States told to strengthen counselling support throughout adoption process

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) The Central Adoption Resource Authority has asked the state-level adoption agencies to institutionalise counselling services at every stage of the process for all the stakeholders involved.

PTI had first reported this development on July 9.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Women and Child Development said that it has instructed the state adoption resource agencies to designate or empanel qualified counsellors at both state and district levels.

Counselling support will now be mandatory for prospective adoptive parents, adopted children, and biological parents surrendering their children for adoption, it said.

In particular, counselling is to be provided to prospective parents during the Home Study Report process, to older children during the transition, and in post-adoption cases like root searches or non-adjustment in families.

Biological parents must also be counselled about the finality of their decision and the child's right to know their origins, it said. PTI UZM RUK RUK