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Merton Council calls minorities to adopt

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Merton Council wants more black and minority ethnic foster parents for Adoption Week (1-7 November)

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Adoption Week in Merton will have a special focus on adopting black and minority ethnic (BME) children in the borough, between 1-7 November.
The extra focus is to try and raise the amount BME couples that come forward as foster carers, 18% applicants in 2008, to match the 30% of BME children currently in care.
This push is marked by numerous adoption charities and local authorities struggling to get children out of care and into families that will best suit the child.
Head of London-based adoption services Coram Jeanne Kaniuk said: “Growing up in a family you weren’t born into is always going to raise questions where they fit in. And if you are very visually different from the family you are in, that can become even more pointed. It adds another layer of difference.”
Merton Council’s cabinet member for child services, Councillor Maxi Martin said that the main focus of the authority is to make the best possible decision for the child during a very traumatic move and unfamiliar situation.
Councillor Martin said: “Merton needs more black and dual heritage families to offer children a safe and loving home.”
The hope is that the campaign can increase the overall number of perspective foster parents and adopt more children by providing more information about the process that can give a child a new lease on life.
This comes in the same week as debate in Westminster encouraging more couples to adopt children that are not the same ethnicity as their own to help curb this problem.
Children’s minister Tim Loughton said that authorities were too focused on “the perfect match” that keeps children in care and are especially sensitive to racial considerations.
Mr Loughton said: “If it is a great couple offering a good, loving, stable permanent home, that should be the one consideration.” 
Adults wanting to adopt or for more information contact the Merton’s Family Placement Service on 020 8545 4688 or [email protected]. 

By Kieran Walsh

Adoption Week in Merton will have a special focus on adopting black and minority ethnic (BME) children in the borough, between 1-7 November.

The extra focus is to try and raise the amount BME couples that come forward as foster carers, 18% applicants in 2008, to match the 30% of BME children currently in care.

This push is marked by numerous adoption charities and local authorities struggling to get children out of care and into families that will best suit the child.

Head of London-based adoption services Coram Jeanne Kaniuk said: “Growing up in a family you weren’t born into is always going to raise questions where they fit in. And if you are very visually different from the family you are in, that can become even more pointed. It adds another layer of difference.”

Merton Council’s cabinet member for child services, Councillor Maxi Martin said that the main focus of the authority is to make the best possible decision for the child during a very traumatic move and unfamiliar situation.

Councillor Martin said: “Merton needs more black and dual heritage families to offer children a safe and loving home.”

The hope is that the campaign can increase the overall number of perspective foster parents and adopt more children by providing more information about the process that can give a child a new lease on life.

This comes in the same week as debate in Westminster encouraging more couples to adopt children that are not the same ethnicity as their own to help curb this problem.

Children’s minister Tim Loughton said that authorities were too focused on “the perfect match” that keeps children in care and are especially sensitive to racial considerations.Mr Loughton said: “If it is a great couple offering a good, loving, stable permanent home, that should be the one consideration.” 

Adults wanting to adopt or for more information contact the Merton’s Family Placement Service on 020 8545 4688 or [email protected]. 

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