(Because it's so important that it needs a post of it's own)
The petition is detailed as:
For over 10 years the government (DCSF), has supported an adoption program with the Chinese government agency (CCAA). Historically, children put forward to the UK were always from the “Non Special Needs” program, a title meaning they did not have an identified medical condition. But many children have medical conditions, from the fairly minor to the very serious, and they join the “Special Needs” (SN) program – actively supported by many other countries throughout the world but not by the UK. In the past a few UK adopters managed to purposefully adopt SN children. However, the Chinese system has recently changed and this is no longer possible. UK adopters can't adopt a SN child because DCSF don't have a system that works with CCAA's new online system to place these children. We understand that DCSF are working on this anomaly. We ask that they work swiftly to end this discrimination and develop a system that facilitates the placement of SN children in UK families.
If you are a British citizen or resident in the UK and feel you could support this option - allowing those who wish to adopt a SN child from China, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE sign the petition to 10 Downing Street here.
Showing posts with label SN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SN. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION PROCESS IN THE UK
In the UK we don't have adoption agencies.
Home studies are undertaken by our local authorities (part of local government) or by separate organisations if LAs are too busy (AKA disinterested). Domestic home studies are free but for IA there is a 4 figure charge, they're not supposed to profit from undertaking HS for IA but that's a whole 'nother story!
A SW visits (up to 10-12 times depending on the complexity of the family situation), every SW works differently, for me the visits were fortnightly and she'd tell me what we'd discuss at the next meeting and usually ask me to prepare some paperwork in advance that we'd talk through at the next meeting. After all the visits the HS took about a month to edit, then I had a chance to read through and correct any inaccuracies, about a month after that I went to Panel.
Panel is a group of interested parties - a medical representative, a SW to consider the interests of the child, a couple of local councillors, several people who've had experience of adoption (been adopted or have adopted) - usually about 8-10 people. They read the HS in advance, discuss it, interview the applicant(s) and their SW, more discussion and then decide if the applicant(s) are suitable and the chair of Panel shares their decision after you've waited nervously outside.
After Panel comes the country specific paper chase for loads of paper evidence such as detailed financial statements (having done a simpler version for Panel), birth certificates, more medicals and sometimes statements from guardians or friends in support of the application. Then all of this is sent to central government to check and when they're happy they issue a Certificate of Eligibility, the dossier goes off to a Notary Public, back to gov, off to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (another gov depm), receiving country's embassy, back to gov to send to receiving country. This stage (from sending to government to them sending them abroad) can take 6 months.
In the UK we have no agencies, no one other than government officials, to intercede on our behalf, because we have no agencies we have no access to the new Special Needs computerised system that China run, so currently no one can adopt a SN child from China into the UK. Prospective adoptive parents want to change this and are petitioning the government to show the demand for change. Don't panic at the term Special Needs - it doesn't mean the same in the context of China adoption as it does in the UK. There are children available for adoption with significant special needs such as cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, however there are many other children with medically treatable or manageable conditions such as cleft lip and palate, club feet, heart murmurs, limb differences, even birth marks.
If you are a British citizen or resident in the UK and feel you could support this option - allowing those who wish to adopt a SN child from China, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE sign the petition to 10 Downing Street here.
Home studies are undertaken by our local authorities (part of local government) or by separate organisations if LAs are too busy (AKA disinterested). Domestic home studies are free but for IA there is a 4 figure charge, they're not supposed to profit from undertaking HS for IA but that's a whole 'nother story!
A SW visits (up to 10-12 times depending on the complexity of the family situation), every SW works differently, for me the visits were fortnightly and she'd tell me what we'd discuss at the next meeting and usually ask me to prepare some paperwork in advance that we'd talk through at the next meeting. After all the visits the HS took about a month to edit, then I had a chance to read through and correct any inaccuracies, about a month after that I went to Panel.
Panel is a group of interested parties - a medical representative, a SW to consider the interests of the child, a couple of local councillors, several people who've had experience of adoption (been adopted or have adopted) - usually about 8-10 people. They read the HS in advance, discuss it, interview the applicant(s) and their SW, more discussion and then decide if the applicant(s) are suitable and the chair of Panel shares their decision after you've waited nervously outside.
After Panel comes the country specific paper chase for loads of paper evidence such as detailed financial statements (having done a simpler version for Panel), birth certificates, more medicals and sometimes statements from guardians or friends in support of the application. Then all of this is sent to central government to check and when they're happy they issue a Certificate of Eligibility, the dossier goes off to a Notary Public, back to gov, off to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (another gov depm), receiving country's embassy, back to gov to send to receiving country. This stage (from sending to government to them sending them abroad) can take 6 months.
In the UK we have no agencies, no one other than government officials, to intercede on our behalf, because we have no agencies we have no access to the new Special Needs computerised system that China run, so currently no one can adopt a SN child from China into the UK. Prospective adoptive parents want to change this and are petitioning the government to show the demand for change. Don't panic at the term Special Needs - it doesn't mean the same in the context of China adoption as it does in the UK. There are children available for adoption with significant special needs such as cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, however there are many other children with medically treatable or manageable conditions such as cleft lip and palate, club feet, heart murmurs, limb differences, even birth marks.
If you are a British citizen or resident in the UK and feel you could support this option - allowing those who wish to adopt a SN child from China, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE sign the petition to 10 Downing Street here.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
WORTH WATCHING
I watched this late last night, when I went to bed my tears were still wet, my conviction strengthened, questioning the need for private education (that's what's limiting me to 2 children).
Today? I'm still questioning the financial aspects and seriously considering if I could 'do it again' maybe in a decade or so and bring home an older SN child, until recently I never dreamt of considering such a possibility.
EDITED TO ADD: I couldn't get the video to work, here's the original link to UT!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
THAILAND SAID . . .
. . . YES!
Not all countries would consider an application from me to adopt because I'm single and diabetic. The indicators for Thailand looked positive but hadn't been confirmed. I needed to ring Thailand and ask, but I needed to ring early-ish in the morning. I wanted to have a controlled conversation and be able to focus, so it needed to be before Alice was up! I had 1 early start last week (awake at 4am) but wasn't 'with it' enough to realise that I could have used the opportunity to phone - doubly irritating to be awake when I wanted to sleep and then to miss the opportunity! This morning I woke in darkness, lay there for a while, couldn't get back to sleep, remembered Thailand and crept downstairs. I turned on my desktop and reviewed my notes, by this time I was nervous and wide awake. I rang the official contact in Thailand and got a fax machine! Ooops! Tried again and managed to speak to her, not only did she say 'Yes,' but she also indicated a shorter waiting time for a SN adoption, probably about 12 months from receiving papers. I'm delighted, I told her too, thanked her and said 'Goodbye,' and then after I hung up I started to shake and cry - with the biggest smile on my face.
Now I'm going back to bed - probably to think about our new adventure, I doubt that sleep is going to come soon!
Not all countries would consider an application from me to adopt because I'm single and diabetic. The indicators for Thailand looked positive but hadn't been confirmed. I needed to ring Thailand and ask, but I needed to ring early-ish in the morning. I wanted to have a controlled conversation and be able to focus, so it needed to be before Alice was up! I had 1 early start last week (awake at 4am) but wasn't 'with it' enough to realise that I could have used the opportunity to phone - doubly irritating to be awake when I wanted to sleep and then to miss the opportunity! This morning I woke in darkness, lay there for a while, couldn't get back to sleep, remembered Thailand and crept downstairs. I turned on my desktop and reviewed my notes, by this time I was nervous and wide awake. I rang the official contact in Thailand and got a fax machine! Ooops! Tried again and managed to speak to her, not only did she say 'Yes,' but she also indicated a shorter waiting time for a SN adoption, probably about 12 months from receiving papers. I'm delighted, I told her too, thanked her and said 'Goodbye,' and then after I hung up I started to shake and cry - with the biggest smile on my face.
Now I'm going back to bed - probably to think about our new adventure, I doubt that sleep is going to come soon!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
CLUB FEET
If (as anticipated) my next (and sadly last) adoption is from Thailand, then if will be for a child with Special Needs (SNs).
One of the SNs I'm considering is club feet. If anyone can share their experiences of this SN I'd be most grateful. I'd also like to hear about blogs (from anywhere in the world) who have children who have been treated for club feet. Most of all I'd like to know about possible treatments and approaches used by UK medics. Please leave comments or links, thanks.
One of the SNs I'm considering is club feet. If anyone can share their experiences of this SN I'd be most grateful. I'd also like to hear about blogs (from anywhere in the world) who have children who have been treated for club feet. Most of all I'd like to know about possible treatments and approaches used by UK medics. Please leave comments or links, thanks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
