Adoption: the emotional impact for potential parents

 

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The Webster case

Adoption is an issue that has been in the spotlight recently, following a recent ruling in the case of Nicky and Mark Webster from Cromer in Norfolk.

The couple had their three children - known during the case as A, B and C - removed from their care in 2006, following claims by Norfolk and Norwich Hospital that one child had been admitted displaying signs of abuse.

However, a court yesterday ruled that the couple may have been the victims of a miscarriage of justice, after a medical document, produced after the children were placed with adoptive families, showed that the child in question may have in fact been suffering from a rare form of scurvy, resulting in several fractured bones.

However, despite the statement continuing that the couple could potentially have been the victims of a miscarriage of justice, the court further stated it was powerless to reverse the original adoption orders, stating: "The case emphasises the finality of adoption orders."

The couple's MP, Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb, believes the case highlights some of the emotional complexities associated with adoption.

In an interview with Radio 4's Today programme, he stated: "These decisions have to be reached in the best interests of the children [and] there is clear merit in adoption orders being final.

"[However], the awful situation for the children is that if they were removed from their adoptive parents, that's another massive disruption for them, but they will, nonetheless, grow up knowing that they have been improperly removed from their parents."

This case therefore raises several key issues regarding the potential long-term emotional impact of adoption for biological parents, adoptive parents and children placed in the care system.

 

Adoption statistics

According to Children and Young People Now (CYPN), an increased number of children are expected to be taken into care this year in the wake of the Baby P case. This prediction is based on the knock-on effect that was observed after the death of Victoria Climbie in 2000.

However, the organisation adds that adoption rates in the UK have been steadily declining in the last few years, a phenomenon it attributes to the rigorous assessment process and emotional impact on potential parents.

Figures from the British Association for Adoption and Fostering show a total of 59,500 children were in care homes in England and Wales in March 2008.  Of these, only four per cent had been placed for adoption.

According to the organisation, between 2002 and 2006, the number of adoption orders issued in England and Wales fell to 4,980 from 5,680, while less than 3,500 children were placed in 2007.

 

The emotional impact for families

While adoption may appear a logical option for couples experiencing problems conceiving to consider, Karen Faux from CYPN states: "Finding these children a new family has become an increasingly complex and drawn-out process."

According to Ms Faux, potential parents seeking to adopt children need to be aware that it is possible the child they adopt will come from a highly dysfunctional background.  She says: "Most of the children who now need new families have begun life with alcoholic, drug-dependent, abusive or potentially abusive parents."

CYPN points out that several studies have shown that those who have experienced life in the care system are more prone to mental ill health, and are also more likely to display signs of emotional distress, including attachment issues.

However, they continue to state that adoption may in fact increase a child's future prospects, stating that while only one per cent of those in care currently proceed to university-level education, the figure rises to 40 per cent for children who are adopted.

Ms Faux adds that those hoping to become parents through the adoption process must be prepared for the fact that the child they adopt could come from a culturally different background, stating: "The majority of children awaiting adoption are black, Asian or mixed race, while the majority of available adopters are white."

In a case study cited by CYPN, an adoptive parent, named only as Claire in the article, discusses the emotional problems associated with adoption: "A child is attached to its primary carer by the time it is six months old.

"The earlier and the more secure a child's placement is, the more likely it is to have a stable, happy life. Disruption to this can have a terrible effect."

It is therefore vital that adults considering becoming adoptive parents consider very carefully whether they would be able to cope with the attendant problems that can arise when taking in a child from a background in the care system.

Acting project manager for Coram Concurrent Planning, Eefke Chasteauneuf, tells CYPN: "Carers will need a good support network.

"They need to be able to manage contact and to establish a working relationship with birth families. They need to be robust and flexible, with a sense of optimism […] whether the outcome is adoption or a return to the birth family."

There are a number of specialist charities where those affected by issues surrounding adoption can turn to.

These include Adoption Support, which is an independent charity that seeks to provide help to young people, adopted adults, adoptive parents and birth families. It also seeks to raise awareness of adoption-related issues more generally. It can be contacted on 0121 666 6334 between 09:30 and 17:00 GMT, Monday to Thursday.

After Adoption also provides assistance to those who are looking for answers to adoption-related questions, or "just want a little extra support from time to time". Its contact details are ActionLine: 0800 0 568 578 and TALKadoption: 0808 808 1234.

Samaritans trained volunteers are there to offer confidential, non-judgemental emotional support to anyone experiencing distress, you can contact them via phone on by phone on 08457 909090 (GB), or 1850 609090 (ROI), email at jo@samaritans.org or face to face, visit http://www.samaritans.org/ to find your nearest branch.

 

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