Press releases

More families needed to adopt children across Northern Ireland, says BAAF

Issued: 6 November 2006

National Adoption Week 6-12 November 2006

The British Association for Adoption & Fostering is calling on families to come forward and find out more about adopting a child.

The appeal comes at the start of the tenth National Adoption Week – a UK-wide campaign organised by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF).

In Northern Ireland during the last five years there have been approximately 80 children per year adopted from the care system. Although there are few babies waiting for permanent and loving homes, more than half of children adopted in 2004/5 were under the age of four.

Frances Nicholson, BAAF Northern Ireland Director, says:

“Children in care have often had a very difficult start to life – all will have experienced the trauma of being separated from their birth families and some may have suffered abuse or neglect.

“There are too many toddlers, school age children and small groups of brothers and sisters in care waiting for permanent and loving homes in Northern Ireland. We must raise the profile of adoption and encourage families to come forward.”

BAAF has recently responded to the consultation on the DHSSPS Adoption Strategy – “Adopting the Future”. BAAF hopes this recommended Adoption Reform will place the child at the centre of the process; introduce statutory timescales, comprehensive guidance and training to ensure efforts are maximised to achieve the best results for children; and introduce a regional system to extend options to find a family for children throughout Northern Ireland.

Ends

Notes to Editor

1. For more information about National Adoption Week, please visit www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk

2. For more information about BAAF please call Daisy O’Clee on 020 7421 2632 / daisy.oclee@baaf.org.uk or Lucy Handford on 020 7421 2633 / lucy.handlord@baaf.org.uk