Adoption - Frequently Asked Questions
What is adoption?
Adoption is a legal process, and is a way of providing permanent new families for children who cannot be brought up by their own parents. There may be many reasons for this. Sometimes a court has made the decision that a child cannot live with his or her birth parents; sometimes parents make the decision themselves. Once an Adoption Order is made, parental responsibility for the child is transferred entirely to the adoptive parents. This is permanent, and cannot be revoked. Children can be adopted at any age from birth, up to the age of 18.
Who can adopt?
There is a legal requirement that people must be aged over 21 years to adopt; there is no upper age limit. People who have committed offences involving children will not be allowed to adopt.
Apart from the above restrictions, anyone can ask to be assessed as an adopter, regardless of marital status, disability, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
All kinds of people, from different backgrounds can adopt. Adopters do not need to own their own home, can live in a house or flat, be single, married or unmarried, do not need to be well off, can be unemployed, can have children of their own, or be childless.
What is important is that adopters are able to meet the needs of children, and provide a stable, loving home environment.
Do I have to be Catholic to apply to Catholic Caring Services?
No. Catholic Caring Services' mission is to meet the needs of children. Children do not need to possess any credentials to qualify for our help other than their needs. So Catholic Caring Services welcomes enquiries from applicants from all backgrounds and religions, or people who do not hold any religious belief so long as their commitment is to provide a loving family home for a child.
What is important is that adopters are able to meet the spiritual, religious or cultural needs of any child placed with them.
Do I have to be married to apply to Catholic Caring Services?
No. Catholic Caring Services will welcome enquiries from single people and from unmarried couples who are in stable, long term relationships.
Who are the children?
While most people associate adoption with infants, we place children of all ages, from babies to teenagers, with our adopters.
There are many children waiting for adoption who may have complex needs. They may have uncertain backgrounds, a learning or physical disability, or emotional difficulties arising from their early experiences. They may want to be placed with their brothers or sisters in a sibling group.
Catholic Caring Services works with other Voluntary Agencies and Local Authorities in the North West in trying to find the right families for all these children.
What is the process for becoming an adopter?
If you want to take your interest further, you may wish to attend one of our Information Events, held regularly in Preston and in Cumbria. To find out the dates for forthcoming events, click here.
We at Catholic Caring Services pride ourselves on the high quality of support we give to our adoptive families throughout the process, from the careful matching of children with the right families, through the early stages of placement, through to the making of an Adoption Order, and beyond with post adoption support.
You will receive regular visits from your social worker, and be invited to Adopters Support Groups, where ongoing training as well as mutual peer support features.
If you need the advice and support of other professionals, from health or education, we will support you in getting the right help.
Is there any financial support?
Local Authorities will consider paying an adoption allowance, where families are looking after children with special needs, or large sibling groups. The process does vary from local authority to local authority but generally families would be asked to make a declaration of their income, and once paid, allowances are taxable.
When a child is matched with our adopters, we will talk to the Local Authority about what financial help will be available. This may include the provision of some safety equipment, the payment of court fees for adoption hearings, or the payment of adoption allowances.
I'm interested in applying to be an adopter, what do I do next?
You can email us at info@catholiccaringservices.org.uk or write to or telephone your nearest office.
We would be delighted to send you an information pack, and application form.
I was adopted through Catholic Caring Services, can I find out about my history?
Yes, Catholic Caring Services has a special commitment to those adopted people who come to the Agency in search of their past, or who wish to trace their birth family. The process can be complex and sensitive but you will have help if you want it.
Dates for your diary
Provisional dates for our Adoption Information Days/Evenings are:-
20th February 2008
Preston Office 7.00-9.00pm
Carlisle Office 6.00-8.00pm
Barrow Office 6.00-8.00pm
21st May 2008
Preston Office 7.00-9.00pm
Carlisle Office 6.00-8.00pm
Barrow Office 6.00-8.00pm
3rd September 2008
Preston Office 7.00-9.00pm
Carlisle Office 6.00-8.00pm
Barrow Office 6.00-8.00pm
Confirmation of times and locations will be advertised in local press and shown here on our website prior to each event.
Adopter's Support Group will meet:- 12th September 2006
For further details of any of the above events phone 01772 732313 or 01229 870349
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