PROVIDING a loving home and improving the health of some our most deserving children is in the hands of caring people in the North.
Last week marked Adoption Week which is dedicated to celebrating adoptive families and encouraging more people to consider adoption.
There are currently 53 children waiting for adoptive families, including 11 sibling groups who need to remain together.
With dwindling numbers of enquiries and applications to adopt, Eimear Hanna, head of service for fostering and adoption in the Belfast Trust area, is encouraging people in Belfast and beyond to consider adoption, whether they are exploring it for the first time, are existing adoptive parents considering adopting again, or are hoping to grow their family through adoption.
“Having a sense of permanency is so important,” Eimear told this newspaper.
“Permanence, stability, a loving nurturing family around a child into adulthood and beyond. Every child deserves that.
“A secure base wrapped around by a loving family and networks, where they can thrive and develop — we know that outcomes for those children in terms of long-term health, educational attainment, emotional health and regulation — there is loads of evidence to support that level of stability is key for any child.”
There are monthly information sessions on the first Tuesday of every month for mixed sex or same sex couples, and single people “who might even have an early nugget of wondering about adoption, or post adoption support”.
The next session is online on Tuesday, November 3 at 7.30pm.
For more information check out https://adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net
