Campaign launched to find potential adopters

The Eastern Health & Social Services Board (EH&SSB) recently launched a new campaign to find potential adopters for children currently in care.

The Adoption – Share Life campaign aims to make people think again about adoption and recruit prospective parents. Organisers hope that the campaign will challenge some of the prejudices and misconceptions that still exist about adoption while outlining the preparation, support and assessment involved in the adoption process.

Adoption teams from the four EH&SSB Trusts (Down Lisburn Trust; North & West Belfast Trust; South & East Belfast Trust; and Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust) from the Family Care Society and from the Church of Ireland have been working on the joint initiative to find homes for children in line with the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety’s review of adoption services ‘Adopting Best Care’.

There are currently around 50 children, ranging from babies to teenagers, who urgently need adoptive families in the EH&SSB area.

The first stage in the Share Life campaign was this week's launch of new marketing leaflets and a new information pack for potential adopters.

Hugh Connor, Director of EH&SSB, who unveiled the new material said: “At the moment there are children who really need a permanent, loving family. They are all as different as you would expect any group of children to be but they do all share the need for secure, stable homes. We want to raise awareness and understanding of adoption, what it involves, who can adopt, the children needs, what help and support adopters will get, in order to encourage more people to consider it as a way to create and build their family.”

People with first hand experience of adoption attended the launch at the Waterfront Hall.

Mrs Ennis, an adoptive mother said: “Making the first call to the adoption services team is a difficult thing to do and it can be a very emotional process, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Adopting has changed our lives, and I believe it has changed our sons’ lives very much for the better."

Information packs are available from adoption teams from local trust's in the EH&SSB area, or from the Family Care Society or from the Church of Ireland Adoption Society.

The new information packs can also be viewed online at: www.childrensservicesnorthernireland.com/adoption

(MB)