| Simply put, Public Adoption is when a public adoption | | | | the requirements have been met and everything is |
| agency or government arranges an adoption. | | | | found to be in order, an adoption order from is given to |
| Adoptions were arranged like this in the past. These | | | | the adoptive parents. |
| days, most couples adopt using private adoption | | | | Usually, there is no charge for adopting through a public |
| agencies, especially if they are looking for a child | | | | agency. The entire process for a public adoption can |
| overseas. There are fewer choices available in public | | | | be quite a lengthy process which a couple must be |
| adoption, which usually focus primarily on the children's | | | | prepared for. It also depends on what the adoptive |
| safety and welfare. The main priority is to find ideal | | | | parents are looking for a child so if they are not too |
| parents for the child, rather than looking for the perfect | | | | choosy, the time it takes to adopt can improve |
| child for the couple adopting. In public adoption, it is the | | | | somewhat. It can take up to a year and sometimes |
| agency who take over the whole process of | | | | more to complete the home study along with the |
| choosing, and parents do not get much of a look in or | | | | information sessions. All this depends on what the |
| given enough options. | | | | parents who are adopting are looking for in a child - if |
| In the public adoption process, prospective parents still | | | | they are wanting a newborn child that is healthy, there |
| need to meet the basic requirements during their | | | | is a minimum wait of about eight years. Newborns are |
| screening, to be approved and deemed acceptable. | | | | few and far between. There are many children with |
| This is regardless of where the public adoption is | | | | special needs so an immediate placement can usually |
| taking place. An information session is set up for them | | | | be found. |
| to attend, so that all the relevant information which is | | | | There are a lot of advantages to a public adoption, as |
| very important can be collated. This is required for the | | | | usually there is no cost involved with a public agency. |
| public domestic adoption process as the parents who | | | | Those who are eager to adopt, and willing to adopt a |
| are to adopt must pass the complete police clearance | | | | child with special needs, find that the time it takes for |
| and medical reports on their health. They will also need | | | | the whole process is very short and more favourable. |
| to attend the adoption classes so as to complete a full | | | | Another advantage in public adoption is that the |
| family and social history, as this is all vital information | | | | mother is more likely to have given up their child with |
| which is needed to build up a portfolio of the couple. | | | | good reason and not look back on that decision. Most |
| Personal references should also be provided which | | | | of these children given up for public adoption are |
| gives a good character reference. An adoption | | | | looked after by the state as they have been subject |
| practitioner is also assigned to the adopting parents so | | | | to abuse, neglect or even abandoned. Their parents |
| that a home study can be carried out. Once they have | | | | may have been declared unfit and the child taken into |
| met all the requirements, a child can then be placed | | | | care for their own welfare and safety. |
| with them in their home. There is, however, a | | | | The disadvantages of public adoption are the |
| probationary period in the public adoption, for the | | | | restrictions that are imposed and the rules regarding |
| placement of the child. Follow-up visits by the adoption | | | | child placement, the types of children that are available |
| practitioner are made for continual assessment during | | | | and the wait involved, and also it depends on what the |
| this period. Once the probation period is over, the | | | | adoptive parents are looking for in a child. They usually |
| parents must then submit a post-placement report to | | | | have a picture of their ideal child. |
| the relevant parents in charge of the adoption. Once all | | | | |