Adoption counselling

If you, either alone or with your spouse, hope to adopt a child or if you are in the process of adopting the child of your spouse, you (both) must seek adoption counselling. You can also seek adoption counselling if you intend to give your underage child up for adoption. The counselling is provided by the social services of the Wellbeing Services County or by organisations authorised by the Wellbeing Services County's commission. Social workers specialised in adoption matters are responsible for providing the counselling. The purpose of adoption is to promote the best interests of the child being adopted. Adoption counselling is part of the family centre's services. Adoption counselling aims to help the applicants assess their readiness for becoming adoptive parents and prepare for parenthood. During counselling, it is examined whether the conditions for adoption are sufficient. It is also determined whether it would be possible to agree on maintaining contact between the child and their previous parents. The duration of adoption counselling varies. Domestic and international adoption counselling usually lasts for about a year. If you intend to adopt the child of your spouse, the process is shorter. In adoption counselling, the applicants are instructed to apply for an adoption permission and, if necessary, for an international adoption service. The duties of the social workers providing counselling include managing the placement of children in adoptive families, monitoring how the children adjust to their new families and providing the families with support. At the end of the adoption counselling, a report is drawn up and, if necessary, the documents needed for confirming the adoption. The provider of adoption counselling also prepares the monitoring reports of international adoptions.

Conditions for receiving the Service

If you, either alone or with your spouse, hope to adopt a child or if you are in the process of adopting the child of your spouse, you (both) must seek adoption counselling. You can also seek adoption counselling if you intend to give your underage child up for adoption.

The service is free of charge.