site.btaRegistration of Children for Full Adoption Needs to Be Stepped Up, Experts Say

Changes are needed to speed up the registration of children deprived of parental care, for full adoption. This was discussed by participants in a panel titled “A Family is Chosen with the Heart to Give Roots and Wings” at the BTA National Press Club. The event was organized by the Bulgarian Association of Adoptees and Adopters.

Experts also discussed the need to enhance the capacity of institutional representatives involved in the adoption process.

The event marks the beginning of the National Adoption Information Weeks, which in 2025 will take place at the end of September and the beginning of October. The campaign aims to raise awareness about adoption and to foster a supportive and understanding environment for adopters and adoptees by changing public attitudes and legislation.

Currently, out of nearly 8,000 children deprived of parental care, only 850 have been approved for full adoption, stated Ivan Krastev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

During the event, NGO experts highlighted that only 19% of all children eligible for full adoption are entered into the adoption registry. They explained that priority is first given to reintegration with biological families. According to Angela Krasteva from the Family National Association, statistics show that reintegration efforts are often unsuccessful — 62% of all reintegration applications last year failed.

As of August 31, 2025, the registry for full adoption includes 865 children, and nearly half of them — 392, have disabilities, Krasteva pointed out.

Velichka Dosheva, Chair of the association of adoptees and adopters, shared the story of a child removed from the family and placed with relatives. Due to the illness of the relative caring for the child, they were then placed in foster care. The reintegration process with the biological parents lasted five years, only to conclude that reintegration was not possible, after which the child was finally entered into the adoption registry. According to her, such delays can cause serious emotional trauma during attempted reintegration. Dosheva believes that a longer stay in foster care can make the separation during adoption much more difficult.

Velina Todorova commented, “It’s very important to normalize adoption — and if there is stigma, we must fight against it.”

Neli Gancheva, Chair of the Association for International Adoption, drew attention to the need for preparation — not just for the adoptive parents, but also for the children and the social workers involved.

“Children are not prepared for adoption. Prospective adoptive parents are adults making a rational decision, but every child lives in their own world. Adults must find a way to show them that what lies ahead is truly in their best interest. It’s a complex process. Children lose three main anchors during adoption: their familiar family/center, their community/environment, and — in international adoptions — even their language. This is where prepared adoptive parents play a crucial role: turning a child into a self-aware individual. I believe children are not properly prepared for adoption,” Gancheva said.

She added that legally, Bulgarians are allowed to adopt children from abroad. "The problem lies with the Ministry of Social Affairs. For Bulgarian children to be adopted abroad, a social report must be prepared. However, the ministry claims it lacks the resources to do so. Post-adoption monitoring is also required but again, there is no one to carry it out due to lack of resources,” Gancheva concluded.