There are many reasons why people may choose to adopt a child, this could be due not having met the right partner, infertility, wishing to expand your family and many more.
If you are over 21 you may be able to adopt a child. There is no upper age limit. You may feel you need to be in a relationship to adopt a child, but this is not the case as you may be able to adopt a child if you are:
- Single
- Married Couple/ Civil partnership
- Same sex couple
- If you (and if you are a couple, your partner) have lived in a permanent home in the UK for at least 1 yearIf you have ever thought about adopting your local authority will be able to give you some support and guidance on how to go about it
What support is available for adoptive parents
Parents can need support at different stages throughout their new role and it is no different for adoptive parents. The local authority that placed the child with you can assess you needs for the first 3 years following the adoption. After that the local authority where you live (if this is different) will be able to provide the support. There is an Adoption Support Service Advisor in each local authority area who has responsibility for the services the local authority provides. You may wish to access parenting skills courses to help support you and your child in adapting to family life.
What might adoptive children need
Your child may have come from a complex background and therefore may need additional support to help them settle into family life. What support is available for you and your child to access will depend on your local area. There are many therapies which may be able to support your child, for instance Art and Music therapy to help with your child’s concentration and attention skills or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) which can reduce the intensity of distressing memories.
Any child can find it hard to settle in to school. They can struggle with the new environment and new group settings. An adopted child may need additional support due to past traumatic experiences. Working closely with your child’s school helps to ensure the strategies to support your child are put in place. Remember your child is individual so you may need to access different support until you and your child find what works for them.
Being a Parent
Being a parent can be very rewarding, however there may also be times when we feel challenged with family life. Any parent can experience these challenges, you may find it useful and supportive to speak to friends and family or meet with other people in a similar situation.
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