Today’s announcement (22 March) by Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas AM, of moves to establish a national adoption service, will transform the chances of children finding loving, permanent homes in adoptive families in Wales, says St David’s Children Society.
Speaking at an event attended by the Deputy Minister, Gerry Cooney, chief executive of St David’s Children’s Society, said: “We fully support plans for a national adoption service. It could be the single, greatest vehicle to improve life chances for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. It will place Wales at the vanguard of adoption services in the UK and at the same time will deliver significant savings to child care budgets.”
The Minister made her announcement during a visit to the Jones family, who adopted two children through St David’s Children Society. She said: “I am proud today to say that Wales will move forward with plans to set up a national adoption service. We are determined to reduce delays for children who are being looked after, and to ensure all those who wish to adopt will find the best support to encourage them to come forward.
“This is a defining moment for adoption services and our intention is that Wales will become a beacon for others, but most of all, that our children will find permanence in loving families as soon as is practicably possible.”
Mr Cooney continued: “The Minister’s announcement will change the face of adoption services if the opportunity is seized by all the parties involved: courts, local authorities and the voluntary sector. All of us recognise that delay has a significant and negative impact on looked after children. We believe that this initiative would go along way towards eradicating the corrosive effect of delay in children’s lives.”
Speaking about the services St David’s offers, he added. “We recognise the deep desire of a great many people to become parents. We understand that support for them starts the very second they pick up the phone to us and can continue throughout the lifetime of the family. St. David’s has seen a significant increase in the number of potential adopters coming forward and encourages more families to contact St. David’s to explore adoption as a means of creating a family.”
“The national adoption service is a bold move from the Minister and heralds an exciting change. We will do everything in our power to help our local authority partners and all others involved to make this a success.”
