The events in February are a great chance to hear about some of the realities of adoption and fostering. There are also several blogs that give an insight into the process, and family life. See a selection of blogs on New Family Social’s website
Adoption
When you adopt, you become the new, permanent parent for a child or children who can’t live with their birth parents. Some of the reasons to form a permanent family by adoption may include:
- it can be be extremely rewarding to become the new “forever family” for a child or children who are going through a difficult time.
- as an adoptive parent you will have full parental responsibility. The process itself involves many other people, but once you have adopted, your legal status is straightforward.
- if you are a couple you will be parenting on an equal footing, as neither of you will have a biological link to your new child.
Fostering
Foster carers look after children who may move on to a different home. This might be for short periods, but sometimes the children might stay in their foster families until they are adults. Some of the reasons to become a foster carer include:
- it can be be extremely rewarding to care for a child or children who are going through a difficult time.
- you may enjoy helping children move on to a new family, or to return to their birth parents.
- you may enjoy caring for older children, who might be with you for long periods.
Single?
Many people adopt of foster on their own, including LGBT people. Around 10% of members of New Family Social are single.
Want to know more?
There is a lot to learn about adoption and fostering, including the process and the needs of children who have been in care. See “useful resources” above as good starting point for further information.
