The Portuguese adoption system and the role of the multidisciplinary team: potential and challenges

Abstract

This dissertation project has as its main objective the analysis of the contribution of the multidisciplinary team (Social Workers, Psychologists, Jurist and Social Educator) in the measures that promote the well-being of children in situation of adoption, within the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML) and Associação para o Bem Estar Infantil (ABEI). The specific objectives are, then, to characterize the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Lisboa, Associação para o Bem Estar Infantil and their multidisciplinary team; to analyse and describe the adoption program at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Lisboa, Associação para o Bem Estar Infantil and their contribution to the matter of adoption; to gather specific legislation about adoption; to gather information about the difficulties and achievements of families who are in the adoption process, in the Metropolitan Region of Lisbon; to identify the social policies within the adoption theme and to analyse the methodological intervention of the multidisciplinary team in the adoption program.