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| Mixed-race adoption policy gets new guidelines | Mixed-race adoption policy gets new guidelines |
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| White couples should be allowed to adopt black and ethnic minority children under new guidelines for social workers in England. | White couples should be allowed to adopt black and ethnic minority children under new guidelines for social workers in England. |
| Local authorities will be warned not to delay placing a child with a suitable family of a different ethnicity. | Local authorities will be warned not to delay placing a child with a suitable family of a different ethnicity. |
| Many children from ethnic minorities do not get adopted because social workers have been keen to place them with families of the same background. | Many children from ethnic minorities do not get adopted because social workers have been keen to place them with families of the same background. |
| The move will be confirmed by Education Secretary Michael Gove on Tuesday. | The move will be confirmed by Education Secretary Michael Gove on Tuesday. |
| Actions monitored | Actions monitored |
| The law will not change but the new guidance will state that as long as prospective adopters show that they are able to care for the child then race should not be a factor. | The law will not change but the new guidance will state that as long as prospective adopters show that they are able to care for the child then race should not be a factor. |
| They will also say that preventing families from adopting children of a different ethnic group is "unacceptable". | They will also say that preventing families from adopting children of a different ethnic group is "unacceptable". |
| Each local authority will be closely monitored and those that persistently ignore the advice could have their adoption services contracted out to voluntary agencies. | Each local authority will be closely monitored and those that persistently ignore the advice could have their adoption services contracted out to voluntary agencies. |
| Current advice states that social workers must give "due consideration to the child's religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background", but does not specify whether race should be regarded as outweighing other factors. | Current advice states that social workers must give "due consideration to the child's religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background", but does not specify whether race should be regarded as outweighing other factors. |
| Children's minister Tim Loughton announced in November last year that the government would be updating its guidance on adoption. | Children's minister Tim Loughton announced in November last year that the government would be updating its guidance on adoption. |
| Currently, single people, married couples and cohabiting couples can all adopt. | Currently, single people, married couples and cohabiting couples can all adopt. |
| Same sex couples can adopt in England, Wales and Scotland, but not in Northern Ireland. | Same sex couples can adopt in England, Wales and Scotland, but not in Northern Ireland. |
| Adopters in England and Wales must be aged over 21 (18 if one of a couple is the birth parent). There is no upper age limit, but the placing authority must be confident anyone adopting a child will have the energy required and be in good enough health to offer a stable home. | Adopters in England and Wales must be aged over 21 (18 if one of a couple is the birth parent). There is no upper age limit, but the placing authority must be confident anyone adopting a child will have the energy required and be in good enough health to offer a stable home. |
| Likewise, if they can prove they have the energy, people will not be disqualified for being disabled, overweight or having a medical condition. | Likewise, if they can prove they have the energy, people will not be disqualified for being disabled, overweight or having a medical condition. |
| People must also show that the can financially support a child. | People must also show that the can financially support a child. |
| A criminal record will not automatically prevent someone from adopting unless they, or someone in their household, has been convicted or cautioned for offences against a child. | A criminal record will not automatically prevent someone from adopting unless they, or someone in their household, has been convicted or cautioned for offences against a child. |
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| The idea that the problems associated with the adoption of children from ethnic minorities/mixed race backgrounds are solely attributable to social workers is fatuous. Getting potential adopters to consider adopting such children is extremely difficult because the overwhelming majority of adopters want very young, healthy, white children who will fit easily into their household. | |
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| In my opinion, this policy is very antiquated. This sounds like something the government would have said 60 years ago, very strange, because the government who introduced the policy were insistant that they were forward thinking. Sorry Labour, this is clearly racial segregation, and racial segregation is probably the best example of the opposite of forward thinking. | In my opinion, this policy is very antiquated. This sounds like something the government would have said 60 years ago, very strange, because the government who introduced the policy were insistant that they were forward thinking. Sorry Labour, this is clearly racial segregation, and racial segregation is probably the best example of the opposite of forward thinking. |
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| "Politically sensisite comments aside, the problem statistics are that children from ethnic familes are more likely to be in the care system for an assortment of reasons. This is frustrated further by the fact that an ethnic couple is less likely to be prepared to adopt."That could be rephrased as 'racists are more likely to be in the social welfare system and are less likely to adopt. | "Politically sensisite comments aside, the problem statistics are that children from ethnic familes are more likely to be in the care system for an assortment of reasons. This is frustrated further by the fact that an ethnic couple is less likely to be prepared to adopt."That could be rephrased as 'racists are more likely to be in the social welfare system and are less likely to adopt. |
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| U3708291 has missed the point we wouldn'tbe hahaving this discussion if enough ethic couple adopted children | U3708291 has missed the point we wouldn'tbe hahaving this discussion if enough ethic couple adopted children |
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| Race should never be a factor in adoption. As long as a family can provide a loving and nurturing environment for the child, then that should be all that matters. | Race should never be a factor in adoption. As long as a family can provide a loving and nurturing environment for the child, then that should be all that matters. |
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