Feb. 23. 07…Gauteng Wide Social Work Meeting on Adoption

This morning I went to a social workers meeting on adoption. It was very interesting to hear how adoption is done here in South Africa from South African social workers.

Here are the differences…
South Africa United States

*they don’t have waiting lists because *at least 2 year wait list
there are soo many babies and children
abandoned at hospitals, streets, etc.
*birthmother has 60 days after she has *once signed no way to go back
signed her parental rights to come back and
say she wants the child back
*adoption costs R500-R2000 (about $70-266.70) *$12,500-42,000
*social worker has to inform paternal father, *doesn’t have to inform anyone
grandmother, grandfather, maternal grandmother, but the father of the baby of
and grandfather of the unborn baby of the mothers the adoption decision
decision to place the baby for adoption
*have a sliding fee structure set up by govt *up to agency to decide on fees
as to how much the adoption can costs
*screening (homestudy) is similar but s.worker *homestudy tends to last 2
meets with family less times months
*Critieria for adoptive families, *very similar, but can be 21
be between ages 25-39, can only have max years of age for married couple,
of 3 children, if you already have can have biological children,
biological children less likely to screen can be over the age of 39 to adopt
you, you have to be married for at least a
year, they do adopt to gays, singles, and
internationally.

I just found out that Mohau Centre doesn’t charge for their adoptions!