International Adoptions: Conference in Rome on Training for Conscious Reception

Today in Rome, the conference “International Adoption: The Path to Conscious Reception” was held, organised by the Commission for Intercountry Adoptions in collaboration with the Italian Association of Juvenile and Family Judges, with the technical, scientific, and organisational support of the Istituto degli Innocenti.

The event was a key milestone in the Commission’s efforts to standardise and improve, across the national territory, the training of couples and individuals intending to pursue international adoption. The work presented stems from extensive inter-institutional dialogue involving juvenile judges, local services, authorised agencies, and experts, with the aim of strengthening the quality of pre-mandate pathways and addressing the increasing complexity of the needs of children awaiting a family.

The conference offered a summary of the results achieved and the agreed operational guidelines, highlighting the importance of preparation as a tool for safeguarding the best interests of minors and as a fundamental lever to support prospective parents in becoming aware, competent, and capable of welcoming children’s histories, identities, and vulnerabilities.

Speakers at the event included Eugenia Maria Roccella, the Minister for the Family, Birth Rate, and Equal Opportunities; Vincenzo Starita, Vice President of the Commission for Intercountry Adoptions; and Claudio Cottatellucci, President of the Italian Association of Juvenile and Family Judges.

Summary of the Operational Guidelines for the Pre-Mandate Training of Prospective Adoptive Parents

The Operational Guidelines define the criteria and methods for training prospective adoptive parents, involving Regions, Municipalities, social and health services, Juvenile Courts, authorised agencies, and, where present, associations of adoptive families with recognised experience.

The training pathway is divided into two phases:

• An informational phase, aimed at providing standardised knowledge on national and international adoption;
• A training phase, designed to promote awareness of motivations, expectations, and the specific needs of adoptive children, family dynamics, the construction of the parental bond, and the peculiarities of adoption.

At the end of the programme, participants are informed about the possibility of further exploring international adoption through authorized agencies, without any obligation to assign them a mandate.

The pathway is intended for couples and individuals interested in adoption, with content adapted to participants’ parenting experience. Group sizes should not exceed 20 participants. Training on international adoption must include at least 6 hours on this topic and at least one specific session, within an overall programme of no more than 12 sessions.

The methodology combines lectures with participatory activities, such as group work, case discussions, testimonials, and role-playing, promoting emotional and relational engagement. The involvement of authorised agencies and family associations is recommended.

Monitoring and evaluation tools are provided, along with the issuance of a certificate of attendance, supervision activities, and regular updating for trainers.

The training pathway distinguishes between information and training phases and may include additional topics requested by participants. The main topics are:

• Procedures and regulations on international adoption;
• The role of institutional actors and local services;
• The motivations, expectations, and personal history of candidates;
• The absence of biological parenthood and adoption as a reparative experience;
• The specificities of adoptive parenting compared to biological parenting;
• Dynamics in single-parent families;
• The construction of attachment and the parent-child relationship;
• The transition from the ideal child to the real child;
• Adoptive identity, the story of origins, and the relationship with the child’s culture of origin;
• Emotional, psychological, and special needs of adopted children;
• The impact of early adverse experiences and recovery processes;
• The child’s resilience and recovery resources;
• Reception, cultural integration, and school placement;
• Maintenance of significant emotional bonds;
• Reception of siblings and the associated family dynamics.

Overall, the Operational Guidelines aim to ensure qualified, participatory, and continuous training, designed to support adoptive parenting that is conscious, responsible, and attentive to the real needs of children.