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Irish Wedding News

03/11/2014

Siblings Being Separated Due To Lack Of Adopters - BAAF

More than half of children needing to be adopted in Northern Ireland are part of a sibling group, new research has revealed.

According to the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF), 56% of children in the region fall into this category. However, the BAAF has said that not enough adopter families are coming forward who are able to adopt more than one child, meaning some siblings have a lengthy wait, while others are being separated.

During 2013/14, adoption plans were made for 28 sibling groups across Northern Ireland – a 35% increase in the number of sibling placements needed. During this period, the Adoption Regional Information System (ARIS), which matches children and families waiting for adoption, received referrals for 20 sibling groups. To date in 2014/15, 10 children have been matched for adoption by ARIS, all of whom were placed with brothers and sisters.

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Fairy Tales The Wedding & Events Specialists

As part of this year's National Adoption Week, 3 to 9 November, BAAF is encouraging more people to come forward who can adopt siblings.

Priscilla McLoughlin, Director of BAAF, Northern Ireland, said: "Our relationships with our brothers and sisters are likely to be the longest relationships of our lives, stretching from shared childhood experiences often into old age.

"While the significance of these relationships may vary with age and life-stage, for many of us our brothers and sisters are among the people in life who really know us because they understand the early life experiences and relationships that have helped shape us into who we now are.

"For children separated from birth parents through adoption, sibling relationships provide a sense of familiarity, continuity and genealogical connectedness. In the midst of the trauma and multiple losses these children experience, being placed with a brother or sister can be an important source of comfort and support.

"Being placed with their siblings may not be right for every child, but where it is in their best interests, brothers and sisters who require placement for adoption should have the opportunity to grow up together."

(JP/CD)

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"More than half of children needing to be adopted in Northern Ireland are part of a sibling group, new research has revealed."