Norfolk County Council says #YOUCANADOPT

Norfolk has joined a nationwide campaign to encourage people to consider adoption.

The aim is to dispel myths around who is eligible to adopt.

The County Council also want to highlight that, especially during the COVID pandemic, there are still children out there who are looking for their new family.

Norfolk County Council is backing the #YOUCANADOPT campaign to show how people can adopt from a variety of backgrounds including single parents, people from all religions and people from the LGBTQ+, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

John Fisher, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said;

“Whether you are single, in a same sex relationship, are living in rented accommodation or own your own home, have a pet or have a disability – please don’t rule yourself out - all we see are potential loving adoptive parents. I urge anyone who has been thinking about adoption through this national adoption campaign, that they make contact and speak to our friendly team who will be able to talk to you about what adoption might mean for you and start you on your journey to giving a child their forever family.”

How J and H completed their family

J and H always knew that they wanted to have a family but heir routes to having a family were more limited due to being two men:

“Prior to attending an information evening, we felt really unsure about the process. The process looked daunting and scary. However, from the point of the information evening onwards we realised that it wasn’t at all. We felt really supported throughout our process and anything difficult we had to discuss we felt really supported with.”

“We found the stage 2 assessment process really positive. It was good to go in to so much depth about your childhood and reflect on your life. It helped us to think about ourselves and our lives in different ways. It was like free counselling really!”

“We remember being told that your worker is not there to try to trip you up, but they are there to try to guide you and represent you and the children the best that they can do. This was really reassuring”.

After lots of discussions with their worker J and HH made the decision to make foster to adopt part of their offer.

They heard about their little boy in early December and began making visits to him in hospital a few weeks later, he was home with them soon after.

His adoption order was granted 7 months later when he was 8 months old.

He is now a very happy, healthy 21-month-old little boy.

The fighting spirit that he showed when he was a tiny baby still shines through and he is a determined little boy who is a joy to care for.

“If I was to give any other prospective adopters advice it would be to be honest with your worker. Discuss any fears that you might have. Be prepared to share anything. Your worker is there to support you and guide you. My heart would have taken any child to begin with but talking about what life would look like realistically with my worker helped me to be clearer. Enjoy the process. It is intense but remember you are doing it to become a parent. Also, go out for that meal, go on holiday because your life will change once your child arrives”.

To be eligible to adopt, individuals must be aged 21 or over (there is no upper age limit).

People who adopt a child can be:

-Single, married or unmarried

-From any ethnic or religious background

-Heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender

-A homeowner or living in rented accommodation

-Employed or on benefits

-Those who have children or who have none

-People thinking of adopting for a second time