awareness Workshop

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Oct 13, 2017
11 children step closer to finding loving families

By Wilma Correa | Donor Relations & Communication Manager

An Everlasting Smile

Children need a family with whom they can bond. Children need daily guidance and love that take time, commitment, and maturity. Adoption is a good way to meet the fundamental needs of children who need a family. Growing up in a loving and happy family is the best possible outcome for an orphaned child as he gets individual attention and resources which are not available to him otherwise.

There are less than 5000 legal adoptions in our country. In a country with over 20 million orphans, this number is ridiculously small. Adoption is by far the best outcome for an orphaned child – much better than life in institutionalized care. It is a win-win for the Adoptive parents as well and there are enough parents willing to adopt a child.

The biggest reason for low adoption numbers is shortage of children available with the adoption agencies. The number of registered adoptive parents is more than 10,000 while on CARA's (Central Adoption Resource Authority) website, the children available for adoption are only about 1500. Thus, there are enough parents wishing to adopt and not enough children available in the adoption stream.

In our work with orphanages, we have noticed many young children without any parental contact or whose parents' where abouts are not known. On a case to case basis, we have facilitated movement of such children into adoption and they have been placed with families. This has happened to 50+ children and is one of the most fulfilling and joyful outcomes from our work, because for these children, their life has been completely transformed on a permanent basis.

We again had a breakthrough in September 2017 in Odisha - Kandhamal district where 11 children were declared legally 'free for adoption' & are, therefore, a step closer to being adopted by loving families!

As an organisation, CSA is continuously striving to make every effort to see that no child is deprived of a family through the beautiful gift of adoption!

Bonded by Love!

Links:

CSA's Facebook Page

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Jul 17, 2017
Safe abandoning

By Lucy Mathews | Sr. Program Officer

Number of children up for adoption is very less not because the parents are not willing but the reason is children are not available for adoption. CSA has worked in the area of Adoption for the last 14 years. We started by promoting adoption and offering an Helpline to prospective Parents. We then moved to capability building of rural Adoption agencies in Maharashtra and Orissa because we found that they were doing very few adoptions. The work included infrastructure support, training of Social workers and child care workers and connecting them up with urban parents. This was very successful and led a substantial increase in number of adoptions from these Agencies on a sustainable basis.

- Grassroot Mobilisation Programs: we run workshops and training programs for people involved with child protection like police, CWC, and other grassroot NGO’s at the district level and for Anganwadi and health workers at the block level. This is to create awareness about adoption and steps to be taken to make children legally free for adoption. Focus is given on the safe abandoning of the children. We found the child form unwed mother is not accepted in Indian society and the mother or the relative of such mother has no option then to abandon the child. Many cases were seen where the child is thrown in Garbage or at public places. And the child goes through enumber of sufferings. To make the community aware of the options available for abandoning these type of children and making their future safe is one major task we have under taken.

We ventured in to a district in Maharashtra called Satara and conducted such workshops for the community workers and made them aware of the adoption system and where the child can be safe by keeping the respective confidentiality. This initiative had major impact as many of the community leader were handing the group of adolescent girls and this was an add on information for both the community workers and the stakeholder. Hoping a safe atmosphere for the child who probably can fall under high risk factors and wishing to get a safe and loving family of his own through adoption.

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