Nr. 1-2/2021-5
ABSTRACT
THE PRACTICE OF ADOPTION IN (NEO)PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES IN ROMANIA
Intervention through family placement and foster care as a transitional measure prove to be preferable to any form of institutionalization. In case of children who cannot be reintegrated into the biological family, adoption proves to be the best reparative solution, considering the physical and psycho-emotional health of children in the protection system.
In this context, the study, conducted in Evangelical Protestant (also called (neo)Protestant) communities in Romania, shows a similar culture when compared with the motivations of the general population in Romania (Buzducea & Lazăr, 2011). However, when community leaders have been teaching about the biblical perspectives on adoption, we noticed a growing interest in its practical aspects among regular community members. About half of the communities we analyzed are already involved in activities related to abandoned children (visits to orphanages and foster homes, temporary accommodation of children during the holidays or other activities), and some of them developed social services in this area (family-type homes, social apartments or day-care centers). The chances that families involved in providing these services would decide to foster or adopt a child increase to 50 % (foster) and, respectively, to 65.5 % (adopt). Significant percentages of respondents show that the involvement would be significantly higher in case they would be exposed to the Biblical doctrines of adoption, they would understand the adoption process, and they would remove the fear of excessive bureaucracy they expect from the Child Protection System.
Keywords: adoption, foster care, child protection, children, family.