An adoptee never stops being adopted
Bufetat has now opened the door for advice and guidance to adoptees and their adoptive families. When I read the information on the websites, I was left with more questions than answers.
It is possible that I have become cynical, but for now my thought is: Well.
The information on the page is not exactly comprehensive. I called to ask my questions and was able to speak to a pleasant adviser.
Inquiries have increased considerably
The service that has now been created is primarily to refer to already existing offers that you can turn to. Which offers there should be is more unclear to me.
From 1 September, the service will be able to assist those who wish to search for origins. I asked in what way, and it consisted primarily of assistance in contacting central authorities in countries of origin with a view to obtaining documents. Possibly also cooperation with the adoption organisations, where the individual adoptee wants it and where it is relevant. Bufetat has also been invited to prepare a trial project with support interviews for adoptees. This will possibly be from December, I will be informed.
When asked who will conduct the interviews, the adviser says that it will be psychologists as they have done in the Swedish model. There may also be psychologists internally from Bufetat, who have experience with adoption.
The advice and guidance must primarily be via telephone or digitally, for example Teams. I hope they will also allow personal attendance for those who wish to do so.
The telephone hours are not very generous either: 10 to 12 from Tuesday to Friday. Inquiries from adoptees to the Directorate for Children, Youth and Families (Bufdir) have increased considerably following the extensive media coverage of illegal adoptions. Will the very limited phone time be enough?
The person I spoke to says that there are advisers who have experience in the Bureau, in that they have, for example, worked with case management or investigation in connection with adoption.
No financial rights
First of all, I have to say that it is somewhat objectionable that there is not clearer information on the websites. They could easily afford that.
For example, it could be divided into categories; adoptees, adoptive parents and professional support where each category has some points for what the offer entails. For adoptees, it would be particularly informative to have a timeline of the offers that are coming or possibly coming.
The information that is out there as of today is relatively bland as I see it.
In a longer time perspective, what exactly is intended for follow-up to adoptive parents/adoptive family?
An adopted person never stops being adopted. If psychological services are to be established for adoptees, what about adoptive parents?
Foster parents have a plan for follow-up. Will adoptive parents receive similar offers in connection with Bufetat's new service?
Searching for origins is often linked to costs for adoptees. Will the offer cover any of this? For example, for a DNA test, including one for the adopted person and possibly a biological family member. Will adoptees who have already incurred these expenses be able to get them reimbursed?
Adoptive parents have received adoption support since 1992. The amount has varied, and after 2014 the support was linked to the national insurance's basic amount. Today, the support is NOK 118,620.
Adoptees have no financial rights. Will the offer from 1 September also include support for a return journey? For example, support for plane tickets and accommodation. At least as a minimum for plane tickets. Will the state consider reimbursing those who have documented expenses for a reunion trip?
What about those who have hired people to apply, because the offer has otherwise not existed?
Minority stress and trauma
As for the support interviews for adoptees, I am basically positive that they are done by psychologists. However, I hope that the psychologists used have expertise in minority stress and trauma.
If the offer is implemented, it is important that it is specified how many hours a person can get and the costs associated with this, if there are any. Personally, I think the state should cover it.
At Bufdir, you can register if you are worried about your case and, regardless of this, send a request for inspection of your adoption papers in Norway. When filing a case of concern, I have done it myself, one of the things Bufdir asks for is that case papers be obtained from the country of birth. Either that the adopted person contacts the authorities themselves or that Bufdir is authorized to do so.
If Bufetat is also to help with obtaining documents, who should adoptees actually deal with?
It should be made clear on the information page about the advice and guidance, what is the interface between Bufdir and Bufetat when they help adoptees in the future. Who to contact, when and about what.