Danish adoption authorities
The Danish National Board of Adoption
Joint Councils
The Danish Ministry of Justice, Department of Family Affairs
The adoption placement agencies
The Danish National Board of Adoption
The Board was established in 1976 in order to manage complaints regarding decisions passed by the Joint Councils. Since January 1st, 2000, a number of additional tasks have been transferred to the National Adoption Board.
Today, the Board is the central public authority in general charge of adoption in Denmark. As well as being the board of appeal, the duties of the Board are to supervise the work of the Joint Councils and their secretariats, to observe the national and international development in adoption matters, to gather information concerning adoption, to negotiate with authorities and organizations in other countries and to conduct information activities. The National Adoption Board also takes part in the supervision of the two accredited bodies.
Additionally, the Board matches the Danish children available for adoption with the Danish applicants, who have wished to adopt a child born i Denmark.
The National Adoption Board consists of 10 members with diverse professional background.
Send an e-mail to the Danish National Board of Adoption.
Address:
The Danish National Board of Adoption
Kristineberg 6
DK-2100 København Ø
Phone: + 45 33 92 33 02
Fax.: + 45 39 27 18 89
Joint Councils
In each Regional State Administration (Denmark is divided in five Regions) a Joint Council is established. The Joint Council is the court of first instance to rule whether or not an applicant can be finally approved as a prospective adoptive parent. Additionally, if the investigation after Phase 1 has raised doubt whether the applicant can be said to fulfil the general conditions to continue the investigation, the Joint Council rules whether or not the applicant is seen fit to continue the approval process. The secretariat of the Joint Council performs the actual investigation, including the interviews with the applicant. Furthermore, the Joint Council decides in particular cases whether or not a specific child can be adopted by an applicant, who is already approved as a prospective adoptive parent, but whose approval is exceeded by various aspects considering the specific child.
A Joint Council consists of three members; a social worker, a lawyer and a physician.
The decisions made by the joint councils can be brought before the National Board of Adoption.
The Danish Ministry of Justice, Department of Family Affairs
The department lays down the Danish rules on approval as a prospective adoptive parent and on the procedures in regard to this matter. The Department is also appointed as the Central Authority according to the Hague Convention.
The Department authorizes the adoption placement agencies, and oversees the agencies’ fulfilment of the conditions in their authorizations.
Finally, the Department arranges the pre-adoption courses as described in the section Danish rules on approving prospective parents.
Address:
The Department of Family Affairs
Kristineberg 6
DK-2100 København Ø
Phone: + 45 33 92 33 02
Fax.: + 45 39 27 18 89
The adoption placement agencies
The following adoption placement agencies are authorized by the Danish Ministry of Justice, Department of Family Affairs, to arrange intercountry adoptions in Denmark:
AC International Child Support
Foundation for International Child Support
Elkjærvej 31
Mailbox 152
8230 Aabyhøj
Phone: + 45 86 12 65 22
Fax.: + 45 86 19 78 53
E-mail: adoption@a-c.dk
Web-site: www.a-c.dk
DanAdopt
Danish Society for International Child Care
Hovedgaden 24
3460 Birkerød
Phone + 45 81 63 33
Fax.: + 45 45 81 74 82
E-mail: mail@danadopt.dk
Web-site: www.danadopt.dk
In order to be approved as a prospective adoptive parent, the applicant must as a general rule register with one of the above mentioned agencies before the Phase 3 of the investigation will commence.
The primary assignment for the adoption placement agency is to establish contact between a Danish prospective adoptive parent and a foreign child, who - according to the rules in the child’s state of origin – is available for intercountry adoption, and to secure that the adoption is carried out in a proper legal and moral manner.