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On December 21st, 2000 the government published the eagerly awaited white paper "Adoption: A New Approach". This white paper proposes major
change regarding many aspects of adoption practice and also adoption legislation.
The Governments intention is to speed up applications to become approved adopters. The paper suggests that decisions relating to planning for
children to be adopted could be planned earlier and that court decisions can be made more speedily. The government also seeks improvements in matching children awaiting
adopive placements and available approved adopters through an Adoption Register.
There are other aspects of the white paper which aim to re-inforce the governments committment to adoption. For example paid leave to people
who adopt akin to current maternity leave entitlement. They also want a task force to assist adoption agencies to improve their performance and practice. They also
intend to commit more resources to adoption.
The Adoption and Fostering Information Line welcome this statement of intent. There are many positive steps proposed. The two areas where we
remain hesitant concern the lack of a priority in the paper given to the recruitment of prospective adopters. In particular how this might be accomplished and at the
same time as more prospective adopters are approved, a reduction in the current mis-match between the aspirations of many prospective adopters for very young children
and the children where adoption is the plan, who tend to be older.
Secondly, we would like to be assured that the way the proposed Adoption Register for England and Wales works will be closely monitored.
Our management committee remain sceptical that this will have the significant impact upon the number of children "who wait" that some anticipate. We remain
convinced that the majority of waiting adopters are seeking to adopt very young children who are not, in most cases, having to wait for adoptive placements. Whilst we
recognise that the goverment is committed to this proposal we would like to see a trial take place and an evaluation made to discover if the money might be
better spent elsewhere in the adoption system for a greater benefit.
For a copy of a summary of the white paper in pdf format - 
click here
For a copy of the white paper in pdf format -
click here
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