Who’s ready for a rant? Today news came out that international adoptions dropped to a historical low in Finland. When I read that, I was neutral. I wonder what the reason is, I asked myself. Then I read the following statement:

“In many countries where children were given up for adoption, the social and economic situation as well as child protection [services] have improved, so there’s less need for international adoptions” 

Kristiina Mattinen, regional director of Save the Children Finland.

…aaand that was the coffee-spitting moment for me. I don’t accept this explanation and this is why.

For the casual reader that has dropped here from a Facebook share or a Google search, few words of introduction. I’m an Italian immigrant living in Finland and few years ago I adopted my youngest child from India through the Finnish system. The Finnish adoption system is very different from, say, the US one. While US has an “adoption-as-a-business” model, with about 3000 adoption agencies competing against each other, the Finnish one jumps on the opposite end of the spectrum and goes full-mode monopoly. Now, if you held me at gunpoint, I would choose the Finnish way. It’s definitely more respectful of the principles which, at least on paper, should govern all adoptions worldwide, that is “the best interest of the child“.

However, I refuse to digest the statement above. Currently, there are three adoption agencies serving families in Finland. One is about to close down and for years has not been accepting new applicants. Agencies have split countries they work with, which means competition is utterly non-existent. Agencies also work with a very limited number of children’s homes in every country. This is not a bad thing per se: they do so because they have strong standards and policies their partners have to comply to. Agency staff regularly travels to visit the structures and control for risks like child trafficking or neglect. These children’s homes potentially work with other countries as well. Not all children in a home are eligible for international adoption. Now, back to the Finnish side. A prospect adoptive family cannot adopt any child: Finnish and international law, as well as the family’s preferences, restrict the possibilities quite a lot. For example the age of the parents or the ages of other children in the family pose plenty of restrictions on the child you can adopt.

To recap, you start from a very limited set of possibilities, filter over and over and guess what: you are left with an empty set. Because of this system, prospect adopters are left with long waits, several years. A practical example: if you decide to adopt from South Africa, you are required to wait for two years just on the Finnish side. Two years before you can even send your documentation there. Then there’s the real wait on the South Africa’s side.

The emotional toll of international adoption in Finland is terrible and frankly, needless. I’m sorry but I do not accept that explanation under this conditions. If we want to have a real conversation about this, let’s start from publicly discussing why Valvira does not even have a process to allow opening new adoption agencies or why there’s an interest in keeping this monopoly situation at the expenses of hopeful families. I’m willing to have a conversation. But don’t feed me that.

Edit 8.8.2019 h 10.20
– I was informed that the article is a cut version of this (in Finnish) that lists more reasons for the plummeting. That’s relieving;
– I never doubted that the reason quoted above is true. I know it is and the drop is a worldwide phenomenon due to various factors (fertility treatments more popular, some countries closed adoptions, better global conditions, etc.). I simply don’t believe the statement above is so relevant in the context of adoptions in Finland, given how restrictive regulations and processes are;
– I stand 100% by my statement that currently the adoption process is needlessly stressful and demanding. 18 months to draft and approve a home study are simply too long (it’s 3-6 months in US, for comparison). Resources of the agencies are too limited. A review of processes would be most welcome.
– I don’t doubt anyone’s intentions. Not calling out any conspiracy, just praying for questioning processes and for improving what doesn’t work so well. From my perspective, there are too many silos.