From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, November 05, 2007

10 years after the first National Adoption Week Devon County Council's Adoption Service, Devon Adoption, says permanent families are needed now more than ever.

Devon Adoption is using the 10th anniversary of National Adoption Week, this week, to remind people that there is still a shortage of permanent families for some children in care.

The adoption agency is looking for families for older children, large families of brothers and sisters, children whose development is very delayed or uncertain and who have significant special needs.   

                                                    

There are more than 4,000 children across the UK needing adoption every year. The annual UK-wide campaign, organised by the British Association for Adoption Fostering (BAAF), aims to raise awareness of adoption and encourage potential parents to come forward.

Councillor John Smith, Devon County Council's Executive Member for Children and Young People said:

                                                                                                               "We need adoptive families for children all through the year, but want to use Adoption Week to help to help the people of Devon keep adoption in mind. Even if it is not just the right time for them to apply now, if they get to know more about adoption, they can be thinking about it and preparing themselves. We find that most people who successfully adopt have been thinking of doing it for some time before they actually apply. "

Brenda Thomas, Practice Manager of Devon Adoption says:

"Every child is special and needs to grow up in a loving, secure family. Many have had a very difficult or chaotic start in life and desperately need stability. Many have complex histories involving the misuse of drugs and alcohol and it is not known how they will develop in the future. These children especially need devoted parents who can give them time and support to help them achieve their potential, whatever that may be."

"The process for becoming an adoptive parent is rigorous, but there are no blanket bans. People must not think that they will be turned down because they are over 40, for example, single, or don't own their own home. 

"What we really need are people who can offer a child or sibling group a loving and supportive family for life; people who can help a child recover from the reasons why they came in to care and can help them go on to thrive.

"Initially, we are simply asking people to come forward and find out more about adoption. If you think you might have what it takes, please pick up the phone today and ask for an Information Pack."

David Holmes, Chief Executive of British Association for Adoption and Fostering, says:

"Most children who come into public care go home within weeks. But it is a sad fact that some children are simply unable to return to their birth family, because of neglect, abuse or perhaps just because their parents are unable to cope with being a parent. Adoption is one of the best ways we know of giving these children a family for life. Some of them have had traumatic experiences, others have learning difficulties or health problems and it's crucial that loving and permanent families are found for them."

Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption can call 01392 384848 or e-mail adoption@devon.gov.uk or look at www.devon.gov.uk/adoption.

Note to Editors:

For more information about this press release, please call:

Brenda Thomas Practice Manager - Adoption 01392 384968

For more information about National Adoption Week, please visit www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk

For more information about BAAF please call Daisy O'Clee on 020 7421 2632 / daisy.oclee@baaf.org.uk or Jane Elston on 020 7421 2633 / jane.elston@baaf.org.uk