Calderdale needs more adopters.
Calderdale Council is continuing its campaign to recruit more adopters for looked after children who need a permanent, loving family.
Adoption can be highly rewarding, making a positive difference for children and families. It can see children of all ages, from babies to older children, becoming part of a ‘forever family’ where they can thrive and develop.
Each year the Council places around 20 children with adoptive parents, but many more children continue to wait for a permanent family. This is true almost everywhere – nationally, far more children are in need of permanent families than the number of approved adopters.
In 2011/12 the Adoption Register for England and Wales, which helps to match children and families through a database, reported that 2,736 children were referred to them, compared to just 735 approved adopters.
Calderdale Council launched its ‘Make a family, make a future’ campaign in November 2012 to tackle this issue locally. The Council has refreshed its adoption training and has streamlined the process that people follow to apply to be adopters. People told the Council they wanted clearer information about what exactly is involved in the adoption process, so it has revamped its information packs and website. The Council also holds regular information sessions, support groups and social events for people interested in adoption, and offers specialised assistance and a highly personalised service for families who adopt.
The next sessions, run by the Council’s Adoption Service, are as follows:
- ‘Drop-in’ session on Tuesday 5 March 2013, from 6.30pm at Carlton Mill, Wharf Street, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2AS. This session is aimed at Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people who want to find out more about adoption. The session coincides with national LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week, which runs from Monday 4 March to Sunday 10 March.
- Information evening on Tuesday 19 March 2013, from 6.30pm at Carlton Mill, Sowerby Bridge, for prospective adopters from all communities across Calderdale to discuss their interest in adoption and learn more about the process. The Council holds information evenings every month, where prospective adopters can book an appointment with members of the Councils Adoption Service to learn more about adoption.
The Government has introduced an ‘Action Plan for Adoption: Tackling Delay’ initiative. Its aim during 2013 is to reduce the time taken to assess adopters, and also the time it takes for the courts to make decisions about a child’s future.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Cllr Megan Swift, said:
“We share the Government’s ambition to encourage more people to adopt, and we want to make the process as fast and simple as possible. At the same time, we need to make sure that a faster process doesn’t mean any loss in the quality of the service we offer to our adopters in preparing them to provide a permanent and loving home for a Calderdale child, including the ongoing support we give them as a family.
“I really do encourage anyone with an interest in adoption to get in touch with the Council. We are eager to find safe, stable, loving homes for children in Calderdale, particularly sibling groups and children with developmental needs.”
For more information please visit Calderdale Adoption. For initial enquiries, or to book an appointment at an information evening, please contact the Adoption Service on 01422 256053 or email adoption@calderdale.gov.uk