For National Adoption Week 2017, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is encouraging residents to consider becoming adoptive parents to sibling groups in order to prevent brothers and sisters being separated.
Taking place between 16 and 22 October, the awareness-raising week is looking to encourage people considering adoption to open their homes to sibling groups – who should be adopted together.
68% of the children in the North East waiting for adoptive families are brothers and sisters in groups of two or more, meaning that the need to find parents for siblings is greater than ever.
Adoption provides permanent homes for children who, through no fault of their own, are not able to live with their own family.
Most of the children who are waiting to be adopted will have been removed from their parents through the court system, and with court orders increasing there is a need for more families to consider becoming adopters.
Two children looking for adoptive parents are sisters Katie 7 and Abby 5. The sociable and creative sisters are both thriving in their foster placement and at school. They share a close bond and we are looking for a permanent home for the girls together after time spent with foster carers in the borough.
Cllr Craig Hannaway, Cabinet Member for Children at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “We are pleased to be raising awareness of the council’s Adoption and Permanency team during National Adoption Week and highlighting the great work they do every day of the year.
“The council really needs to recruit adopters for our sibling groups as there is a national shortage of adoptive parents coming forward for these children. Please call our team if you are interested in becoming an adoptive parent.”
If you would like to speak to the Adoption team, please call 01642 771500 or drop in for a chat in the Adoption office at Seafield House, Kirkleatham Street, Redcar TS10 1SP.
For more information please visit: www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/adoption.