Adoption and Fostering
What is adoption?
Adoption means belonging to and growing up in a new family when you cannot live with the family you were born into. A court makes something called an Adoption Order, and then you are legally part of a new family and not in care or 'looked after' (fostered) any more. When the court makes the Adoption Order, the adopters become your new parents.
How is adoption different from fostering?
If your birth parents cannot look after you, you are probably living with a foster family until an adoptive family can be found for you. Foster families usually look after children until they can move back home or move to a new adoptive family. Foster families don't usually look after children until they are grown up.
Who decides when you get adopted?
Your social worker will talk to you about the process of adoption, and they will talk to your birth parents and perhaps other relatives, like your grandparents.Adoption will be discussed at the review meetings you have, when you are thinking about plans for your future. It's really important that you say what you think and feel,and ask as many questions as you want to. If you're not happy with the arrangements being made for you, it's important to tell your social worker about this before the final decision is made. An Adoption Panel meets and agrees whether adoption would be the best move for you. They also help to match you with the right family. The panel considers a report that your social worker writes, which will also include your views. If you want to meet the panel yourself, ask your social worker to arrange this.
What happens after the panel agree adoption is the best thing for me?
Once the panel have agreed that adoption might be best for you, your social worker will find out what kind of family you would like live with, and what kind of family you will need that can best look after you. Then the social worker will begin looking for a family for you.
Remember-this process is all about you-and any decisions made should take into account what you think and what you want to happen. Don't hide your feelings-talk to someone you trust.
How will they find the right family for me?
Your social worker will do their best to find you a family that is of a similar ethnic background. Speaking the same language and/or having the same religious celebrations. Your social worker will also contact adoption agencies and start getting infomation on families that are waiting to adopt and go and meet different families to find out about them. After holding the meeting, they will then choose the right one. The reasons for choosing a particular family for you are sent to the adoption panel, and will agree or not whether the social worker has found the best family for you.
When is the final decision made?
Within the next seven days. If the panel wants more information on the family, then it could take a bit longer.
