The Adoption Process in Wales: Where to start?

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Adopt Wales

It’s a huge milestone in your life when you decide to become an adoptive parent and you’ll no doubt have an abundance of questions swimming around your head; we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide to the adoption process in wales to answer some of your key questions and show you exactly what you can expect:

Step One: Making the Decision

Now, you may not consider this as a starting point for the process, but by deciding to look further into the option of adopting, you are actually taking your very first step – and a very important step it is too.
Here you will consult with your partner if there are two of you adopting, or you may speak to family and friends to get their input.

Step Two: Contact an Agency

Your next step in the adoption process is to contact an agency to express your interest. The agency will be able to talk you through everything that’s involved, and answer any questions that you may have there and then. You’ll receive an information pack and you may also be invited along to meet other potential adoptive parents which can be a great help, and a great comfort, to many.

Step Three: A Home Visit

If after gathering more information and meeting with the agency, you want to proceed, then the next step will take place when someone from the agency comes to visit your home. This is another opportunity to get to know the agency better, and to get the answers to any other questions you may have. By now, you’ll understand a lot more about adoption so naturally your questions may have changed considerably.

Step Four: Application and Assessment

Understandably, the assessment process is extremely thorough, and as such, it can take up to six months to complete. There is also much involved at this stage, including:

Preparation Classes: These give advice and guidance on the adoption process and the effect it will have on your life. Your expectations will be explored and you will be able to meet with others who are at the same stage of the adoption process as you.
Social Worker Visits: You will receive regular visits from your social worker as they aim to assess your suitability for a role as an adoptive parent.
Providing References
Criminal Background Checks: A background check will be conducted to ensure you haven’t been convicted of any serious crimes.
A full medical examination

Once you have been fully assessed, your social worker will send the report to an adoption panel who will be able to feed recommendations back to your chosen agency.

Step Five: Matching You Up

Perhaps the most exciting, and nerve-wracking step of the adoption process is step five. This is where, after a successful assessment, you will be matched up with a child that is deemed suitable for you. If you are happy with the match, then a decision will officially be made to finalise the process.

After this stage, your new family life can begin.

Are you currently considering becoming an adoptive parent? Get in touch today with your questions – we’d love to help you out.

What to do in Wales This Summer

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Adopt Wales

It’s the summer holidays and the sun is shining, so get out there and enjoy some great family fun days out. Here is our pick of the best things to do this summer:

Cardiff Bay’s Urban Beach

(image: Photgraphicallsorts)

Live in the city centre and not sure where the nearest beach is? Well, you do now. From the 25^th July to 31^st August the Oval Basin is home to plenty of excitement. Key features include a manmade beach lined with deckchairs and palm trees, open air swimming pools and even a lazy river.

And when you get bored of splashing about or sunbathing there are fairground rides, miniature golf, climbing frames and water zorbing. Then sit back and relax in the tiki bar and café. This is a great day out for a low cost!

Of course you could always get involved with the events held here on a weekly basis. There is something on every day of the week:

Monday – A Caribbean beach party with music from steel pan group DUOFLEX and entertainment from Captain Jack Sparrow.

Tuesday – Sports fun with Zumba lessons and a beach volleyball tournament.

Wednesday – Every Wednesday there is a showcase of music from around the globe, featuring a different country each week.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday – The best of South Wales’ musicians.

Sunday – A great family day out with plenty of music and dancing. The pinnacle event is the Vegas experience held by Darren Tyson. This is not to be missed!

This is a recurring attraction and this year’s event is sponsored by Braces Bread and Capital FM, which give you the chance to win ‘A Grand in the Sand’ simply by posting a selfie of yourself at the attraction. Could you be a winner? Get down there from 10am for free entry!

Peppa Pig’s Big Splash in Llandudno

Peppa Pig is hugely popular among young ones and she’s coming to Venue Cymru, Llandudno on August 20^th! This is an all singing, all dancing show which brings this favourite TV character to life with puppets and plenty of sing-alongs.

Image (Wikipedia)

Clever Little Celts at Melin

For a family day out that is educational, pay a visit to Melin in Pembrokeshire on any of the following dates:

14^th-15^th August 2014
21^st- 22^nd August 2014
28^th- 29^th August 2014
28^th- 29^th October 2014

At this family friendly event you can meet Celtic characters and experience some jobs and tasks that were everyday activities thousands of years ago, including grinding grain and willow weaving. You can then have your face painted to look like a real Celtic warrior.

Welsh Folk Music at St Fagans

On the 23^rd August, make a trip to St Fagans National History Museum for a day of traditional Welsh folk music. Enjoy performances from:

Aled Rheon
Gwenan Gibbard
Trwbador
DnA
Olion Byw
Kizzy Crawford
And many more!

During your visit you can meet instrument makers and take part in music-themed arts and crafts. You can even pick up a few more albums from the famous Spillers Records. This is a great day for experiencing Welsh culture in a laid back atmosphere.

So what will you be doing this summer school holidays? Will you be attending any of these events? Have fun if you do!

The Pros of Adopting and Fostering

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Adopt Wales

There could be any number of reasons for you considering either adopting or fostering a child, but how do you know which option would be better for you and the potential new addition to your family? Let’s take a look at the pros of both:

Adopting a child

When adopting a child, you are welcoming them fully into your family as your own; the child will take on the family surname once the adoption has been made legal through an adoption court order – this can be done 10 weeks after the child has lived with you. This gives you parental rights and responsibilities for the child.

For the above reasons, many people do consider becoming adoptive parents to be the right path for them, but there are many more pros to this process, including:

A permanent, loving family: This is the most beautiful pro to adopting a child, for both parties; the child who is up for adoption will be welcomed into a loving family, and will be nurtured and raised as the legal child of the adoptive parent/parents. They will have a permanent home without having to worry about moving between foster carers.
A second chance: Again, for both the child and the parents involved, the adoption process offers a second chance.

For the child, who was either given up for adoption by the birth parents or removed from their biological parents, they are getting a second chance at being part of a loving family. They are safe in the knowledge that they are wanted and loved, and will be forever.

For the adoptive parent/parents, it also gives them a second shot at happiness; perhaps because they were unable to conceive naturally or because they are a same sex couple, whatever the reason, their new adoptive child gives them the family they’ve always wanted. A feeling of joy that is not comparable.

Fostering a child

Fostering a child is a completely different process to that of adoption; fostering can be short-term and part-time, perhaps for just a few days at a time, or more long-term and full-time. As well as this, you find that many children who are in need of a foster home have been through some bad experiences and you will need to support them through their development before they either return to their birth parents or find an adoptive family. As a foster carer , you will become part of a team that is looking out for the welfare of the child, including: social services, health care professionals, and education professionals.
There are many pros to fostering, including:

Doing a good deed: It goes without saying that by fostering a child, for whatever length of time, you are doing a good turn. You are helping and supporting this child in their time of need, along with a team of professionals. Whatever their background, and whatever trauma they have experienced, you are helping them overcome this and assisting them in moving forward with their life and with their development. This creates an undeniable feeling of self-achievement; you’ve made a difference.
No two children will be the same: The children that pass in and out of your care will never be the same as one another. They will have different personalities, different experiences, and different challenges and issues that they need your help to overcome. Each one will bring something different to your life and to your family; you can gain enormous satisfaction from each individual case.

If you are a first time adoptive parent looking for adoption guidance in Wales, then get in touch today so we can take you through the process.

Spending a First Holiday with Your New Family

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Adopt Wales

In the words of good old Cliff Richard:

“We’re all going on a summer holiday, no more working for a week or two. Fun and laughter on our summer holiday, no more worries for me or you, for a week or two”

You’re going on your first holiday with your new family! But what should you do to prepare for your trip?

What to Pack

Don’t bother packing buckets and spades, these can be picked up cheaply abroad and this won’t waste your luggage allowance.

High factor sun cream is a must as children burn much more easily than adults. Hats and sunglasses are also a great idea.

A medical kit is something you should always pack whether travelling with kids or not. Plasters, paracetamol and bug spray are musts.

A camera to take lots of photos. As a first holiday as a new family, you’re sure to want to have plenty of images to remember it by.

A night light – can your little one sleep without one?

Divide everyone’s clothing between each of the suitcases. This way if one gets lost in transit no one will be without something to wear.

Travelling

Travelling with babies or young children ca n be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. Children can get bored very easily and no one likes the confinement, so make sure to take plenty of activities to keep them busy and distracted.

Travel games, colouring books and puzzles are classics, or if you own a tablet of portable games consoles these can also be great – especially if you can play a favourite film.

Night flights are also a good idea as they are likely to sleep through the trip.

Food and drink is also a must, so make sure to carry enough milk for babies and snacks for younger children, for the duration of the trip.

If you will be taking a pushchair perhaps opt for a lighter and cheaper one as it will need to be stored in the luggage hold. This will be more convenient and if it gets slightly damaged in transit it won’t matter as much.

Once You’ve Arrived

When you arrive it is important to get a lie of the land and to get out there and explore the area where you will be staying. Suss out where the local supermarket is for essential food runs and pick up plenty of leaflets for day trips and nearby attractions. It is important to have something to do if the weather does turn bad.

Everything will take longer with kids compared to when you’re on your own, but this is a good thing. A holiday is all about relaxing and taking it easy after all.

Do you feel a little more prepared now? Don’t stress, enjoy! And don’t forget to send us a picture of you enjoying yourselves on Twitter @AdoptWales.

Celebrities Back South Wales Adoption

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Adopt Wales

Many celebrities adopt children, from the UK and abroad, but have you ever thought about which celebrities were adopted themselves?

Celebrity Endorsement

Adopt Wales are running a campaign ‘Adopt Wales Cymru’, fronted by former Olympic athlete Jamie Baulch and TV presenter Anna Ryder-Richardson.

Both celebrities were adopted as young children, and know the importance of a safe and loving upbringing with a caring family. And that is why they are backing this campaign to encourage future adopters across South Wales and surrounding areas.

This campaign is being led by a number of different adoption agencies across South Wales and hopes to raise awareness of adoption, the adoption process and those who are harder to place.
Anna Ryder-Richardson, best known for her role on the BBC’s Changing Rooms and her Manor House Wildlife Park near Tenby, said:

“It’s the older kids that get forgotten in this society - babies are cute, but who cares about the older kids?

“I was lucky, I got adopted at six weeks old, but if I had been six years old, life would have been very different. I could have spent my childhood in care instead of with a family in a place I called ‘home’.

“All kids need is love and a safe environment so if you can provide that then you must come forward and persevere.”

Council Backing

The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing for Swansea Council, Mark Child, has also commented on the campaign saying,
“We need to provide the best possible adoptive parents and families for local young people. Doing this allows them to thrive within a stable, loving, caring family home.

“The Adopt Wales Cymru campaign aims to raise awareness of the need for more adopters and ultimately increase the opportunities to match children waiting for adoption with potential adoptive parents and families.

“We want more people in Swansea to talk about adoption. We want to dispel the many myths about who can and can’t adopt and make sure people are aware of the incredible level of emotional and personal support they will get from our outstanding adoption team.”

“I’d encourage anyone who thinks they may like to adopt to get in touch with our adoption team to find out more. They would not be under any obligation, but may decide this is something they want to be considered for.”

Along with these celebrities, many of you are getting involved with the campaign too. Have you read our real life stories? They give great insight! If you would like to learn more about adoption or would like some adoption guidance, then check out the facts on our website!

A New National Adoption Service to Be Launched in Wales

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Adopt Wales

Adoption Services in Wales are changing and improving this year, with a National Service being created. The National Adoption Service for Wales will be launched in November 2014, the remodelling of adoption services will increase placement choice for children who need adoptive families, reduce delays experienced by prospective adopters and increase consistency for all those affected by adoption across Wales.

Why a National Adoption Service?

The National Adoption Service is part of the Welsh Government’s Social Services and Well Being Act 2014 ( section 170) The Deputy Minister has made it clear that the reformed service must provide:

An eradication of children drifting in care
Elimination of waiting lists for training and assessments
Reducing adoption breakdowns by providing adoption support services
Ensuring consistent delivery across Wales
The Statutory and Voluntary Sectors working together to improve adoption services

British Agency for Adoption and Fostering Cymru (BAAF)

Welsh Government have commissioned BAAF to provide an all Wales Adoption Register.

This completely secure National Adoption Register will ensure the opportunities for Welsh children to be placed with Welsh adoptive families are maximised.

The new National Service provides a unique opportunity for the statutory and voluntary sector to work in true collaboration to improve services for the most vulnerable of children in our society.

A Father’s Day Tale

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Adopt Wales

Father’s Day 2014 is this weekend and it will be an extra special event for new adoptive parents Graham and Tyrone Williams – it’s their first with their adorable new son!
The couple have been together for four years and welcomed their 16-month-old into the family at the beginning of the year. Since then they have celebrated his first birthday, his first steps and soon, their first Father’s Day.

This is Graham and Tyrone’s story of how they adopted through Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, to raise awareness of adoption and encourage others who are considering the process to go for it!
Graham, 33, and Tyrone, 27, decided they wanted to become parents after many years together. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council was recommended by New Family Social, the UK charity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adoptive and foster families and families-to-be, as LGBT friendly. And friends had also told of their positive experiences with the authority.

Graham and Tyrone applied to adopt last April, and by May were attending training days in preparation of becoming parents. In November, they were approved and began the matching process.
The profiles of two young boys were shown to the couple, and as soon as they opened one of the profiles, they knew they had found their future son.

Within a few months the match was made and he officially became their son. At just 10 months old when matched, he went on to celebrate his first birthday, and take his first steps, with his new dads.

Tyrone is a special needs teaching assistant and had decided to take adoption leave to care for their son over the next year. He said:

“I have always wanted children and adoption was something we considered for a long time. I spent a lot of time on the forums on New Family Social, and the Council was recommended to us for being LGBT friendly.

“We have been so lucky as the process has worked so quickly for us. We have gone from applying to adopt to having our perfect son in our home in less than a year and we are so happy about that.

“He is just amazing, he has come along so well in our home and there are no words that can describe how we feel being his parents – we are already considering our next child!”

Graham, a police officer, added: “When I first provided my details during my first phone call, I was asked the inevitable ‘what’s your wife’s name?’

“However, for the benefit of same sex couples, that was the first and only time our sexuality was ever raised during this process. We were able to speak to another same sex couple at the information evening and our social worker has been brilliant throughout.

“When we decided we wanted to adopt our son, we spent a lot of time making a personalised photo story book and DVD for him, explaining his new family and how it worked, using teddy bears with our names.

“A lot of the existing material for same-sex adopters just didn’t work for us and we wanted something that was specifically about us, for our son’s benefit when he grows up.

“We immediately fell in love with him when we saw his profile. Our adoption journey started with some negative preconceptions of the process and the people involved, but it ends on such a positive note. Our social worker was brilliant and guided us through the entire process.”

We loved hearing Graham and Tyrone’s story and hope they have an amazing father’s day! If you are interested in adoption, then take a look at our website for more information and get in contact. You never know, you could be celebrating Father’s Day next year!

Fostering Vs Adopting: Do You Get Paid For Adopting a Child?

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Adopt Wales

Are you currently deciding between fostering and adoption? They are two very different things and you may like to know about the financial costs associated with both in order to help you make up your mind.

Do you Get Paid for Adopting or Fostering a Child?

Adoption: No, this isn’t a job. You wouldn’t get paid for raising a child if you gave birth to it, would you?

Fostering: Yes – sort of. All foster carers are given an allowance. This is to cover the cost of caring for the fostered child.

This amount will change at the start of every financial year. The 2014-2015 minimum allowance rates are as follows:

Weekly Rate	Babies	Pre-primary	Primary	11 to 15	16 to 17
London	£137	£140	£157	£178	£209
South East	£131	£135	£151	£171	£201
Rest of the UK	£119	£122	£134	£154	£179

*The UK Gov site states that amounts may vary if the child has specific needs, you have certain skills, or you make a particularly large commitment to fostering.

Can I Get Any Other Forms of Financial Help?

Adoption: When you adopt a child at least one member of the adoptive family will be expected to take 6 months adoption leave from work while they settle in. This isn’t without pay though! Up to 39 weeks will be substituted with statutory adoption pay (SAP) from your employer, of £135 a week. You are entitled to take a year off, but not all of this will be paid.

A supporting partner is also legally entitled to a period of leave. This is funded by ordinary statutory paternity pay (OSPP), and another 2 weeks can be taken anytime during the first 56 days of placement.

Adoptive parents may be eligible to apply for an Adoption Allowance to help them out.

Fostering: Yes, there are many different types of financial help.

Each fostering household is given a fixed £10,000 tax exemption per year which is equally shared amongst the carers. This basically means you don’t pay tax on the first £10,000 you earn. You are also eligible for a tax relief on top of the tax exemption. This is available for every week you have a foster child in your care. If the child is under 11 years of age this is £200 or for children over 11 it is £250 per child.

How Much Will it Cost? Can I Afford it?

Adoption and Fostering: The cost of raising a child whether fostered or adopted will be the same. It is just the period of time that will vary. Fostering can be anything from a few weeks to years whereas adoption is for life (or at least until they turn 18), meaning adoption is usually more expensive in the long run.

The cost of raising a child to the age of 21 is now £222,458, 58% higher than a decade ago. There are no strict income requirements if you wish to foster or adopt a child but you must be able to prove you can support a family.

Adoption: If you are hoping to adopt you will have to submit an application to court with a one off fee of £160 if you live in England or Wales.

Are these financial figures helpful to your decision making of fostering or adopting? If you have any further questions feel free to message us on Facebook.

(image: Ken Teegardin)

Connecting and Attachment: Finding Mutual Interests

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Adopt Wales

As a family you want to have a strong bond and enjoy spending time with each other, but as children grow family time becomes more precious than ever in order to retain closeness. If you are adopting a child then bonding may be a little hard at first, but if you get it right early on you’re sure to maintain that strong connection - even when they hit the terrible teens.

Here we talk about how to bond with your child and find mutual interests:
Tell Them How Much They Mean to You

A simple “I love you” doesn’t take much effort but can have a great positive effect. And don’t simply assume the child knows you want to spend time with them. Verbalising your feelings will make a child feel loved and shows that you want their attention.

Ask Questions

Show an interest in their hobbies and ask about what they enjoyed doing before they came to live with you. Don’t pry too much though as it may bring back bad memories.

Never Put Down Their Past

Never say “we don’t do that in this family/house” or “that was before” as it can be seen as criticising their birth parents. It will only reflect badly on you and no good will come of it.

Do an Activity of Their Choice

Start off by doing activities the child wants to do. Okay, so skateboarding or Moshi Monster colouring-in may not be your first choice of activity on a weekend, but it is a great way of finding out what they like and if you have anything in common.

Alternatively, give them control over where the family goes for a day trip or what is for dinner one night a week. Many children who have been adopted have had a lack of control over their lives and giving them that power can feel like acceptance.

Respect Religion or Nationality

If your child was born of a different nationality or religion to yourself make sure to respect this and show a genuine interest in their culture and beliefs. Ask them to teach you a little about it and incorporate traditions into your calendar. You could even celebrate the religious festivals together.

Know When to Ask For Help

If you and your adoptive child are finding it particularly hard to bond then get in contact with your local adoption support system. Here you can talk to parenting specialists and other families who are or have been in a similar situation.

So will you be trying any of these ideas? You may have waited long enough for a family so now is your chance to make the most of it!

(Images: Wikipedia and Oprah)

Nurturing the Sibling Bond after Adoption

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Adopt Wales

Sibling relationships are the longest human relationships of our lives; they outlast our parents and many modern day marriages too which is why wherever possible, it’s important to maintain an unyielding bond.

Unfortunately for adopted or fostered children, keeping the sibling relationship alive is easier said than done. Although keeping in touch with their siblings gives adopted children a sense of permanence, the reality is that this just isn’t possible for thousands of children who are adopted each year.

Many children are placed in foster care with siblings sent to multiple foster families or adopted by separate couples on different sides of the country. In these instances the separation can prove to be traumatising for children. Let’s take a look at some plausible ways to keep the sibling bond alive and solve this widespread problem.

Meeting Up

It might not always be convenient to arrange regular catch ups with your child’s sibling- perhaps they live far away or their family lifestyle is in stark contrast to yours. Regardless, try and make extra effort with special occasions such as birthdays as these are some of the most memorable occasions for children.

The Digital Age

The great thing about having so much technology at our feet is how easy it is to stay in touch. Allowing your child to Skype with their sibling once a week or exchange emails will allow them to keep up to date with each other when meeting up is unachievable.

Moving Closer

If you have the option, moving geographically closer to your siblings is one way of keeping the relationship sturdy. Enrolling the children in the same school or living within walking distance of each other will keep them stimulated and enable the siblings to stay in regular, physical contact with one another.

Adopting the Other Siblings

If the other siblings are still in foster care then one option is to adopt the siblings to keep the family unit close. This could be a particularly good idea if you are looking to adopt more children but also if the child has come into your care reasonably late, the likelihood is they will have already formed inseparable bonds with their blood siblings.

Of all the options, adopting the child’s siblings is the most natural way to nurture their relationship; although it’s understandable that this is not always possible.

Looking for further advice? Want to brush up on the rules of adopting a child? We update our blog regularly to bring you the very latest adoption news and advice. If there is a particular topic that you’d like to see covered here, simply drop us a comment below and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.