The best thing my wife and I ever did, along with having our two boys, was adopt our beautiful daughter. Nothing compares to the happiness and meaning she has given to our lives.
During this National Adoption Week, the simple message is this: If you have room in your home – and more importantly in your heart – to consider adopting a child who needs a loving family, we want to hear from you.
At every time in every age there have been children in need of care from people other than their biological parents. Because of the impact of drug and alcohol misuse, social and economic deprivation, violence, abuse and mental health issues – 2019 is no different.
‘Looked-after’ kids is one of the biggest oxymorons in public life. Too many children in care are neglected of the love and the attention they need to flourish.
Right now, there are children in desperate need of a new start. Most are under five years old.
In London, there is a particular need to find homes for children described as ‘hard to place’. This includes children from our diverse communities, in sibling groups of two or more, as well as those children with disabilities or special needs.
Giving these children a new start will not only enrich their lives and your own, it contributes to making our society a better and more loving place. Across the country, we are enduring the related crises of loneliness, depression, drug abuse and violent crime.
The need is pressing, children are waiting and the Government is not making adoption any easier
Creating space for larger and more loving families through adoption will help us tackle this.
Don’t believe the myths about who can adopt. The profile of adopters is evolving.
Your own background – ethnicity, class and religion – do not matter. In the year ending March 2018, 400 children were adopted by single adopters and a further 460 by same-sex couples.
You do need an open mind and an open heart, and to be prepared to make a long-term, loving commitment to a child who above all needs stability and understanding. If you tick these boxes then what comes next is down to you.
The assessment process with your agency offers time to think things through and consider the realities of the needs of the children, as well as enabling the adoption agency to assess whether you will make a good adopter.
The need is pressing and children are waiting. And the Government is not making adoption any easier.
Its decision to scrap the Adoption Register for England this year was baffling. The register had made it easier for children needing homes and adopters to meet.
In its final year, the Register linked up 275 children, who had waited months without a match, to find permanent families. I am one of many in Parliament who will scrutinise the Government’s performance and the results of the new regional adoption agencies.
In the meantime, it is vital that everyday citizens who can volunteer to adopt make sure the gap is filled.
Adopting a child is challenging but agencies can provide a range of training and support to adoptive families. This week Coram Ambitious for Adoption – the first regional adoption agency in London and part of the oldest children’s charity – is holding its first Celebrate Success event to welcome adopters from across the capital.
It will launch new resources produced by The Adoptables, a group of adopted young people to help others to learn how to tell their story.
I hope the stories you read today will show how people from all walks of life are becoming adopters and may inspire you to join us.
Yes, adopting a child will be one of the toughest things you will ever do, but it will be among the most rewarding too.
We need good people of every background, religion, age and ethnicity to start the process of adopting a child who needs a safe and loving home.
If you are interested, you can visit First4Adoption.org.uk to get advice and prepare and find out about Coram’s next information evening at coramadoption.org.uk.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/14/best-thing-family-ever-along-sons-adopt-daughter-10906147/
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