Health
Thai Officials Prepare Foreign Parents for Adopting Thai children
Foreign families with adopted Thai children along with representatives of the Chiang Mai Office of Social Development and Human Security – Photo CityNews
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BANGKOK -Thailand’s Department of Children and Youth has convened with foreign families looking to adopt Thai children in order to ensure their readiness and compliance with the law.
Ms Napa Setthakorn, Director-General of the Department of Children and Youth, stated that in a bid to prepare prospective parents for their adoption of children from Thailand, the department has met with them to discuss involved procedures and other important details.
As a way of preventing child abduction or trafficking, qualifications of each candidate have to be thoroughly checked and verified by officials. There is also a six-month trial period prior to the handover of the child, accompanied with follow-up assessments to ensure the child receives proper care from his or her new family.
According to the Director-General, around 4,000 Thai children on average are adopted by foreigners on a yearly basis. Most adoptive parents are from the United States, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
By Surapan Laotharanarit
