FORCES families who are considering adopting a child can access specialist support from national military charity SSAFA.
SSAFA runs the only national adoption agency catering specifically for members of the Armed Forces and hopes this year’s National Adoption Week will encourage more people to come forward.
Last year SSAFA placed 19 children, including several sibling groups, but there are still many vulnerable young people who desperately need a “forever family”.
The charity says the practical, ‘can-do’ attitude of serving personnel and the support they get from the military community tends to make them ideal adoptive parents.
SSAFA Adoption Service manager Corienne Strange said: “At SSAFA we understand the unique challenges of military life.
“Regular house moves and misconceptions about the military lifestyle can make it difficult for some serving personnel to progress adoption applications but as a national agency we are able to support adopters through the entire process and stay with them from start to finish.
“Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to help ensure that serving personnel have the same opportunity to be assessed as adoptive parents as anyone else.
“We also recognise the value of adopters developing a positive relationship with their worker and see this as the foundation for a successful adoptive placement later.”
SSAFA is looking for people who can offer children, including groups of two or more siblings, a loving and supportive family for life. Applications are welcomed from anyone irrespective of age, race, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation or gender.
Corienne added: “There’s so much support available to Forces families when they adopt. SSAFA staff work with their employers to ensure housing and educational needs are met and we also offer a wide range of extra support to adoptive families including practical help and assistance from local volunteers on the ground, as well as having a dedicated post-adoption Social Worker who adopters can speak to at any stage in their post-placement journey.”
To find out more, contact the SSAFA Adoption Service on 020 7463 9326, email adoption@ssafa.org.uk or visit www.ssafa.org.uk
For more information about National Adoption Week, which runs from November 3-9, visit www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk