Child- adoption can be a long and arduous road. Jennifer Taylor talks with the founders of Adapt International Adoption Resource Centre about their valuable new support service for adoptive parents.

Prospective adoptive parents go through intense emotional and psychological upheaval, so it’s important for them to know there are people who can assist during this time.

Adapt International Adoption Resource Centre is a new service providing support and information for prospective adoptive families, either local or expatriate, both within Singapore and in other Asian countries.

Set up by two expatriates, Kara Ekeberg and Monique Ciochetto, Adapt provides professional, friendly and impartial information to prospective adoptive parents. Their goal is to provide parents with a one-stop-shop with a good dash of caring guidance and nurturing along the way.

The dynamic pair is well placed to offer this service: both have gone through the adoption process in Singapore in recent years.

Kara and her husband Brad, originally from Australia, have two adopted children, Rani (5) and Shay (18 months), as well as two biological children, Blake (15) and Makenzie (12).

Monique, originally from New Zealand, has two adopted girls, two-year-old Cleo and one-year-old Ava.

Their shared background and experience sparked a connection when they were introduced by a mutual friend in Singapore two years ago. Since then, the two friends have realised they have huge potential and scope to make a real difference in people’s lives.

“We are here to help prospective adoptive parents through the process of adoption by providing all the information and support they will need,” Monique explains. “Adoption is a highly emotional time for the families involved and we understand these feelings only too well from our first-hand experience.”

One of the most crucial components for adopting a child from a foreign country is the all-important “home study report”. While this document is not legally required when adopting a baby born in Singapore, it forms a vital part of your adoption application when looking to adopt a baby from overseas. Even if a child is born in Singapore, many countries require this report as part of their visa process.

“A home study report is a comprehensive background check on adoptive parents,” explains Monique. “It also helps you fully understand the many issues related to adopting a child.”

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport (MCYS) is the governing body for adoptions in Singapore. All adoptions must meet its strict criteria before the adoption can be finalised.

As with many policy matters, the rules are constantly changing and this can be a challenge.

“We prepare you for the problems that will inevitably come your way,” says Kara. “We warn you to be prepared emotionally, physically and financially."

An experienced lawyer, Monique is well suited to mediating and analysing the broader picture, while Kara is currently working towards a degree in psychology and counselling with a focus on trauma and children.

“We will get as involved as you want us to be,” she says. “We can help with a broad range of issues, from helping file your adoption papers to making sure you have certified copies of the official documentation. It’s all these little things that make a big difference and we want to share this knowledge with other parents.”

Since setting up the business, Kara and Monique have received positive feedback from agencies and support groups both here and abroad.

“The reaction from various agencies and from our shared professional contacts has been extremely positive,” Monique says. “Due to our experience, we know how to make the system work for us and not against us, and we want to make sure we give all this information and guidance to other adoptive parents.”

Kara has also extended her outreach work with a number of local adoption support groups to set up her own home support group, so that adoptive parents can talk through the issues they are facing.

“After the adoption process is complete, we continue working with families by setting up support groups and holding follow-up consultations,” she explains.

“The adoption process is a huge and potentially overwhelming journey to come through, but it doesn’t end there. Caring for the families afterwards is important, too.”

Adapt International Adoption Resource Centre.

Call Kara at (+65) 9635 0697 or Monique at (+65) 9062 2685.

www.adaptfamily.com

Email: info@adaptfamily.com.