Adoption of babies at record low
Posted: Wednesday 5 October 2011
‘Just 60 babies a year adopted in England’. This was the stark headline reported in many of the UK broadsheets recently.
The adoption process across the UK has been brought into sharp focus with the release of figures showing that adoption of children under the age of 1 has continued to fall rapidly – from 4,000 in 1976 to 150 in 2007, down to the figure of 60 adoptions in England in 2010.
These statistics relate to adoptions in England only, but concern about the low number of adoptions is prevalent throughout the UK.
What makes these figures so startling is that they coincide with a continued increase in the number of children in care.
What happens to these children? The answer is that temporary homes are found, either in foster care or residential facilities.
There is heightened concern that the adoption process is too lengthy, complex, and riddled with red tape. Some commentators believe this discourages some prospective adopters from pursuing adoption.
Social work departments and adoption agencies have a difficult task. On the one hand they want to encourage prospective adopters to persevere and to provide a much needed home for a child. On the other hand they must have stringent checks in place to ensure the safety of the children for whom they are responsible.
There is a growing body of opinion that children who could otherwise be adopted are missing out because there is too much emphasis on trying to rehabilitate them to the care of their birth parents.
Many have called for the process to be faster and more streamlined, with decisions being taken at a much earlier stage where it is clear that the child cannot live with his or her birth family.
‘Fast tracking’ of cases involving young babies has been mooted, as the possibility of a child finding an adoptive family decreases rapidly the older they get.
Release of these figures puts adoption firmly in the spotlight, and may well result in a fresh look at the process.
With National Adoption Week 2011 just around the corner (31st October to 6th November 2011) we may see much more commentary focusing on the need to find parents for the thousands of children across the country who need a place to call home.
If you have any queries about adoption please contact Anna Forsyth at anna.forsyth@morton-fraser.com or on 0131 247 1025.
You can sign up for our regular free e-bulletin Designed for Life to stay informed of legal considerations and forthcoming events here.
