ADOPTION

Giving children
a second chance

Ripples International Adoption Agency was registered as an Adoption Agency in the year 2016. Since then, the agency has conducted local adoptions in compliance with the adoption laws in Kenya. RI Adoption agency was established to respond to the challenges faced in the adoption of children.

This is an answer to a cry experienced in children’s homes across the county and the region as whole. Many families and individuals would like to adopt a child or give up a child for adoption but the adoption process has proven vague and cumbersome for many would be adopters. This has resulted to children missing family placement opportunities that would otherwise change their lives forever.

Adoption – Definition

A legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit).

Adoption Procedure

One can only adopt through a registered and accredited adoption society like Ripples International: The stages of adoption are:

  1. Orientation Meetings/Interviews: One visits the adoption society and makes enquiries. The adoption process and the requirements are explained. Counselling sessions are also conducted to check the preparedness of the undertaking. It should be noted that adoption regulations require that a medical examination be carried out and this includes an HIV test.
  2. Home visit: An appointment for the home visit is fixed upon return of the application forms and completion of the interview and counseling sessions. This is geared towards:
    • The reasons for wanting to adopt
    • The family situation of the adopters
    • Their home area security
    • The adopters’ expectations of the child i.e age, sex
  3. Matching and placement – Bonding period: A social worker consults with the adopting parent(s) and arrangement to meet the child is made (Introduction and bonding period). If bonding is deemed successful, the child is released to the care of the adopter(s).
  4. Fostering Period: After the bonding process, the child is released to the adoptive parent to begin the fostering process. The adopting parent(s) stay with the child for a period of three months. The social worker regularly drops by to check on the relationship between the parent(s) and the child. The social worker also looks at how well the child is adjusting to the new environment.

The legal and court process

After the three month mandatory period, the legal process should kick off. The adopting will require a lawyer or opt for self-representation, the appointment of the guardian ad litem and a report of the children’s department.

The Children’s Court finalises on all the adoption matters. The ability to support and educate the child are examined by the court which may or may not allow the adoption. The social worker may give an opinion on the capability of the adoptive parent(s).

Adoptive Parent(s): What do you require?

For a couple that wishes to adopt, you must have been in a marital relationship for at least three years. A person who is married to the child’s parent can only adopt with the other biological parent’s consent. A single person between 25 and 65 years of age.

A relative to the child if the relative has been taking care of the child. This is known as kinship adoption.

The age gap between the child and the adopting parent should be more than 21 years.

The adoptive parent and the child must be resident in Kenya for six months at the time of the proposed adoption. The applicant should be in possession of the child granting continuous care for three months consecutively before submission of the application for the adoption order.

Adoptive child: Who can be adopted?

The child must be below the age of 18 years and residing in Kenya may be adopted as long as;
The child is abandoned and the whereabouts of the parents/guardians are unknown.
The child is an orphan and there is no guardian/caregiver who is willing to take care of the child.
The parents/guardians of the child have given consent for the child to be adopted (parent offer adoptions).
The child requires an alternative permanent placement.

Ripples International Adoption Agency was established to respond to the challenges faced in the adoption of children.