New rules for adoptions come into force
With the adoption assistance law , new regulations for adoption mediation come into force on April 1st. The law, which is based on findings from adoption research, largely implements the demands of the federal states and adoption placement practice. Many of the improvements that promote openness in particular during adoptions and strengthen the position of parents of origin also correspond to the recommendations of the 9th Family Report .
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Franziska Giffey:
"The new adoption assistance law takes a closer look at the needs of families and modernizes the adoption system: All adoptive families, the families of origin and above all the children can finally get the help and support they need more easily. The innovations improve advice and education of the child and the structures of placement. And there are now more binding guidelines for adoptions abroad in order to protect children from human trafficking. Many families and specialists in adoption placement have been waiting for all of this for a long time. As Federal Family Minister, it is particularly important to me: The new adoption assistance -The law ensures that adopted children grow up well, can go their own way and get to know their roots. "
The four building blocks of the Adoption Assistance Act
The Adoption Assistance Act consists of four components :
1. Better advice to everyone involved in an adoption before, during and after an adoption
A legal right to accompaniment even after the adoption ensures good advice and support for everyone involved in an adoption. The different phases of adoption are viewed and accompanied as a whole. In addition, the adoption agencies are being strengthened in their pilot function so that the families get the help they need. Mandatory counseling is introduced before a stepchild is adopted. Her job is to make sure that adoption is actually best for the child. Lesbian couples whose child is born into their existing marriage or cohesion and whose partner of the birth mother adopts the child as part of a stepchild adoption are not obliged to provide advice.
2. Promote an open approach to adoption
The Adoption Assistance Act contributes to a more open approach to the topic of adoption: On the one hand, adoptive parents are to be encouraged and supported by the adoption agencies to inform their child about the fact of their adoption right from the start. On the other hand, the placement office should discuss with the parents of origin and the adoption applicants before the start of the adoption care, whether and how an exchange of information or contact for the best interests of the child can be organized. The parents of origin are strengthened in their role by being entitled to general information about the child from the adoption agency. The adoptive family decides whether and what information they want to provide.
3. Strengthen adoption agencies with a catalog of tasks and a cooperation requirement
The adoption placement agencies receive a specific catalog of tasks that provides clarity about their tasks. A cooperation requirement addressed to the adoption agencies is intended to promote professional exchange and networking with the various counseling centers - such as pregnancy counseling, parenting counseling and the general social service - so that the needs of families can be responded to in a sensitive manner.
4. Unaccompanied international adoptions will be banned and a recognition procedure will be introduced to protect children
International adoptions must always be accompanied by an adoption agency so that the future parents can be prepared for the challenges of an international adoption and the interests of the children can be adequately taken into account. Internationally agreed protection standards must now be observed for all adoptions abroad. International adoptions without the accompaniment of an agency are prohibited. For more legal security and legal clarity, there is a mandatory recognition procedure for foreign adoption decisions.
When the Adoption Assistance Act came into force - and to put the new regulations into practice - the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs published a series of information materials for parents and families as well as for the adoption agencies.
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