Forced Adoption: The demonization of parents in care proceedings
The Independent -
The Children and Families Bill expected to be introduced in 2012/2013 sets out plans to speed up adoption and care proceedings. The Bill will create a six-month time limit for care proceedings in England and Wales. The Government are committed to tackling delays in the system and ensuring that more children than ever are adopted.
These ill thought out reforms fail to recognise children’s and parent’s rights to remain together wherever possible. It is a myth that children who are adopted are not wanted by their families. The vast majority of adopted children are very much loved by their parents. Care proceedings take an average of 52 weeks before a final order is reached because parents refuse to stop fighting for their children.
There is a lack in understanding of the complex problems that many parents in care proceedings suffer with. Often families are from the most impoverished households: 90% live below the poverty line, 60% have been abused as a child, 45% experience mental health problems, and 30% have been through the care system themselves when they were children. Many of their problems are not properly assessed, diagnosed or treated until they are subject to care proceedings based on allegations of neglect of their children. By the time their problems are assessed it is too late to provide them with the support they require and their children are adopted.
But adoption and long-term fostering is not always the most appropriate solution. Statistics show that children removed from their parents are more likely suffer with complex problems than their counterparts. Children are three times more likely to lead chaotic lifestyles associated with alcohol and drug abuse, twice as likely to have their children removed and 53% leave school with no formal qualifications, 49% are convicted of a criminal offence and 45% are assessed as having a mental health disorder.
Read More: independent.co.uk
2012-10-30 08:43:06
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