Black children are waiting for adoptive families!
There is an increasing number of children from Black African and Black Caribbean heritages waiting for adoption in your area.
The sad fact is that Black and mixed-heritage children are amongst those who wait longer to be adopted, often waiting in care for over 18 months.
One such child is six-year-old Kato. He’s a smart boy who is good with numbers and letters and can type and write independently.
Kato is a typical little boy who has lots of energy and can be boisterous, but he can also be quiet and shy, especially when meeting new people.
Children waiting for adoption sometimes need to find families where they can live with their brothers and sisters. Siblings can also wait up to seven months longer than solo children to be adopted.
Imara (aged two) & Kofi (aged one) are a close sibling pair, and while they’re similar in age which sometimes leads to the usual sibling squabbles, they are also each other’s greatest source of comfort and joy.
Imara is a happy, cheeky little girl who loves to dance, especially when there’s music playing. She can’t help but wiggle and giggle. Kofi is a smiley, curious little boy who’s absolute favourite place to be is in his Jumperoo. He bounces and giggles so much that sometimes he even falls asleep in it. And if he's not in his Jumperoo, he’ll still trying to bounce while being held because it’s just that much fun.
Some children also come from dual-heritage backgrounds such as Indigo, who’s heritage is believed to include Black Jamaican.
She is a happy two-year-old girl with lots of love to give. She loves visiting the farm, going to play gyms and water play. Her carers comment on how happy she is from the moment she wakes up, shouting “hello!” from her room when she wakes. They describe her as a joy to care for – even when she is showing her strong will!
Adoption UK state that Black children make up around 7% of those in care, but only 2% of children are adopted.
That’s why Adoption Now, a regional adoption agency based in the North-West of England, is calling for adopters from Black and mixed-heritage backgrounds to come forward to help children stay connected with their communities, understand their cultural identity and encourage a strong and positive sense of self.
Katrina Williams, Head of Service at Adoption Now, said: “For some people approaching any statutory agency can feel challenging or daunting for a range of personal and circumstantial reasons. We want to reassure you that we are committed to working with you to remove unnecessary barriers and find solutions. We welcome the opportunity to have a discussion with you to think about how we can work together to support you in your adoption journey.”
If you could consider adopting a child or children, please contact us here