Philippines Health Requirements for Applicants

The following requirements were set by ICAB (The Inter Country Adoption Board of the Philippines) for health and psychological health:

Effective November 1, 2009, families will not be accepted for the Philippine adoption program who have the following medical and psychological issues (Note there may be some reconsideration of these requirements when applicants are applying for a waiting child):

List of unacceptable medical issues:
1.    Diabetes Mellitus where it is regarded as "complicated diabetes", or "Metabolic Syndrome"
2.    Obese (BMI of PAPs should be 35 and below)
3.    Cancer
4.    Kidney transplant  and any major transplant (heart, lung, liver)
5.    Pacemaker/stroke/myocardial infarction
6.    Multiple sclerosis and other degenerative muscular disorder
7.    Autoimmune disorders
8.    Risk factors that will impede care for the child (e.g. blind, deaf, wheelchair bound)
9.    Hepatitis C

List of unacceptable psychological issues:
1.    Psychiatric disorders
2.    Mood disorders/major depressive disorders
3.    Anxiety disorders
4.    Substance use disorders
5.    Sexual disorders

ICAB requires that all applicants to be adoptive parents to a Filipino child seek a full psychological evaluation from a competent practitioner (ie a clinical psychologist).

The psychological evaluation report, therefore, shall include, but not limited to the following:
1.    Early experiences (e.g. childhood or adolescent years)that played a significant role in their development as individuals. How did those experiences shape their development? Will unresolved issues, if any, likely impact the applicants’ parenting capability?
2.    Functional assessment.
3.    General coping mechanisms and problem-solving strategies as individuals and as a couple.
4.    Clinical impressions.
5.    Objective tests administered. Briefly describe what each test is meant to measure. State the results and their implications on the individuals capability as prospective adoptive parents.
6.    Conclusions and recommendations.

The following psychological tests are mandatory. Additional tests may be carried out at the discretion of the psychologist.
1.    Minnesota Multi-Phasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF)
2.    Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III).  Note: Where the MCMI III is unavailable, this can be replaced with the NEO-PI-R; 16 PF or FRI-R

Note: The Philippines ICAB requires that the Base Rate for MCMI and the T Scores for MMPI-2-RF be submitted as part of the report.