Steps Taken to Promote Adoption of Children in Singapore
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Murali Pillai’s inquiry regarding non-biological adoption applications granted to single individuals and the strategies implemented to promote the adoption of Singaporean children. Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee reported that approximately 15 sole applications were made annually by non-married persons between 2013 and 2017, representing about 5% of all applications. While lower fertility rates have reduced the number of available children, the Minister encouraged adopting those from abused or neglected backgrounds who cannot safely return to their birth families. Prospective adopters are directed to Ministry-accredited agencies for suitability assessments to ensure they are capable of meeting a child’s developmental and emotional needs. The government’s priority remains securing committed, loving families that are prepared to assume full parenting responsibility for children in need.
Transcript
29 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) in the past five years, how many applications for adoption of children under the Adoption of Children Act have been granted in favour of singles who are not biological parents of the adoptees; and (b) what further steps have been or will be taken to promote the adoption of Singaporean children.
Mr Desmond Lee: Between 2013 and 2017, there were, on average, about 15 sole applications per year by never-married, divorced or widowed persons to adopt a non-biological child. This amounted to about 5% of all adoption applications in a year. Some of these applicants were step-parents or relatives of the child. Most of these applications were granted by the Courts, based on the welfare of the child.
The number of adoptions involving Singaporean children has dropped over the years. This trend reflects our lower fertility rates. There are fewer Singaporean children available for adoption than there are prospective adopters. Nevertheless, we still encourage prospective adopters to consider adopting, such as children who have been abused or neglected, and whose birth families, despite our best efforts to support them, are assessed to be unsafe or unable to care for the children.
For couples who are able to love and provide for these children, we encourage them to contact any of the four MSF’s accredited agencies, including TOUCH Family Services, Lutheran Community Care Services, Fei Yue Community Services and Apkim Centre for Social Services, for an assessment of their suitability to adopt. Ultimately, the underlying principle of adoption is to find a loving family that is able to meet the child’s needs and committed to parenting responsibility.