A child can be a source of great joy and pride, but adopting a child is a big step in the lives of foster parents and children alike.

If you are considering adoption, you need to be sure you are ready for the responsibility; that you can provide your child a safe and loving home.

Our adoption process is designed to ease you into the role of a parent:

STEP 1: Pre-adoptive counselling

One of our social workers meets you at our office, for 2 separate 30-minute meetings. In these meetings we explore basic issues such as:

• The steps involved in adoption
• How old a child you want to adopt
• Your background, etc.

STEP 2: Registration and preparing documents

Once you are sure that you want to go ahead with the adoption, you officially register with us, paying a Rs. 250/- registration fee.

We give you a receipt, an application form, and a list of documents you will need to provide (e.g. age proof, income proof, etc.).

STEP 3: Home visit

After you submit all the documents, we fix a time for one of our social workers to visit your home and find out about:

• Your neighborhood
• Your family members and their perceptions about adoption
• Any specific choices you have regarding the child you want to adopt, etc.

STEP 4: Matching a child

After the home visit we begin trying to match a child for you. Once we have found a match, you take the child for a complete medical check-up. While we ensure that all our children are examined thoroughly, we encourage you to do the same with a doctor of your choice.

STEP 5: Foster care (3-6 months)

Once you are sure you have the child you want, you take him/her home for a trial period – a chance to bond. We stay in touch with you, either over the phone or through more home visits.

STEP 6: Legalization (2-3 months)

After the foster care period, you will need to provide further documentation (such as a family photograph with the child, records of his/her medical fitness, etc.) and appear in court. Here you finally receive an official court order making you the legal parent of the child.

For a table outlining the adoption process in detail please download the document listed below: