Children are continuing to come into care throughout this pandemic and there is an urgent need for people to come forward and be assessed and approved as adopters. PACT, the adoption charity and family support provider, has developed remote alternatives to all parts of the adoption process and is welcoming enquiries from prospective adopters throughout this period.
Grace Gomez from PACT Charity tells us how the charity has been operating during the coronavirus pandemic and shares advice if you’re thinking of adopting.
During the current Government advice regarding social distancing we are currently unable to offer face-to-face adoption information events at our Brighton office and other locations across West Sussex. We are continuing to work very hard in the current pandemic to recruit and prepare our prospective adopters. As a result of this, we have a programme of virtual information events in place. Participants can join using Zoom, a cloud-based software, and hear from a PACT social worker and an adopter about all aspects of adoption. There is the opportunity to ask questions throughout.
There is no such thing as a typical adopter. We are all different and so are the children waiting to be adopted. In 2019-20, 31% of PACT adopters were from the LGBTQ+ community. PACT is a member of New Family Social, the UK network for LGBTQ+ adoptive and foster families.
Children of Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) heritage often wait the longest to be adopted. We are also looking for adopters of Black Caribbean, African or dual heritage to enable children to be matched with adopters who they can identify with culturally, visually and emotionally.
Eddie and Jody are an interracial same-sex couple who adopted two brothers aged 20 months and ten months old.
Eddie, who shares his experiences of adoption at PACT’s information events for prospective adopters, said, ‘It was always important for me that the children I adopted saw themselves reflected in us, their parents. The fact that the boys’ father and my father are from the same tribe in Nigeria created an instant connection. It means we can honour their heritage and promote it authentically, which ultimately enhances their sense of identity.’
He also said his best advice to anyone considering adoption was to have belief that they had something to offer as a parent. ‘The other thing I’d say is to take a leap of faith. I understand that people are tentative and nervous about starting the process of adoption, and it’s actually not a bad thing to feel that, but you’ll never know for sure if it’s right for you unless you take that leap of faith and go for it.’
If you are considering adopting, please do contact our Enquiries Team to book a place on an event by phone, 0300 456 4800, or email enquiries@pactcharity.org.
Details of our virtual information events can be found on our website.
You must be logged in to post a comment.