INTRODUCTION

2.1 Each parent support group (“group”) has its own adoption program or programs with orphanages, adoption agencies and/or government welfare departments in the overseas countries (“the sending countries”). Some of the groups have just one program in one country; other groups have several programs in one country and/or several programs in several countries (see further paragraph 2.6).

2.2 There may be more than one group operating programs in a particular sending country. An institution or agency in the sending country receives Australian adoption applications from just one particular group and allocates children to members of that group. The exception to this is where a program is with the government welfare department of the sending country. In that case, there are several instances where the government department deals with more than one group. An institution or agency which deals exclusively with one of the groups is usually also allocating children to families in other countries, such as England, Sweden, Denmark, Holland and Germany.

2.3 In most cases, the association between the overseas adoption program and the group was developed after the founders of the group had adopted their own child or children through that program. The adoptive parents then formed a support group to assist others to adopt through the program and hence the link was forged.

2.4 Once DOCS has approved applicants to adopt, it advises the applicants to decide upon the country from which they would like to adopt. This decision then governs which is the appropriate group to join. The applicants join the group supporting or administering an adoption program in the chosen country. Applicants must choose both the country and the program in that country from which they wish to adopt, before the home study is undertaken. The reason for this is that the home study is prepared differently for each country and each program.

2.5 ACC is the only group which is not involved in the administration and maintenance of adoption programs. Its roles are to offer applicants support services and to fundraise and provide aid to the sending countries. These aspects are discussed in more detail in Chapters 3 and 4.

COUNTRIES

2.6 The countries with which each of the groups is connected, and the overlap between countries which each of the groups represent, is shown by the diagram below.

It should be noted that, at present, DOCS is not processing applications for adoption from Chile because of concerns which it has about procedures in that country, although applications already in the system are being completed. Proposals for reform of Chile’s adoption law and practice are currently being considered by the Chilean government. This may result in an improvement in standards sufficient to induce DOCS to reopen the Chilean programs and, for this reason, Chile has been included in this research report.

ORGANISATIONS IN THE SENDING COUNTRIES

2.7 The organisations in the sending countries with which each of the groups supports and administers an adoption program are described below.

ACOB

Brazil

1. FEBEM is Belo Horizonte: FEBEM is a quasi-government body established for the care and welfare of children and operating with community involvement, orphanages and shelters.

2. Centro do Adocao IPI ("IPI"); "Donna Maria Estela Garcia Benitez", Sao Paulo: IPI is the government registered adoption and child care organisation of the Igreja Presbyteriana Independente; "Donna Maria Estela Garcia Benitez" is the orphanage from which the children are adopted.

2.8 Liaison between ACOB and these organisations is by phone, fax, mail and courier services, as well as face-to-face contact. ACOB maintains that the latter is particularly important in Brazilian adoption programs.

AFC

Bolivia	Secretaria Nacional de Servicio Social ("SNSS"), the government body in charge of adoption matters.
Chile	Servicio Nacional de Menores ("SENAME"), the government welfare department.
Colombia	1. The Colombian Institute of Welfare, Instituto Colombiano Beinestar Familiar ("ICBF") in Bogota, the government welfare department.
	2. Ayudame in Bogota: Ayudame is a private orphanange licensed by ICBF to provide adoption services.
	3. Chiquitines adoptciones in Cali, a private orphanage licensed by ICBF to provide adoption services.
	4. Casita de Nicolas in Medellin, a private orphanage liensed by ICBF to provide adoption services.
Costa Rica	Patronata Nacional de la Infancia ("PANI"), the government welfare department.
India	Indian Association for the Promotion of Adoption ("IAPA"), a private adoption agency licensed by the Central Adoption Resource Afency ("CARA"). This is the central adoption clearing house for the Indian government.
Peru	The program in Peru is not closed but no applications are being processed at present. Adoption legislation in Peru is under review and AFC is awaiting the outcome of this, as well as awaiting approval from DOCS to recommence the program

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2.9 Liaison between AFC and these organisations takes place mainly by way of phone, fax, mail and courier services. Contact between private agencies and AFC is direct, but contact with government departments is usually through an intermediary, being an AFC representative in the sending country. AFC does not consider face-to-face contact as important in maintaining the programs.

ASIAC

India	1. Church of North India ("CNI")1; "Shishu Sangopan Grihi", New Delhi: CNI is a voluntary agency in the Union Territory of Delhi which operates the orphanage, "Shushu Sangopan Grihi" in New Delhi, from which the children are allocated.
	2. Kathiawar Nirashrit Balashram, Rajkot, an orphanage; no adoption program is currently operating.
	3. SOCSEAD, a government registered adoption organisation run by the Holy Cross Order of Roman Catholic nuns in Tamil Nadu.
	4. Madras Social Services ("MASOS"), a government registered adoption organisation.
Republic of Korea	Eastern Child Welfare Society Inc ("ECWS"), a private welfare agency licensed by the government to manage intercountry adoption programs with Australia and the USA.
Philippines	Department of Social Welfare.
Taiwan	Christian Salvation Services ("CSS"), a welfare organisation licensed by the government to carry out adoptions.
	ASIAC has also established a program with Cathwel, a Catholic welfare organisation licensed by the government, although children are not being allocated to Australia2.
Thailand	Department of Public Welfare, Bangkok, the government welfare department.

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2.10 ASIAC’s involvement in the programs in the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Thailand is limited to giving support and information. Strictly speaking, these programs are government-to-government whereby DOCS takes full responsibility for the sending and receipt of documentation to and from the respective Social Welfare Departments. ASIAC’s contact with organisations in the other countries is direct, and by way of telephone, fax, mail and courier services.

CASA

Chile	CASA does not liase directly with an orphange, adoption agency, government department or other organisation, but deals with a private
	lawyer in Chile who has connections with orphanages and social workers.

Friends

Colombia	Fundacion Para la Adoption de la Ninez Abandonada ("FANA"): this is a private orphanage licensed by ICBF to provide adoption
	services.

2.11 Liaison between Friends and FANA is by telephone, fax, mail and courier services. Friends liaises directly with the director of FANA, who is a social worker.

ICA

Sri Lanka	Department of Probation and Child Care Services, Colombo, the government welfare department; children are allocated from orphanages
	run by the government or by churches.

2.12 Liaison between ICA and the Department is direct and by way of telephone, fax, mail and courier services, as well as face-to-face contact. The president of ICA visited Sri Lanka regularly and has now taken up permanent residence there. She continues to be president of ICA and the Australian end of ICA administration continues to be overseen by a Management Committee and five sub-committees. This is detailed in Chapter 3.

2.13 Listed above are all the countries with which the groups have programs. In addition, DOCS deals directly with Fiji, Romania and Ethiopia, but there is no New South Wales parent support group involvement in these programs. In relation to Ethiopia, applicants join a Queensland-based parent support group.

1. CNI’s registration has recently come up for review.

2 . Cathwel has advised ASIAC that it prefers Canadian applicants as it finds the Australian Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs’ processing of “special needs” applications too lengthy and the outcome uncertain.