Press releases
New research reveals ‘alarming misconceptions’ about modern adoption, says BAAF
Issued: 6 November 2007
Children are missing out on permanent new families because of public ignorance about modern adoption, fears the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF).
A YouGov* survey released today by the charity shows high levels of interest in adopting but low levels of understanding about who can adopt and the background of children needing permanent families. The poll is published at a time when adoptions are falling in parts of the UK and some children still wait far too long for an adoptive family.
The questionnaire of more than 2,000 adults aged 18 and over shows that 21% of respondents had thought about adopting a child – equivalent to almost 10m* adults across the UK. Despite this:
- A significant proportion of respondents incorrectly believed the following circumstances would automatically rule you out from becoming an adoptive parent – being over 40 (35%), being unemployed (25%), being a single man (23%) or being a single woman (14%). In reality, there are no blanket bans and suitable adopters can come from all backgrounds.
- Less than one third (29%) of people knew that abuse or neglect is the most common reason children are adopted in the UK today. More than four out of 10 (41%) believed the most common reason is because the birth parents ‘give up’ their child for adoption, when in fact this is now much less common than it was.
- Only just over half of respondents (53%) knew that adoption agencies need more adopters to come forward. In reality, adopters are desperately needed, particularly for older children, groups of brothers and sisters, children from some black and minority ethnic backgrounds and children whose development is delayed or uncertain.
David Holmes, Chief Executive of BAAF, says:
"These findings uncover alarming misconceptions about modern adoption. It is encouraging that a large proportion of adults have thought about adopting a child, but worrying that so many people still believe there are blanket bans on who can adopt. It is tragic for children waiting to be adopted if potential parents are excluding themselves before they have even looked into it.
“Up to the 1970s there were thousands of relinquished babies every year, but society has changed hugely since then and this is now much less common. The majority of children needing adoption today have been taken into local authority care before being adopted. Most have suffered abuse, neglect or other severe family problems. Despite the high profile of adoption, people still don’t realise adopters are desperately needed for vulnerable children whose early lives are likely to have been traumatic or chaotic. It is crucial people understand the reality of adoption if we are to recruit the right families for those children who need them.”
He adds: “There has been a drop in the number of adoptions in some parts of the UK. Without suitable adopters many children will continue to wait in care for far too long and some will never find a permanent and loving family of their own – something every child deserves."
The survey is released during National Adoption Week, a UK-wide campaign to raise awareness of adoption and recruit more families for children in care. For more information about adoption, please visit www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk
-Ends-
Notes to editors
* Research carried out by YouGov 23-25th October 2007 based on a nationally representative sample size of 2,214 people.
* Total population: 60,587,300,
Total under 18: 13,119,500,
Source: Mid-2006 Population Estimates: United Kingdom; estimated resident population by single year of age and sex
BAAF calculations: Total 18 and over: 47,467,800, 21% of 47,467,800 = 9,968,238
For more information, please call BAAF press office on 020 7421 2632/3 or email daisy.oclee@baaf.org.uk For out of hours enquiries, call the press office mobile on 07767 444 589.
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