ADOPTIONS – A COLLABORATIVE AND INTRICATE PROCESS OF DATA-EXCHANGE

Cuma Pantshwa

• The adoption process in South Africa relies on a coordinated system that brings together multiple government departments, with the Department of Social Development (DSD) at the forefront, supported by extensive information-sharing across agencies.
• Integral to this process are the roles of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Integrated Justice System (IJS), which enhance data accuracy, efficiency, and inter-departmental collaboration, particularly for criminal background checks and child protection measures.
• Together, these tools not only streamline adoption procedures but also reinforce the safeguarding of vulnerable children by ensuring only eligible individuals, thoroughly vetted through real-time data, are approved as adoptive parents.

The adoption process involves multiple government departments within a well-coordinated, integrated system to ensure that the needs of both the child and adoptive parents are met. The Department of Social Development (DSD) collaborates with several other government bodies to facilitate the adoption process, ensuring that all legal, social, and security requirements are addressed. This intricate process demands time, thorough assessments, preparation, and ongoing support to ensure successful adoptions and the welfare of the child.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become essential in improving the efficiency, coordination, and streamlining of the adoption process among stakeholders. The key departments involved include the South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Home Affairs (DOHA), Department of Basic Education (DBE), Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ & CD) and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). The DSD is a partner department in the Integrated Justice System (IJS) under South Africa’s Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security (JCPS) Cluster, a programme designed to modernise the country’s criminal justice system.

The partnership between IJS and DSD enhances service delivery through technology-driven solutions and seamless data exchange. “IJS plays a pivotal role in supporting DSD’s mission to protect children and safeguard vulnerable children by providing critical information throughout the adoption process. A wealth of data is collected across South African communities, assisting DSD in combating social ills and protecting the most vulnerable,” explained Unathi Ngumla, Portfolio Manager at IJS. He added that a key aspect of this collaboration is verifying that prospective adoptive parents have no criminal record, particularly in child abuse or sexual offences, as part of the background check process.

Through IJS’s interconnected systems, DSD can efficiently conduct thorough criminal background checks, enabling timely assessment of adoption suitability. This process is vital for safeguarding children by ensuring individuals with disqualifying criminal records cannot become adoptive parents. Mr Ngumla emphasised the advantages of data utilisation in assessments, “By leveraging technology and real-time data, IJS strengthens the integrity of the adoption process, ensuring child protection remains paramount. Only individuals with clear backgrounds and the proper qualifications are entrusted with the care of vulnerable children.” He further noted that through technology and data from the IJS ecosystem and other departments, DSD can identify potential risks, flagging individuals with disqualifying histories and preventing their approval as adoptive parents. This data-driven approach significantly enhances the adoption process’s efficiency, accuracy, and integrity, making it an essential component of child protection efforts.

In addition, as custodian of the Children’s Act, DSD is responsible for the national Child Protection Register (CPR), which safeguards children from abuse by recording incidents of abuse, maintaining records of convictions and children’s court findings, and listing individuals unsuitable to work with children. The CPR serves as a crucial tool for vetting individuals who may interact with children. It comprises two sections: Part A, which records cases of abuse or neglect, tracks services provided to affected children, and identifies abuse trends; and Part B, which lists individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children and restricts their access to child-centric environments, such as schools and early childhood development centres.

Social workers engaged in adoptions also use a centralised database known as the Register of Adoptable Children and Adoptive Parents (RACAP), which holds details of prospective adoptive parents and children available for adoption. This database assists in matching children with suitable adoptive families. Once a social worker completes a background check and assessment of a child or prospective parent, they register them on the RACAP system, allowing other social workers to locate potential matches and initiate the adoption process. As of July 2024, RACAP has screened 115,570 prospective adoptive and foster parents and 23,479 potential employees.

RACAP and other essential data portals provide DSD with the critical information necessary to implement effective child protection strategies and enhance service delivery. “Data empowers social workers; ultimately, IJS supplies DSD with comprehensive data, enabling informed decisions on adoption, foster care, and child safety. Technology strengthens collaboration and streamlines the otherwise lengthy process.”

In closing, Mr Ngumla stated, “By harnessing this vast data resource, DSD can apply targeted strategies to improve child welfare services, protect vulnerable children more effectively, and ensure that adoption processes are transparent, safe, and efficient. Together, these systems form a robust foundation for strengthening South Africa’s child protection framework.”