Is there an age limit for adoptors?

No, but applicants will be considered in relation to the age and needs of the child. It would be unusual for it to be in a child’s best interest to be placed with adopters where there was more than a 40 year age gap between the child and adopters.

Do people have to live in Kirklees in order to adopt via Kirklees Social Services?

We also accept applications from residents who live within a 25 mile radius outside Kirklees.

Do I have to be married to adopt?

No, single people can adopt as well as couples living together.

I am seeing my doctor for infertility treatment - can I apply to adopt in case it doesn’t work out?

It must be at least six months since you had any infertility investigations or treatment before we will accept your enquiry. It is important that you have made a decision not to proceed any further with infertility treatment before you start the adoption process.

Why do children need to be adopted?

Most of the children that need to be adopted will have been abused, neglected or have come from a family where they are at risk of this.

Can I adopt a baby?

There are very few babies under 12 months available for adoption. Babies/toddlers in need of adoption are likely to have health or development risks associated with their future.

I am of White British origins. Can I adopt a black or mixed parentage child?

We do our best to match children with parents of the same background as this best meets the children’s needs, and enables a child to feel they belong.

At the Kirklees Family Placement Unit we believe all children should be encouraged and helped to understand, enjoy and take pride in their ethnic origins and cultural heritage. We believe that children are likely to have the best chances in life if they grow up in a family which is as close as possible to their own ethnic background, culture and religion because:

• The children will grow up in a familiar environment and learn about a way of life, which is common to people from his/her background.
• The adoptive family are best placed to help the child as he or she grows up and prepares for adulthood in a multicultural society.
• Black teenagers have often rejected their white adoptive parents in a search for their identity as black people.

For children of dual heritage, we look for placements that most reflect the child’s ethnic origins. We also consider other factors, such as the child’s personal experience of family life and of course, his or her wishes, feelings and expectations. However, there are times when the most appropriate placement may be with a family of different ethnic origin because this offers the best chance of family life for that particular child.

In these cases we look for adoptive families who will have a positive attitude to the child’s culture and perhaps have relatives, friends or neighbours of similar origins who can informally advise the adopters and be a role model for the child. We would like the child to attend a school where there are other children or young people of a similar ethnic background.

We are constantly looking for adopters who are willing and able, with the support of others as necessary, to help a child understand and take pride in all elements of their racial origins and cultural inheritance.

I am interested in adopting a child from abroad. How do I go about this?

The assessment procedure is largely the same but you will need to pay for the assessment and medical. The cost of the assessment will be in the region of £4,000. The cost of the medical will vary according to your GP - the suggested fee for this is around £40.

You will also need to deal with an adoption agency in the country from which you are seeking to adopt in order to identify a child and deal with immigration. The total cost is likely to be in excess of £15,000. Visit www.oah.org.uk for more information.

In Kirklees, inter-country adoption assessments are carried out by Adoption Matters. You will need to contact Kirklees and complete a checklist in relation to your suitability to adopt. If you are suitable to proceed you will be given the contact details of Adoption Matters. As you will see there are a lot of children in this country in need of adoption. The process is shorter to adopt a child from this country and you will not be charged for the assessment.

Are there any other adoption agencies that will assess me other than Kirklees?

Please contact British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) on 0870 241 0663 who will be able to give you a list of adoption agencies in the area.

How long does the adoption process take?

It is difficult to say how long the process will take. It is likely to take around 12 months from your initial phone call until you are approved as a prospective adopter. The length of time it takes to identify the right child for your family varies between a few months and over a year.