Black children more likely to end up in care and less likely to be adopted

The data in the Adopted and Looked-after children report, shows despite Black children only making up five per cent of the general population, they make up eight per cent of children in care.

Black children are more likely to end up in care and less likely to be adopted according to recent government figures.

The data in the Adopted and Looked-after children report, shows despite Black children only making up five per cent of the general population, they make up eight per cent of children in care.

The shocking figures revealed earlier this month, also indicate Black children are less likely to be adopted in comparison to their white and Asian counterparts.

For many adoption organisations, the problem is longstanding and they are urging the government to do more to address this racial disparity.

Dr John Simmonds, is the Director of Policy, Research and Development at CoramBAAF, an independent membership organisation for those working with children in the care system, told The Voice, the reason Black children are waiting longer to be adopted is complex.

He said: “Adopters typically look to adopt younger children, those aged under two years old or as young as six months. However, many children who have adoption as their plan are older and have other issues such as having brothers or sisters who also need to be adopted.

“There is a particular issue for two groups of children – those with a Black African or Black African Caribbean heritage and those where the mother and father are from different ethnic communities. Both typically wait longer to be placed and for some, they may not be placed at all.”

The alarming statistics show in 2019 only two per cent of Black children were adopted and those who were – waited longer than other children.

For white British children, the wait to be adopted was on average 919 days, compared to 996 days for those of a Mixed-Race background. Children who are of Asian heritage face an average wait of 835 days.

But Black boys of African descent, face the longest wait of any group and have a staggering 1,302 days wait before being found a new family.

Those who have chosen to care for children within the system, believe one of the main reasons for Black children waiting longer is because of the stereotypes that are attached to Black children.

But Black boys of African descent, face the longest wait of any group and have a staggering 1,302 days wait before being found a new family.

Barriers to Adoption

John* is a father of four children and is a special guardian to three of them, he spoke to The Voice anonymously.

He said: “Black children will always be waiting because we live in a racist country and they are seen as problematic and less desirable. Even within our own community, some Black people look at a Black child and label them as bad and that is how some of our minds have been groomed by living in a whitewashed country.”

He also believes many in the Black community may not want the scrutiny from friends and family about why they have chosen to adopt and this is acting as a barrier.

“Our community is very private and those considering adoption may not go through with it because they don’t want to be questioned about their personal health and fertility by those in their family and community,” he added.

He told The Voice many in the Black community “do not feel safe in this country” and that is also acting as a deterrent.

The latest official figures show 89% of approved adopters in England are white and only 3% are Black or Black British.

This needs to be addressed urgently according to John*. He said: “We need more Black people to consider special guardianship or adoption because so many children are in desperate need of a loving home.”

Initially, John and his wife were foster carers. But when they were given their third placement, they fell in love with their foster children and decided to make them a permanent part of their family. The couple’s children are three siblings of Black African heritage, who were in their care for four years.

“We need more Black people to consider special guardianship or adoption because so many children are in desperate need of a loving home.”

John* said they were approached about adopting only the youngest child and were told the other two would remain in care, but the couple couldn’t bring themselves to separate the siblings.

Speaking to The Voice he said: “We felt it would be unfair to adopt one and not the other two children. We went back and forth with the social workers to understand what our options were and discussed how we could keep the siblings together.

“The option of special guardianship was put to us and that is what we went with. For us, a piece of paper wouldn’t make a difference to how much we love and care for our children. What was important for us, was taking the children out of the system and giving them a normalised life and a happy home.”

John* said the proposed idea of adoption would have meant the children cut off everything from their previous life and because the two eldest had spent several years living with their birth mum, he said that option “didn’t feel right.”

The special guardianship route hasn’t been easy for John* and his wife, but he maintains he has made the right decision by welcoming the children into his family.

John* was very open about his experience and said there are emotional challenges when considering guardianship.

“Many children who have been in the care system feel they do not belong and have experienced childhood trauma, so you have to do a lot of reassuring work and centring the child’s emotions and wellbeing is so important,” he added.

He urged local authorities to offer more additional support for adopters and guardians because “once you sign the paperwork you are left to get on with it.”

John* who is a Black man of Caribbean heritage said it was highly important to him and his wife, to offer a stable environment to Black children, because he knows first hand the damage that can be done to those who are placed in interracial adoptions.

“The siblings we have now, were previously placed into care with a white parent, who didn’t know how to care for their hair. The children’s hair was cut very short and as a result, this has emotionally scarred one of them. That is why it is important for adopters to be culturally aware or be of the same race.”

John* has ensured his children remain connected to their African heritage and is conscious not to only expose them to his Caribbean culture. He said: “There are some similarities between us, but also we are aware of our cultural differences and we tried our best to maintain their culture. “You have to put the children’s needs first!

“The siblings we have now, were previously placed into care with a white parent, who didn’t know how to care for their hair. The children’s hair was cut very short and as a result, this has emotionally scarred one of them

“They were fluent in another language and we got them lessons so they can maintain their native language. Their hairdresser is from the same country as them and that connection has been crucial. We have cooked foods from their country to make them feel like they belong, our heritage is what makes us who we are and we must embrace that.” 

John* thinks interracial adoption needs to look at how adopters will address race and not ignore the issue.

He said: “How are the children going to be adequately cared for if placed with adopters who are not of the same race?

“We live in a very institutionally racist country. Are white parents going to understand what Black children are going through? And will Black parents understand how ‘easy’ it is for white children to level up? These are the questions we need to ask.”

Social and Economic Factors

According to Dr Simmonds, who is also a qualified social worker, there maybe additional social and economic factors which are preventing more Black adopters from coming forward.  Speaking to The Voice, he said: “There are some inhibiting factors which are preventing Black adopters coming forward and some of them result from the issues such as the need for adequate bedroom space.  

“We know that there is a housing crisis and the lack of solution to this may negatively affect those who may want to adopt. There may be a fear in some of our Black communities about approaching an adoption agency and discussing your background and family history given the issues impacting on the Windrush generation”.

“There may be concerns in those communities that are subject to racism and discrimination about whether they will be treated with respect, sensitivity and understanding. There are so many issues in public policy that are experienced as unfair and discriminatory to our Black communities”

“There is a lot going on to address these issues, but they are longstanding issues. The recent Black Lives Matter movement reinforces the continuing challenge that society has in being equal, open, and anti-discriminatory.”

For some potential Black adopters, the process of being considered as an adoptive parent needs to change.

Applying to an adoption agency

Stephen* spoke to The Voice anonymously about his experience applying to an adoption agency and said he felt he was “being crucified and questioned like he was a criminal.” He said: “They need to change how they talk to people and how you are vetted. I understand the process needs to be done properly, but there was no respect or care and that is what put me off.”

Stephen* told The Voice he is not sure if he will continue with the adoption application process and hopes the current system is overhauled with more emphasis placed on how prospective applicants are treated.

One way the government has tried to combat the long waits Black children are facing, is by amending the law to allow children to placed with parents of a different ethnic background –known as interracial or transracial adoption.

In 2014, legislation was passed which removed the requirement on adoption agencies to consider a child’s racial, linguistic and cultural background when a placement is made.

But Dr Simmonds believes this approach maybe ignoring the importance of identity when it comes to placing children in permanent homes. When asked if he thinks Black children should be placed with any adoptive family regardless of their background, he said: “That has been a part of the argument, that being placed comes first and being placed in a family that reflects the child’s history and heritage comes second.

“But this also needs to take into account feedback from adoptees who have grown up in those sorts of circumstances about their experiences. And this goes well beyond the familiar issues of haircare, skincare and food.”

Interacial Adoption

Like John*, Dr Simmonds believes there are other pressing concerns which need to be taken into account when considering interracial adoption.

He said: “How does a white adopter deal with racist abuse of their child in the street or the playground? How do they with any degree of detail recognise the issues that are fundamental to culture such as music or values and beliefs connected to religious faith?”

“Yes, the fundamental thing is that children need to be placed with loving adopters, but we cannot ignore the issues that are fundamental to us all, our history and heritage. This impacts on family life in the way that we celebrate events, the music we listen to, how you structure your day, the toys you play with, the books you read”.

How does a white adopter deal with racist abuse of their child in the street or the playground? How do they with any degree of detail recognise the issues that are fundamental to culture such as music or values and beliefs connected to religious faith?

“Every child must be placed, but I think we need to focus on what it means for a child to be placed with adopters who share the child’s history and background and can reflect that in their day-to-day experiences.”

For some Black children who are adopted by white parents, the idea of interracial adoption is a fairy tale which doesn’t completely work.

Georgina* is of Black African heritage, and was put up for adoption when she was a toddler. She was eventually adopted by a white couple in the 1990s. She spoke to The Voice anonymously and said being placed in an interracial adoption left her with an “identity crisis”.

She said: “Even though they cared for me, they were clueless about my heritage and how to tackle issues around race. I felt alone and isolated and I tried everything to fit in but couldn’t and this left me feeling depressed.”

Georgina* said she often thinks about how different her life would have been if her adoptive parents were Black. She said: “I think about it all the time and sometimes wish I could turn back the clock, but I can’t.

“People say it is just skin colour it doesn’t matter, but it does. “It is your culture, your identity and who you are. Everyone thinks once you are adopted, you live happily ever after, but sometimes that is just the beginning of a long nightmare.

“I have spent years searching for who I am and have suffered from an identity crisis. I asked my parents why my skin was a different colour to theirs and they didn’t know how to answer the question and this bothered me.”

She now wants agencies to listen to the experiences of Black adoptees who have been through interracial adoption and do more to recruit Black adopters.

“Adoption is not just about placing a child in a home, it has to ultimately be the right home and in my experience, I feel like I was placed in the wrong home,” she added.

The latest report has found there has been an overall decrease in all children who were adopted between 2015 and 2019.

#YouCanAdopt

This has prompted a new campaign to encourage a diverse range of people to consider adoption.

#YouCanAdopt is a nationwide recruitment campaign which aims to bust myths around who is eligible to adopt.

You are able to adopt a child if you are 21 years of age or over and live in the UK. Characteristics like your ethnicity, faith and marital status, do not prevent you from being considered. The latest report has shown more children are ending up in the care system and this is why more adopters and foster carers are needed. On 31 March 2019, there were 78,150 children in care (looked-after children) in England, compared with 69,470 in 2015.

For Dr Simmonds he would like to see more people consider adoption. He said: “We need people to come forward from a diverse range of communities because children are looking and waiting for people who could be their adoptive parents.

“The substantial evidence we have is that most adoptions work out really well. It creates a family life for a child who would otherwise not have had a family and that extends throughout most of adulthood. Adoptive parents and families really do turn these children’s lives around in a way nothing else does.”

John* believes everyone has a part to play in ensuring the future of Black children in care is secure but says it starts with wider issues.

He said: “We don’t feel protected, and we don’t feel safe in the country and that is a huge part of it. There is a lot of work to do, but I hope more people will come forward because being able to give a child or children unconditional love and a family is so rewarding.”

The names of John*, Georgina* and Stephen* have been changed to protect their identity.

To find out more about CoramBAAF Adoption and Fostering Academy visit: https://corambaaf.org.uk/

For more information on the #YouCanAdopt campaign visit: https://www.youcanadopt.co.uk/

Comments Form

1 Comment

  1. | Antonia

    This is heartbreaking! My dream and goal is to adopt a child from my background and community who needs a home. My barrier to that goal is that I no longer live in the UK, I moved a few years ago to provide a better life for my son and I, which I did and now want to do the same for other children. However, not being a UK resident seems to be a deal-breaker which I’m finding very frustrating but I won’t give up!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*
*

Support The Voice

The Voice Newspaper is committed to celebrating black excellence, campaigning for positive change and informing the black community on important issues. Your financial contributions are essential to protect the future of the publication as we strive to help raise the profile of the black communities across the UK. Any size donation is welcome and we thank you for your continued support.

Support Sign-up