|
|
Thai Adoption
Group & Thai Adoption
Group
Part 1: Thai Adoption Group. Adoptions from Thailand to Ireland commenced in 1994. At the last count, there were 30 Thai children adopted to the Island of Ireland. These children are well spread about the island , and the number is steadily growing. From an early stage, people interested in adopting from Thailand were in contact informally to help with applications, the procedures. Increasingly, contact became more social to facilitate Thai children in Ireland and their parents maintaining contact with each other.
In April 1999, TAG had a get together at The Tain, Carlingford, Co. Louth. As well as having an enjoyable time, considerable discussion took place around addressing the increasing interest in adoption from Thailand and how those who had been through the system could satisfy that interest. Some of the Thai adoption pioneers (!) had been carrying a very heavy burden by way of a substantial newsletter (Sanuk), talking to interested parties etc.. As a result, a committee was formed and here we are.
The TAG committee has since formulated a draft constitution (yet to be adopted). In it's new form, the group has arranged social get togethers (for parents and children), has done a little fund raising for children in care in Thailand and put together this website. The committee have also liaised with the Adoption Board and other adoption related organisations so that TAG members can be advised of meetings etc. if relevant to their particular adoption situation. The mood within the group is positive and supportive of other Thai/Irish adoptive couples and those interested in travelling that road. It is also (indeed mainly) a lot fun.
Part 2: Thai Inter-country Adoption.
A reasonable outline of the procedural aspects of preparing and forwarding an Irish (Republic & Northern) application to adopt in Thailand is set out under the PROCEDURES button and the following discourse outlines the general framework in Thailand and how events unfold after an Application has been accepted in Thailand.
The General Experience:- Inter country adoption from Thailand is organised via the Thai Child Adoption Centre (Department of Public Welfare) in Bangkok where information on Thai children available for adoption is kept. The Child Adoption Centre, in conjunction with it's regional offices and Children Homes, match children in care with approved applicants. There are no administrative or other charges involved in the process. When the Child Adoption Centre matches applicants with a child, confirmation of the matching is returned to the Adoption Board (in the Republic) and the Applicants (in Northern Ireland) along with details of the child. In the Republic, the Adoption Board then forwards the information to the Applicant couple. Generally, the details of the child would comprise a photograph, a medical history for the child's time in care and if known, further details of background. Depending on a child's particular personal history, information can be modest or reasonable. If the Applicant couple accept the matching, confirmation of acceptance is communicated to Thailand (via the Adoption Board in the Republic) where the Child Adoption Centre in Bangkok then approves a pre-adoption placement with the Applicant couple. Depending on the age of the child matched, it is customary (and very advisable !), before travelling to Thailand to prepare and forward to the Childrens Home a "Welcome Album" which is basically a photo album of the Applicant couple, their home etc.. This is used to assist in preparing a child for placement. It is the only input that the Applicant couple will have in the child's preparation and obviously should be well done. Applicants then travel to Thailand where they will meet with their child and ultimately take custody. Although the Adoption Centre in Bangkok will permit one partner to travel alone on this mission (if there are very extenuating circumstances!), the almost universal view of TAG members is that this undertaking demands the attendance of both applicants. If Applicants already have children, TAG would recommend that the children be brought to Thailand (if at all possible) in order that they too can build up their bond with their new sibling. Nothing can really prepare one for this journey; yet, one can not prepare enough. There is a range of materials which (for example) deal with children's experience of separation and loss and adoptors should consult as many of these materials before traveling as possible (see Infopac button). Talking to those who have gone before is also good preparation. On average, couples spend 2 to 3 weeks in Thailand. The experience of meeting and taking custody of the child can vary considerably, depending on the child's age, his/her preparation for placement and general disposition. Often, a couple will visit the Childrens Home a number of times and slowly build up confidence (on both sides!) before taking the child into custody. Sometimes a child will be ready on the first meeting. The carers in the home usually advise on this. Before leaving Thailand, couples appear before an Adoption Panel Meeting in Bangkok where the pre-adoption placement is confirmed and the necessary documentation to enable the child be taken out of the jurisdiction is prepared. Coupes at this point also pay for their child's passport (approximately £10.00). With the Panel meeting finished, although Thailand is a beautiful country, couples really want to get home onto their own ground and settle down with their child. How TAG members have handled the experience of returning home with their children has varied considerably and again, what is the most appropriate way will depend on the child adopted. Some have (understandably) had large reception parties at the Airport or their home, other couples have (equally understandably) felt it best to avoid this as it may only frighten an already distressed child. This is really a judgement call as is the manner in which the child is introduced into his/her new family and community in the days, weeks and months after returning. TAG would suggest however that all of these matters always proceed at the child's pace. Once back home, the adoption process continues as at that point, the child is strictly with the parents on a pre-adoption placement. The Child Adoption Centre requires that the local Health Board carries out 3 bi-monthly visits to the home and furnished 3 reports to the Centre in Bangkok detailing how the placement is proceeding. The last such visit and report must be over 6 months from the child's arrival in Ireland. Assuming all has gone well (and to date, it always has), the couple are eventually invited to attend at the Royal Thai Embassy in London where the Final Thai Adoption Order is made. The foregoing resume may give the impression of a very protracted experience and in particular, the 6 month post-placement "limbo". For that 6 months however, your hands are very full and time flies! The Child Adoption Centre estimates that matching will on average take 12 months and TAG's experience would confirm that estimate. That time however can be well spent in preparation by consulting materials of interest etc. Overall, TAG members have found Thailand very satisfactory. At every level, (Child Adoption Centre & in the Childrens' Homes) the Thais are very child centred and best adoption practices are at all times followed. Overall, the experience has been positive and fulfilling.
Thais & The Children:- Children become available for adoption in Thailand for various reasons. Some children are orphaned, some abandoned. Sometimes, parents are for whatever reason unable to parent them. These children are kept in state run or privately run Children's Homes spread across Thailand. Irish couples have adopted children from homes in Bangkok (& environs), Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Pattaya and Songkhla. Most children available for adoption in Thailand are adopted domestically (approximately 70%). There are more boys available for adoption than girls and children are now available for adoption from 3 months of age (previously, this was 1 year). It would appear very unlikely however, that children of that age would be adopted abroad. Applicants can specify an age for the child they wish to adopt, but will wait longer to be matched than if a more open specification (eg. 0 to 3 years) is given. Similarly, applicants specifying a girl will probably wait longer to be matched than if either, or a boy is specified. It is possible to adopt siblings from Thailand, but TAG has no experience of such a placement and it is believed to be quire rare. The experience of TAG members would indicate that the Thais care deeply for their children. Children Homes have never been found to be harsh or uncaring, generally, the contrary has been the case. Even after placement, and final adoption, some homes maintain contact with a child by way of birthday cards, Christmas cards etc. and staff at the homes generally welcome any information on how a Thai child has been fairing after adoption abroad. As further evidence of the Thais interest in children adopted abroad, the Child Adoption Centre organises a tri-annual event known as THE NATIVE LAND VISIT at which children adopted out of Thailand along with their families are invited to return to rekindle their interest in the country, it's people and (ideally) the homes from which the children came. The most recent Native Land Visit occurred in Summer 1999 and for the first time, an Irish family attended. The next Native Land Visit is scheduled for 2002.
Basic Applicant Eligibility:- There does not appear to be any clearly laid out code that defines applicant eligibility for adoption from Thailand. From our experience and from contact with others, the following general eligibility profile emerges. Thailand requires that Applicants be at least 25 years of age and will only be placed with a child at least 15 years younger than the Applicants. Whilst Applicants over 45 are eligible to adopt in Thailand, they generally are only matched with an older child and must also have previous parenting experience. As of now, only couples may apply to adopt, but it is anticipated that single female applicants will be eligible to adopt a child with some disability in the medium term. The Child Adoption Centre would probably consider an Applicant with a criminal record ineligible. Where a couple, without very good reason reject a matching, they are significantly less likely to be matched again. There is a perception amongst couples who have adopted from Thailand that babies tend to be be placed with young couples (mid 30's down), toddlers with couples in the late 30's to early 40's; and older children (ie 3 upwards) with couples in their mid 40's. Applicant couples are obviously required to be basically financially secure.
The Thai Tips button at the top of the page leads to a list of miscellaneous tips which have been suggested from time to time by TAG members. If you are travelling to Thailand to adopt in the near future, you may find them of interest. |
