National Adoption Week aims to raise awareness about who can adopt
Monday, 12 October 2020
Adoption Connects is aiming to challenge myths and misconceptions about the adoption process and increase understanding about who is eligible to adopt.
A national report has shown that a staggering 60% of people in the East of England don't feel like they know about the adoption process, with 35% unsure if they're even eligible to adopt.
The report results were issued to coincide with National Adoption Week, running from 12 to 18 October 2020.
Only a third of people surveyed (31%) knew that once a person is over the age of 21 they are old enough to adopt.
Councillor Sue Clark, our Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:
Across Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keyes, we have nine children and three sibling groups waiting to find their forever family. This report shows that there are still misconceptions around adoption, and it’s really important we address them so children can find permanence sooner.
The report also showed that, of the people surveyed from the East of England;
- 31% were not sure if those from the LGBTQ community would be eligible to adopt
- 23% thought that someone over 50 years old would be ineligible to adopt
- 12% were unsure if single people were eligible to adopt
Adoption Connects (an exciting partnership between us and Milton Keynes Council) is hosting a number of virtual information events over the next three months, to enable potential adoptive parents to find out more about the process and dispel potential myths. The events will also cover the resources available to potential parents, and will give attendees the opportunity to ask questions.
Councillor Sue Clark continued:
As of 31 March 2019, nationally over 78,000 children were in the care of local authorities; all a range of ages and from a range of cultures and ethnicities. Adoption can change a child’s life, and, although there will be some challenges along the way, becoming an adoptive parent is easier than many people think.
It’s important that we have a diverse mix of potential parents approved and ready to give a child a safe, loving and stable home; your gender, relationship status, age, ethnicity or religion don’t matter. This National Adoption Week, if you have ever considered adoption and you think you have the qualities to make a brilliant parent, I would really encourage you to find out more.
For more information about adoption:
- visit Adoption Connects' website
- email enquiries@adoptionconnects.co.uk
- call 0300 300 8090