#1: Adoption critical
- For couples, both parties got to agree and consent
- Can someone single adopt? Yes, but if you are a male, you cannot adopt a girl.
- Adopter has to be at least 25 years old, at least 21 years older than the child
#2: Sign up for the compulsory Pre-adoption workshop
Do not be afraid that, what if you are still unsure about whether to adopt?
This workshop will help you to better understand what to expect in an adoption, your responsibilities as adoptive parents and the needs of adopted child.
I highly encourage the couple to attend together so that both will be on the same page in terms of the information given.
Equipped with the information you need, it will be easier for the couple to discuss and pray through together before making the lifelong commitment and decision.
Sign up via this link:
https://app.adoption.gov.sg/WorkshopPARegistration.aspx
There are different agency providing this workshop that is accredited by the MSF. You can choose the one you prefer based on the date and timing and venue that suit you the most. Personally, Ivan and i went to Touch Family Services. :)
Note that there are also different workshops available, but be sure that you attend the 'Pre-Adoption Workshop' first :)
Once you have attended the workshop and have decided to proceed, go on to the next step.
#3: Apply for Home Study
Home Study is a compulsory study required by MSF. They are carried out by one of the accredited agency of your choice:
- Touch Family Services
- Lutheran Community Care
- Fei Yue Community Services
- Apkim Centre for Social Services
*Each agency have their own waiting period according to the amount of cases they have on hand.
* If you are planning to adopt from China, note that home study report is different and the only accredited agency to do the home study are Touch Family Services and Fei Yue Community Services.
You can submit your online application via this link:
https://app.adoption.gov.sg/ApplyForHomeStudy.aspx
#4: Submit hardcopy documents to agency
There is a checklist of documents you will need to prepare at the end of the form.
Print out the checklist and be sure to prepare and get them ready.
Once ready, submit he hardcopy of everything together at the agency.
The faster you have all these documents ready, the faster they can process your application and arrange for the first interview.
#5: Start of Home Study
The Home Study is done over a period of 5 weeks from the day the first interview starts.
The first interview is often an office interview with someone from the agency. It will usually take one whole day so do keep the day free so that you will not be trying to rush off.
There's a payment of $1,500 that need to be paid, amount may vary slightly depending on agency.
#6: Sign up for disclosure workshop
Around this time, you should start to sign up for the next disclosure workshop.
This workshop is usually held by adoptive parents who shares their experiences and advise on how you can disclosure to your child about their birth.
Sign up via this link:
https://app.adoption.gov.sg/WorkshopPARegistration.aspx
#7: Written interview of selected friend and family member
A few people (family + friends) will receive a letter in their mailbox. They are required to answer the questions and mail it back asap. Their response time will affect and may delay the completion of your home study.
#8: Home interview
This is where the agency will send someone to interview you in your home, to see if the home is conducive, whether the people staying with you knows about the adoption and are supportive. When all these are done, you will then have to wait for the final report to be out.
#9: Collect Home Study Report
This is important because you cannot already have a child living with you without this report. It is illegal.
#10: Look for placement agency
Talk to the people you meet in the workshops, some may already have their adopted child and can advise on which agency they went to.
You can also join some forums where they will share their experiences with the agencies.
Personally, i was referred to my agent through one of the parent from the workshop.
My advise, do not go to multiple agencies because you do not want to be caught in between the agencies and do not know which to decide.
As we often say, adoption is not like going to the market to shop for a baby, so we are advise not to choose.
Some of you who knew the process we went through might wonder how come we get to 'choose'. Actually we didn't really wanted to be choosing. In short, what happened to us is this. We waited for a Malaysian baby girl, who turned out to be a boy after birth. Mentally we were preparing for a girl and so it came too shocking to us. So we waited for the next malaysian baby girl, when she was born, we were about to decide when there is another Singaporean going to be born. We decided to go for the Singaporean boy so that we could do cordlife bank for the baby which we think is very important. We proceed to apply for the cordlife bank for the baby even before he is born. After birth, the parents had issues and refuse to put the baby up for adoption which to some extend i think its a good thing if the parents want to keep him. Then the same weekend, a malaysian baby girl is coming to singapore and we arrange to see her even before any photo was sent to us. We went there expecting and knowing that we are going to go for it. And there, lay our baby Zara.
My advise, pray and trust God that He will bring the right baby to you. Though we went through quite a bit of waiting and ups and downs and ups and downs... We knew that baby Zara was reserved for us in a very special way and i believe that God has also reserved the best for you.
Hope these helps whoever has thought of adopting but do not know how to go about doing it. :)
DISCLAIMER: Please note that this post is NOT meant for advertising or encouraging/discouraging people to adopt and i am NOT advertising for any agencies. This post is purely for information purposes only.
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