This National Adoption Week, 12-18 October, One Adoption North and Humber, the regional adoption agency for North Yorkshire, Humberside and North East Lincolnshire, is urging people who have room in their heart and home for a child or siblings to come forward.
Groups of brothers and sisters, older children, those with health needs and children from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities tend to wait longer for an adoptive family.
While there is a national shortage of adopters for children in care, One Adoption North and Humber is particularly looking for people who would consider welcoming a sibling group into their family where at least one of the children is over five years old. Across North Yorkshire and the Humber there are six sibling groups where one of the children is over five years old, as well as seven children who have additional or uncertain health needs, and four children who are over four years old.
Suzie Grove, head of One Adoption North and Humber, said: “Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen an increase in the number of people contacting us, interested in adopting. This is fantastic and we are very excited to be able to help these people start their adoption journey with us. However, we still have a shortage of people who feel they could care for sibling groups, older children and those with health needs, which is why we are putting this special call-out for people who feel they can offer a loving, stable, permanent home to these children who wait longer.
“There are lots of positives to adopting a sibling group, an older child or a child with additional health needs. At times adoption is challenging, as parenthood is for everyone, but adoption is an incredibly rewarding and positive experience, and our team is always on hand to offer support and answer your questions.”
During this year’s National Adoption Week, which takes place from 12 to 18 October, One Adoption is hosting a live question and answer session via social media. The Q&A, which will be hosted on the agency’s Facebook page on Thursday 15 October at 8pm, will enable people who are thinking of adopting to get up-to-date and correct information about who can adopt, the adoption process and anything else they are curious about.
The regional adoption agency for North Yorkshire and the Humber is also keen to ‘bust’ the myths which often put people off from taking the first step into adoption. Suzie added:
“We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures and faiths. Nationally, black children are disproportionately over-represented in our care system and black children are also less likely to go on to be adopted and wait longer to find their adoptive families, with boys of black African origin waiting the longest.
“You don’t have to be married to adopt, we have some excellent single adopters, and we have approved lots of adopters from the LGBTQ+ community. Gender, relationship status, ethnicity, age or religion don’t matter, if you can love and care for a child, you can adopt.
“People who are concerned that they may not get the support they need once they adopt can also be reassured. Parents are supported throughout the whole process by highly experienced, dedicated adoption support teams. There is a comprehensive programme of pre- and post-adoption training and support, much of which is being provided virtually at the current time.”
People who are interested in finding out more about adoption are advised to call One Adoption North and Humber on 0345 305 2576 and talk to one of the friendly teams in each area or visit www.oneadoption.co.uk.
Interviews can be arranged with adopters and adoption professionals.
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