For every child that meets the adoption criteria in the country, there are 7-8 families on the waiting list, says Habibollah Masoudi Farid, social deputy at the State Welfare Organization.
“This number is higher in some provinces like Tehran with 12 families on the waitlist,” he told IRNA.
Noting that having negligent parents does not suffice for a child to qualify for adoption, he said only if it is proved that families are permanently incapable of supporting a child, they can be put up for adoption.
Currently, there are 2,000 children living in 600 centers affiliated to the SWO, 85% of whom have at least one parent. “With the implementation of the ‘Temporary Guardian’ scheme, adoptive parents can take a child for foster care for up to three years which could lead to permanent custody,” he said. The age of children eligible for adoption has been increased to 16 from the previous 12.
