|
Accredited agencies conduct Home Study Reports and Supervision Reports at a fee:
Home Study Reports - $900
Supervision Reports - $300 for 1st Report, $200 for 2nd Report, and $150 for subsequent reports
* The above fees are subjected to review by MCYS on an annual basis.
In addition to conducting Home Study Reports, these agencies may also offer prospective adoptive parents other administrative services related to the adoption process, at additional charges. Details and country requirements for Home Study Reports are included after the Accredited Agency listing.
Six agencies that are accredited by MCYS to conduct Home Study Reports are TOUCH Family Services Limited, Fei Yue Community Services, The SBL Vision Family Service Centre, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre), Singapore American Community Action Council (for expatriates only) and Macpherson Moral Family Service Centre. Click here to the contact details for Accredited Agencies.
Countries that Require a Home Study Report
Additional Information on Home Study Reports
Screening of Newborns for Defects
Laboratory Tests
Countries that Require a Home Study Report:
From 1 February 2005, anyone who wishes to adopt a foreign child (i.e. a child who is not a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident) must complete a Home Study Report by the MCYS' accredited agencies. This is applicable for adoptions from all countries and must be done prior to starting the adoption process (i.e. before searching for a suitable child or initiating legal adoption proceedings).
Prospective adoptive parents who wish to adopt children from some countries such as India, the People's Republic of China, Philippines and Thailand would also be requested by the adoption authorities in these countries to forward them a Home Study Report, furnished by an accredited agency in Singapore.
Some of the adoption authorities in these countries may also require supervision reports to be prepared periodically after the child is brought into Singapore and until the child is legally adopted in Singapore. The supervision report investigates the bonding and relationship between the child and the adopters.
Top
Additional Information on Home Study Reports:
A Home Study Report investigates the circumstances surrounding the adoption and the applicants' family situations. It also assesses the applicants' eligibility and suitability to adopt a child whose best interest must be safeguarded. The child has the right to be provided with the basic needs required for his/her physical and psychosocial developments.
Prospective adoptive parents should engage one of the accredited agencies to have a Home Study Report done. They should only proceed to bring in a foreign child when the Home Study Report is favourable. They will also need to obtain an in-principle approval for a Dependant's Pass from MCYS before bringing the child into Singapore. This is to safeguard the prospective adoptive parents' and the child's interests in the event that the Home Study Report is not favourable. In such a situation, the child will have to be repatriated at the prospective adoptive parents' expense.
With effect from 15 Aug 2006, all prospective adoptive parents are required to sign the 'Statement by Applicants of Home Study Reports' as required by MCYS. This is to ensure that prospective applicant(s) does not have a foreign child under their care during the period of Home Study. Prospective applicant(s) with a foreign child under their care will only be registered for Home Study Report after they had returned the foreign child. Click here to download the statement.
Top
Screening of Newborns for Defects:
Newborns are screened through a Physical Examination and Laboratory Tests.
Physical Examination:
| Diseases Screened for: |
Abnormalities to Look for: |
| Congenital heart Disease |
Abnormal heart rate, heart sound and murmur |
| Congenital Infectious Tumours |
Hepatosplenomegaly, renal mass and other abdominal mass felt by palpation |
| Sexual Abnormality |
Hepatosplenomegaly, renal mass and other abdominal mass felt by palpation |
| Abnormality of Limbs |
Abnormal posture of limbs, number and proportion, tone, movements |
| Microcephaly |
Head circumference below average (<3 percentile) |
| Hydrocephaly |
Head circumference above average (>97 percentile) |
| Abnormal Congenital Syndromes |
|
| Hearing |
|
| Vision and Squint |
|
| Growth Measurements |
|
| Skeletal Deformities |
| Top
Laboratory Tests:
| Name of Disease |
Tests |
| Hypothyroidism |
Serum Thyroxine (T4)
Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) |
| Hepatitis B |
Hepatitis B antigen |
| AIDS |
HIV Antibody test |
| Anaemia |
Haemoglobin, peripheral blood film |
| Down's Syndrome (Mongolism) |
Blood for chromosomal study. This test should be done if there is any clinical doubt about this disease. |
| B Thalassaemia Major |
Haemoglobin Electrophoresis |
| G6PD Screening |
G6PD Screening |
|