Transcript UNITE Concurrent Planning Project

“To take into one’s family
through legal means and
raise as one’s own child”
(dictionary definition)
THINKING ABOUT ADOPTION –
WHO TO CONTACT

There are 5 STATUTORY Adoption
Agencies in Northern Ireland (each Health
and Social Care Trust)
AND

There are 2 VOLUNTARY Adoption
Agencies in Northern Ireland –
Family Care Society and Adoption Routes
ADOPTION AGENCIES

Family Care Society – 2 offices (Belfast
and Derry / Londonderry

Adoption Routes – 1 office in Heron Road,
Belfast
PATHWAYS TO ADOPTION

DOMESTIC adoption (children from
Northern Ireland or UK) – either through
your local Trust or either of the Voluntary
Adoption Agencies
OR

INTER-COUNTRY adoption (children from
overseas) – only through your local Trust
(Regional Team currently being
established)
PATHWAYS TO ADOPTION

CONCURRENT CARING (fostering a very
young child, with a view to adoption, if that
becomes the agreed plan)
Through Unite Concurrent Planning
Service or your local Trust
UNITE
Concurrent Planning Service
WHY DOMESTIC ADOPTION?

It is estimated that up to 200 children in care in Northern
Ireland need permanent adoptive families (up to 5000
children across the UK)

Domestic adoption ensures that a child is raised within his
or her own culture, language and religion

Adopters are provided with as much information as is
known regarding the child’s past, their birth parents,
siblings, family history and health

There are no charges or fees in domestic adoption

Children are more likely to be able to retain some contact
with their birth family
WHO ARE THE CHILDREN?

All will be in the care of one of the Health and Social
Care Trusts / Local Authority

These children are not usually “given up” for adoption –
the Court has decided they cannot live with parents

Concerns often include parental neglect, abuse, alcohol /
drug addiction, poor mental health, domestic violence or
learning disability.

The children may have experienced several changes in
foster placement in their short lives

They will have been impacted in different ways and to
varying degrees by their early experiences
TRUE OR FALSE?

You can’t adopt if you’re over 40
FALSE

You can’t adopt if you’re single
FALSE

You can’t apply to adopt while you are still
having fertility treatment
TRUE

You can only adopt one child
FALSE

You have to be rich to adopt
FALSE
TRUE OR FALSE?


Same-sex couples cannot apply to adopt in Northern
Ireland
FALSE
Only married couples can adopt a child
FALSE

You must own your own home in order to adopt
FALSE

Applicants with unhealthy lifestyles (including smoking
and obesity) may not be considered to be suitable
adopters
TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE?


You can never apply to adopt if you have a criminal
record
FALSE
Many unplanned pregnancies result in new-born babies
being given up for adoption in NI
FALSE

Some babies are placed with their adoptive parents at
birth
TRUE

Children over 5 are too old to be adopted
FALSE
TRUE OR FALSE?

When a child is adopted their surname changes
TRUE

When a child is adopted you should change their first
name to a name you really like
FALSE

It’s best for a child if you don’t tell them they were
adopted and pretend they are your flesh and blood
FALSE
TRUE OR FALSE?

Once a child is adopted they will have no further contact
with their birth family
FALSE

You will have to get permission from the Social Worker
about all major decisions involving your adopted child
FALSE

Post-adoption support is available for you whenever you
you need it, throughout your adopted child’s childhood
TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE?

If you give it a few months and things aren’t working out,
you can change your mind
FALSE
Adoption is a life-long commitment to a child – the child
becomes a part of your life and your family’s life, for the
rest of your life
PARENTING AN ADOPTED CHILD
SUPPORT
NETWORK
COMMITMENT
UNDERSTANDING
PATIENCE
LOVE
ENERGY
HUMOUR
FLEXIBILITY
TIME
SELFLESS
MANAGE
STRESS
STABILITY
ADOPTION PROCESS
READING /
RESEARCH
APPLICATION
(to one Agency)
INITIAL CONTACT
with AGENCY
PRELIMINARY
CHECKS
INITIAL
INTERVIEW(S)
Home Study
ASSESSMENT
Agency
ADOPTION
PANEL
APPROVAL
WAITING
MATCHING
INTRODUCTIONS
PLACEMENT
For more information or informal chat, please
contact Tracy Mather at:
Family Care Adoption Services:
511 Ormeau Road
Belfast BT7 3GS
Phone: 90691133
[email protected]