What is Adoption?

Adoption is the legal process by which children, who cannot be brought up by their own parents, become a full, permanent member of a new family.

When you adopt a child you become their legal parent(s) with the same rights and responsibilities as if they were born to you. So adoption is a very important step which should not be undertaken without very careful thought and preparation.

How long does it take to become an adopter?

The process of becoming an adopter takes time - at least six months, sometimes longer than a year. This gives prospective adopters time to learn about what adoption involves and make the changes in their lives. Adoption is a life time commitment and the time spent preparing for this will ensure a happy and rewarding life for all involved.

Who needs adoption?

• Children of all ages from many different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds may need a new family by adoption;
• Today there are relatively few babies who need to be adopted and many children are over 2 years old;
• Some need to be adopted with brothers and sisters of various ages, others may have physical or learning disabilities;
• Many will have experienced difficulties in their birth family which will require patience and understanding to overcome. This could include mental/physical illness in parents and physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect.

All children needing adoption will have had at least one change of carer, and they will need time to establish trust and an emotional bond with their adoptive parents.

Many children will have memories of their birth family, which are important. They need adopters who can understand the importance of birth families to children they adopt.

Research shows that children who understand that they are adopted from an early stage, adjust well and accept their status as adopted people.