If a child is adopted into a permanent home, it is a very upsetting for them if they have siblings who are also up for adoption and get left behind. Often, new parents only want to adopt one child. If brothers and sisters are separated and they have grown up together in a children’s home, it can have a dramatic effect on the adopted child’s life. If the child is old enough to understand what is has occurred in being adopted, they would have mixed emotions. They may be happy at going into a permanent home where they will have parents to love and care for them, but they are leaving behind their siblings who are still waiting for a family when they should be together, because they are family.

Fortunately there are potential families who wish to adopt siblings, so that the whole family can stay together. These parents show that they have lots of compassion and commitment in adopting all the children in one family, so that they have a loving, stable home. This proves to be a huge expense – there are the expensive adoption process fees, as well as the daily living expenses which an immediate expense increase with adopting a whole family of children. Couples should be financially stable before they are approved for adopting siblings.

1. Financial Stability

One of the countries that have sibling groups up for adoption is Colombia. They are usually to be found to be living in one of the small or large orphanages and some of the foster homes. Most of these children have come from families in poverty and poor backgrounds, abandoned by their parents who have lost all parental rights. The siblings stay together to give each other comfort and the strength they need in these orphanages and the foster homes. If the siblings are separated, this could have damaging effects which last long term. A child that is adopted without their siblings will also feel anxiety at the separation. Sibling adoption is permitted in Colombia. Parents wishing to adopt have to meet the requirements which are laid down by the Colombian adoption department, before being allowed to take home their whole family of adopted children.

2. Learning The Siblings’ History

The adopting parents first need to find out the history behind why the children were abandoned. If parental rights were not terminated, it can cause a be disappointing and heartbreaking to find that out at a later date, if the birth parents then decide that they would like their children back. This would devastate both the children that have been adopted and their adoptive parents, as then a battle would ensue in court for custody which can be a long drawn out process. In most cases, unfortunately, the court decides that the children would be best returned to their birth parents, although it may not always be in the best interest of the children. All the adoptive parents can do is allow the children to return to their birth parents, with all their hopes and prayer that the children will be loved and cared for in a loving and healthy environment.

For those interested in sibling adoption, contact an adoption agency for consultation, or use the Internet and browse for information. The internet is a great source of information on how to adopt, including sibling adoption and you can also read stories about parents who have successfully adopted siblings. You can collate vital information before deciding that adopting siblings is right for you as a couple.



Thanks to Abhishek Agarwal for contributing this article to our Adoption blog:

Christian Based Adoption Agencies