National Adoption Week launches on Monday 18 October continuing through to Sunday 24 October. The campaign will focus on modern adoption by raising awareness and generating a better understanding of the different experiences in the adoption process.
This will be done through an honest exploration of the many voices of those whose lives have been impacted by adoption and involved in finding loving and safe homes for children. It will highlight and champion stories from adopted children, adopted adults, adoptive parents, birth parents, social workers, and family members who watched loved ones go through the process.
Through championing the stories less told, the campaign aims to educate and inform people on the adoption process today from all aspects and perspectives.
The campaign will further generate a better public understanding of adoption through raising awareness of who is eligible to adopt, the assessment of prospective parents’ suitability, the adoption process, and the support available for adoptive parents and others involved in the process.
National Adoption Week brings some of these issues and voices to the forefront in an emotive short film by illustrator and adoptive parent, Garry Parsons. The four-minute animated film features the life stories and real voices of six people that have had their lives changed by adoption – birth mother Anna, single mum and adopter Sarah*, social worker Paula, 11-year-old Roman who was adopted age five, 19-year-old Tiegan who was adopted age four, and Sue who supported her daughter through the adoption process.
Tiegan, age 19, who features in the short film said:
“Being adopted has been an incredibly positive experience for me. I love my adoptive mums and I have good relationships with many birth relatives, but it is important people don’t look at adoption with rose tinted glasses. Growing up would have been much easier for me if people had a better understanding of adoption and how this shaped me as a person.”
Sarah Johal, member of the National Adoption Recruitment Steering Group and National Adoption Strategic lead, said:
“Over the past 50 years, more than 400,000 children have been adopted, each with their own unique
stories to tell. While adoption has been an incredibly rewarding experience for many of these children,
we cannot underestimate the complexities of adoption and its historical difficulties. National Adoption Week is a chance for every single person touched by adoption to feel seen, heard, valued
and understood.”
With 2,100 children currently waiting to be adopted, National Adoption Week sets out to educate people about how to adopt. Despite the fact most people are likely able to adopt and 41% know something about eligibility, applications, and the support available to adopters, 80% of adults say they don’t have a good understanding of how to start the process.
Further, showing the need to continue educating people about adoption today, over half (59%) were not aware that adoption should only be considered as a last resort for children after all other options are explored.
To find out more about National Adoption Week or to seek information or support, visit the You Can Adopt website.
