Adoptionscentrum mediates adoptions where we care for the rights of the children: their rights to an identity and a family. Adoptionscentrum is not only an organisation, it is also a family association established to meet the interests of the adoptive families and the adoptees.
Adoptionscentrum mediates adoptions from foreign states since 1969. By cooperating with a thousand different organisations and authorities in over 50 countries, more than 23,500 children who have lost their family have acquired new parents in Sweden through Adoptionscentrum.
The work with adoptions has given us knowledge and experience about the adopted children’s growth in Sweden, the understanding for vulnerable children and children at orphanages or other institutions.
Adoptioncentrum’s work with adoptions and our international cooperation is based on these understandings and experiences.
Principle of Legal Security
An adoption is a definitive decision for the child, its biological parents and the future adoptive parents. The adoptee must be ensured that all the decisions that were made are legally correct.
Good adoption ethics means that an adoption must be preceded by professional social work. An important part of the adoption process is to prepare the adoptive parents. The local social welfare committee inquests and education for the parents must therefore keep a certain standard and quality.
Good adoption ethics also means that we have to discourage any profit interest which requires transparency concerning fees and costs during the adoption process. Ethics, laws and conventions must be developed and improved consistently.
Adoptionscentrum works to improve and develop ethics and legal framework around the international adoptions in the European adoption organization Euradopt and the Nordic adoption organization NAC.
Institutions Are Not a Home for Children
With our international developmental work, Adoptionscentrum works for abandoned and orphaned children’s and adolescents’ rights. Millions of children have lost their parents to HIV and AIDS, more often in countries that already have weak social safety nets.
We know that this help to children and adolescents must be built on knowledge. The grown-ups and the staff at different organizations and authorities are responsible for the children’s’ rights, protection and care, but also, the right to an identity and a family. An institution is never a suitable home for a child.
The adoptive families have always cared about children in the world and Adoptionscentrum’s development assistance has grown during the past years and is today called “Föräldralösa Barn”.
We pursue and support projects that work against the abandonment of children. We also support projects to help children and adolescents, who live in institutions, towards an independent life.
Adoptionscentrum’s Engagement
Adoptionscentrum has about a 30 or 40 years long collaboration with some countries, for instance Korea, Colombia, India and Ethiopia.
Many adoptees want to know more about their background and their origin. Grown up adoptees have made trips, arranged by Adoptionscentrum, back to their countries of birth. Some of them have met their biological parents.
Important conditions when working with adoptions are mutual respect and trust between everyone who makes the decisions and participates in the process, both in Sweden and overseas. Adoptionscentrum works to develop the quality of the professional work, built on a commitment from the adoptive parents and the adoptees.
By offering the personnel at preschools, schools and healthcare education, we can make sure that we meet the needs of the adoptees.