We welcome adoptive applicants from as wide a variety of
backgrounds as possible, to include:
- Married couples
- Couples living together of any sex
- Same sex civil partnerships
- Single people of either sex.
Many backgrounds and cultures
Children need adopters from a wide range of backgrounds and
cultures who understand their heritage and needs. We are especially
keen to attract adopters who are able to reflect the diverse
ethnicities of the children in our care.
Over 21 and in reasonable health
To apply to adopt you must be over 21 years of age (preferably
older). Although there is no legal upper age limit, you need to
have a reasonable expectation of parenting a child into adult life.
Adoption can be very demanding - this is why the age, health and
lifestyle of applicants are all taken into consideration as part of
the assessment process.
Disability
If applicants are disabled, we will need to discuss with you
what support you may need to parent an adopted child. Adoptive
families need energy and commitment to cope with family life and to
meet the child's needs. Health and well being play a part in the
assessment process and we will want to understand how your health
condition / impairment affects your daily life and how you adapt to
challenges and barriers. We will want to seek advice from
medical specialists about your condition, how it affects you and
what works to help you participate. You should raise these issues
with a social worker when you first enquire.
Settled and stable
Generally, you should live and expect to remain in Suffolk for
three years following the commencement of the assessment.
If you are in a partnership (heterosexual or same sex, married, in
a civil partnership or living together) the expectation is that
both applicants are assessed together and that you have lived
together in a stable relationship for at least three years.
Your ethnicity and culture
It is important for children to recognise and value their own
ethnicity. The family of choice for a child needing adoption is one
that reflects his or her birth heritage. Whenever possible we seek
to place children with a family from a similar religious, racial
and cultural background.
Is the time right for you
We would normally suggest that you should wait a year if within
the last six months you have undergone, or concluded fertility
investigation / treatment, or if you have had a miscarriage or a
child who has died within the previous 12 months.
Similarly, if you have just moved or are considering moving you
should wait until you have settled.
If you are undergoing any medical treatment which may affect your
ability to engage fully in the adoption process you should also
think about waiting.
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