A fresh appeal is being made for people in the Tees Valley to consider adoption to help transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in the area.
Adoption Tees Valley, a new regional adoption agency covering Darlington, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton on Tees and Hartlepool, is hosting a series of information events this October. Interested residents can find out what’s involved in the adoption journey; what preparation, training and help prospective adopters can expect and who can adopt.
There are more than 45 children and young people across the Tees Valley who, for various reasons, cannot live with their birth families and need to be adopted. This figure changes as children are adopted, and more come through who require a permanence through adoption. In particular Adoption Tees Valley are looking for people who can adopt sibling groups as well as children with additional needs, as these children often wait the longest to find a permanent loving home.
Adoption Tees Valley provides a series of support services and training for those looking to adopt but also crucially in the post adoption period, ensuring that those who do adopt children with additional needs are given a full history of the needs of the child, a health plan and support package outlining the services available to the family.
There are many misconceptions surrounding adoption with many people ruling themselves out before even making an enquiry, the process is often thought to take years, where in reality from making an application to becoming approved to adopt should take no longer than 6 months. There is no upper age limit to adopt; you can be single or divorced; straight, gay or lesbian; employed or unemployed; and a homeowner or tenant. Adoption Tees Valley welcomes Adopters who are from a range of ethnic backgrounds and follow a diversity of religions.
Adoption Tees Valley’s Service Manager, Vicky Davidson Boyd says: “Children and young people come into care for a wide range of reasons and adoptive parents have the potential to transform their lives.
“We are looking for adopters from all walks of life, with the most important aspect being that they can provide a stable, loving home to some of the most vulnerable children in the region. We would encourage those thinking of adopting to come along to one of our events, drop in to see us or pick up the phone, we’d be more than happy to answer your questions”
To book a place at the event or for more information about adoption, call Adoption Tees Valley on (01642) 526400, email info@adoptionteesvalley.org.uk or visit https://www.adoptionteesvalley.org.uk