THE Western Trust is highlighting the demand for adoptive placements for children in need of families for life by holding a number of information events week beginning Monday, March 21, 2016, throughout the Western Trust.
Within the Western Trust area there are children of all ages who will never be able to live with their birth parents and their plan is adoption.
The Trust is currently planning for a significantly high number of children seeking adoptive families and there is a need to find people who can provide these vulnerable children with a family for life.
There are also high numbers of sibling groups who need adoptive homes where they can grow up together and are not separated.
Adoption has encountered many changes over the years and one such change has been the emergence of the pilot project entitled ‘Home on Time (HOT) which is an innovative, concurrent care scheme.
‘Home on Time’ is a scheme which aims to reduce the length of time young children spend in foster care and the number of moves they have to make before a final decision is made about where they will live until they are adults.
This process tends to involve the placement of very young children. Information sessions specific to this project are being held in Derry and Omagh.
Catherine McKevitt, Western Trust Service Manager for Adoption said: “Adoption is a lifelong commitment, which requires very serious thought and preparation.
“We welcome and encourage people from all walks of life and backgrounds.
“Many adoptive parents have found taking this first step the hardest and our events will provide people with information about the process.
“Adoption and Permanency Social workers will be on hand to answer any questions people may have about adoption.”
Catherine added: “Adopting a child can be a wonderful and fulfilling experience, there is no doubt that it can be challenging but the majority of our parents say the rewards far outweigh the challenges.”
An adoptive parent of two young boys recently stated: “The day we got our boys was the best day of my life.
“I would strongly recommend adoption to those who are unsure about your own individual circumstances to please go along to any of the information sessions the Trust has organised and you will have the chance to think about giving a child a family for life.”
The information sessions will be held in various locations:
DERRY/STRABANE
• ‘HOT’ Information Session – Wednesday 23 March 7.30pm, City Hotel, Derry
• Wednesday 23 March 10.30am-2.00pm, ASDA Strabane
• Thursday 24 March 10.00am-4.00pm Foyleside Shopping Centre, Derry
• Thursday 24 March 10.00am – 1.00pm Lisnagelvin Shopping Centre, Waterside
OMAGH/ENNISKILLEN
• ‘HOT’ Information session – Wednesday 23 March 7.30pm, Silver Birches, Omagh.
• Tuesday 22 March 10.00am-1.00pm ASDA, Omagh
• Thursday 24 March 10.00am-1.00pm Omagh town centre
• Thursday 24 March 6.00pm -9.00pm, Erneside Shopping Centre, Enniskillen
• Friday 25th March 10.00am -1.00pm, Erneside Shopping Centre.
