There are very few babies voluntarily surrendered for adoption these days.
The majority of children currently waiting for adoptive homes are in the care of a local authority social services department – either on the Isle of Man or elsewhere in the British Isles. They are living in foster care, having been removed from their birth families, who are unable, for a range of reasons, to care for them appropriately.
The children have often witnessed domestic violence, changes of carers, have parents with drug or alcohol addiction and/or mental health problems or simply parents who do not know how to keep their children safe. They may have been victims of abuse themselves, either physical, emotional or sexual.
For these children, the courts have decided that return to any member of their original family is not an option, and that adoption will provide each child with an opportunity to experience a different life in a new consistent and loving family, yet usually without losing total contact with their original family.
On the Isle of Man the majority of children needing adoptive homes are aged 6 and under. Most children who are placed are at least 18 months of age. Around 6 children annually need adoptive families.
In the UK there are around 4000 children aged from infancy to adolescence in need of adoptive families. A large number of these may be sibling groups, from ethnic minority families or be of mixed race. Many are placed either within their own geographical area or in an adjacent area. However some children may need to be placed well away from their local area. IOMAS has established links with a number of Social Services departments in the British Isles who have placed children with island families in the past.
Children who need adoptive homes:
- May be part of a sibling group (who may need to be placed together, or in different adoptive homes with regular contact maintained between them)
- Are likely to be delayed developmentally in some areas
- Have health or education concerns
- May be from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, or be of mixed race
What do these children need?
Every child seeking an adoptive home comes from a unique background and needs a family who can help him understand his past experiences and where necessary, learn new ways of functioning both within a family unit and within the community.
Wherever possible, children need families who reflect their race and cultural background. Where a family of a similar mix cannot be found we look for an adoptive family who can promote that child’s cultural heritage in a positive way.
What does research tell us?
Long term studies of adopted children focus primarily on baby adoptions. Some studies are now emerging about children adopted from the care system whose early start in life has been difficult.
In most studies, children brought up in adoptive homes do as well as their home grown counterparts who are raised in stable loving environments. Certainly children brought up in adoptive homes tend to do better (educationally, socially and emotionally) than children from similar backgrounds brought up in their birth families.
Children who have had a difficult start in life do tend to need more help in learning about consequences (of their behaviours and that of others), and in developing and maintaining close relationships with others (both adults and peers). With help children can unlearn patterns of behaviour that will not work for them in the long term, and learn new ways of relating and behaving that will allow then to grow into independent adults who can live comfortably in society. |
