RATIONALE

Pursuant to Section 4 Article II, subparagraph (e) of the Philippine Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995 which indicates that the Board shall “promote the development of adoption services including post legal adoption.” 

Increasing numbers of inquiries for assistance in the search and reunion process and referrals for counseling  about  issues/problems arising from being adopted. Generally, separated by adoption are now open  to search  for each other , and to explore  possibilities  to exchange information  or to have contact with each other.

DESCRIPTION

Post Adoption Services shall refer to psycho-social  and support services  provided to the adoptee, adopter and the biological parents, popularly known as the adoption triangle, by a professionally trained social worker  and/or other discipline  e.g., psychiatrist/psychologist, etc., after the adoption is legally completed. 

SERVICES OFFERED

Counseling about adoption issues.

Access to original birth certificate

Provision of adoption records

Assistance to interpret and clarify information in the records

Search assistance  to find birth family and relatives.

Other intermediary services for adoptive parents, birth parents  and relatives.

Motherland Tour

RECORD KEEPING/DATA BANK/ DOCUMENTATION

• DSWD Archive
• Inter-Country Adoption Board 
  

PROCEDURES:

A. Search process:  

• The intent to search may be allowed only upon the personal request made by either  the adult adoptee, adopter or the biological parent/s. Minors who are interested to search for his/her biological parent/s shall be represented by his/her adoptive parents. 
• The request must be made in writing  by whoever intends to trace his/her roots to the Executive Director  of the Inter-Country Adoption Board.
• Assess and determine the motivations and preparedness of the individual  to pursue the search.
• Identifying information e.g., names, address, personal  background etc. may be shared only between  and among the adult adoptee, adoptive parents and his/her birth parents and only of they give their written consent.
• Non-identifying  information e.g., medical records circumstances which lead to the adoption of child but not  necessarily  divulging  the identity  of concerned individual etc. may be made available  to both adoptive parents/s and birth parents and the adoptee under 18 years old.
• The use of tri-media.

• Approval/Consent from the birth parents, adoptive parents and the adoptee must be secured before  contact and/or  reunion with each other can be arranged.]
• When reunion is decided, preparations of all concerned must be carefully planned to avoid any possible  negative experience. The social worker must also consider the decision and the readiness of  the adoptee  and the biological parent/s on whether to involve  the significant  person/s in their  present lives.
• The timing of any approach  to family members  is very critical  and incredibly important at this point. The social worker  must be aware of the impact  on all parties desiring contact. He/She  must  be able  to offer  a mediating approach  to support  people at  this time, and to try  and negotiate and agreeable outcome for all concerned, while  at the same time  providing  support the process.
• The birth parent/s and the adoptee  must be given time and space to arrive at a decision at how their lives will move on after the reunion.

• the child/adopted person, with appropriate guidance and counseling, or his/her duly authorized representative, spouse, parent or parent or parents, direct descendants, or guardian or legal institution legally in charge of the adopted person, if minor;
• the court or proper public official  whenever necessary in an administrative, judicial or other official proceeding to determine the identity  of the parent or parents or of the circumstances surrounding the birth of the child/adopted person; or