In the past few days I have been interviewed a number of times regarding the unveiling of new data on the declining number of adoptions in the UK. This is an outrageous situation as we are talking about the lowest levels for a decade, despite both the increased number of children available for adoption and applications from potential adoptive parents. In many cases the parents-in-waiting have passed all their screenings. Sadly, like others before them, they will be made to jump through unnecessary hoops that have nothing to do with protecting the child and are simply the result of bureaucracy gone mad.
Like yesterday, the situation is so dramatic that it will require dramatic intervention.
Too much time has passed and too little has happened. Tony Blair tried to help the issue by setting adoption targets. It helped a little – but too little to make a real difference and we know targets don’t work.
Tim Loughton has introduced some new guidelines to allow white parents to adopt non-white children. These rules are being ignored by local authorities and social workers. The reality is the intervention of the government has been too little too late. And let’s face it, there is no compunction on the part of local authorities to follow these passive guidelines. There is no comeback or reinforcement from the government.
Adoption with Humanity will soon be launching a petition to ask the government to intervene in a way that will require local authorities and others to act. I will let you know more soon. Because our present system is more than stupid, it is immoral. In a world where thousands of children languish in care while there are safe, loving families who want them, we have to do something. And we are going to try our very best.
Adoption is a nightmare we have been waiting over 6 years and still nothing is happening it seems like a waste of time.