They Deserve Someone!

What is adoption?

Adoption gives a child a new family when living with their own family is not possible. It is the means giving a child an opportunity to start a new life. Adopters become the child’s legal parents with the same rights and responsibilities as if the child was born to them. For many children, adoption may be their only chance of experiencing family life.

To be eligible for adoption the child must be under the age of 18 years and a child for whom returning home to their parents is not possible. If the child is married or has been married, they cannot be adopted.

An Adoption Order severs all legal ties with the birth family and gives rights and responsibilities to the new adoptive family. The birth parents no longer have any legal rights over the child and they are not entitled to claim them back.

The child becomes a full member of their new family. They take the surname and assume the same rights and privileges as if they had been born to you, including the right of inheritance.

Bringing up a child is mutually rewarding and great fun, as well as being hard work and a big responsibility. This is especially so when a person chooses to bring up a child who was not born to him or her.

Types of adoption There are three types of adoption:

Closed adoption: In this type of adoption, a child’s real parents and adoptive parents do not meet. The birthmothers give off their babies to an adoption agency. No further information other than the medical history of the birthmother is shared with the adoptive family. Semi-open adoption: Birthmothers are given the option to choose potential adoptive parents. Open adoption: Both the birthparents and adoptive parents share contact information about each other. Once the adoption process is complete, it is their personal choice, whether to be in touch with one another or not.

(Facts about Adoption: http://www.powtoon.com/show/gdBmTVUxKFQ/blank)

Adoption is a lifelong commitment, which requires very serious thought and preparation. It is important for applicants to consider the impact adoption will have on them as individuals, as a couple, as well as on their immediate and extended family.

Why adopt?

A child needs love, care and attention. This care helps and nourishes the child’s development. There are different reasons as to why a person or a family would want to adopt a child. The reasons may vary from person to person and family to family but a few reasons are if the couple is childless, untimely death of a child, single adults who love children, couples wanting a child of the opposite sex, some couples adopt a baby out of genuine love for children whether they have their own children or not, people who suffer from genetic diseases and choose not to have children of their own.

Children who need an adoptive family are in foster care. The most common for this are neglect or abuse (physical, sexual or emotional), their parents may have addiction problems, poor physical/ mental health or simply lack of skills and knowledge required to parent their child. Children who have lived through such experiences are confused and hurt and can find it hard to build relationships and trust adults. Many of them express their feelings through behaviours that can be challenging, they need parents who can understand and help them. Adoption plays a major part in a child’s life as well as the adopter’s, as it is a challenge to both of them to feel loved and secure.

Every Child Needs Someone