NI adopted children urged to air views on reform
Adopted children were today asked to help shape the future of adoption in the North.
Ministers want to hear the views of young people who have been adopted in the past 10 years and who are now aged between 12 and 18.
Their views will help inform the British government in changes it plans to introduce.
Youngsters who attend a series of consultations will receive a £10 (€14.40) “token of appreciation” for their time.
Earlier this week the British government launched ‘Adopting the Future’ proposals for a radical overhaul of adoption in the North.
Key among the proposals is permission for homosexual and lesbian couples - both those who have gone through a civil partnership ceremony and those who haven’t – and unmarried heterosexual couples, to adopt.
A spokesman for the Brtiish Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety said the ‘Adopting the Future’ strategy represented the biggest overhaul of adoption in decades.
“It is vital that we seek the views of adopted children and their families because they are the people who have first hand experience of adoption.
“By listening to families we will be able to design an adoption system which puts the child at the heart of the process where they belong,” said the spokesman.
He added: “This is a unique opportunity for both adopted young people and adoptive parents to tell the department about their views on proposals and contribute to positive changes in adoption law, policy and practice.”
The department will organise a series of direct consultation events within the next few weeks.
Parental consent will be required and simultaneous events will be run to enable parents of participating young people to contribute.
