October 12, 2020
Whilst the #YouCanAdopt campaign seeks to bust the myths around who is eligible to adopt, the National Adoption Week campaign will particularly reach out to members of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community.
New data from the cross-sector National Adoption Recruitment Steering Group indicates that black communities have positive and altruistic views around adoption, with 80% stating that they have either adopted, considered, or would consider adopting in the future.
But whilst motivations regarding adoption are overwhelmingly positive amongst the BAME community, there are a number of barriers and misconceptions that deter people from taking the next step. This includes concerns around people feeling that their housing is not adequate (35%); finances not being in a good enough position (30%) and worries about their age (20%).
The data also revealed that there are several incorrect assumptions about the type of person who can adopt. Contrary to beliefs outlined in the survey, those for whom English is not their first language, single people and those who are not married can adopt.
The #YouCanAdopt and National Adoption Week campaigns come at a time when national statistics reveal that black and mixed-heritage children are disproportionately represented in the care system. The campaigns are raising awareness that the key attribute for adopting a child is being able to provide a loving, safe and stable home; factors such as occupation, salary, the size of someone’s home, home ownership or age are not important.
SFCS will be supporting the National Adoption Week campaign this week by sharing real stories of adoption in the BAME community and breaking down some of the barriers which may prevent people from coming forward to adopt. Keep an eye on our Latest News page and check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
If you are considering adoption, you can find out more about our adoption service here. If you’d like to find out about adopting siblings, you can read more on our Adopt Siblings with SFCS page. You can also check out our adoption resources, read more real adoption stories and find out about our next information events. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us – we’d love to hear from you.
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