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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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| This will upset the lefties, who trade in victimhood and division, fuelling the hardships and differences that are their marketplace. This is a step in the right direction though. Judgements {about a child's future} ought to be made on the basis that the child will receive love, hope, support and stability. A child is not a tool for the miserable, superficial race industry. | |
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| What has the colour of the skin have to do with adoption? There are many mixed race children in all our citys today,But some couples should understand its not easy for some children, to mix with others, in schools. Due to the fact that ethnic groups tend to stick together. | What has the colour of the skin have to do with adoption? There are many mixed race children in all our citys today,But some couples should understand its not easy for some children, to mix with others, in schools. Due to the fact that ethnic groups tend to stick together. |
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| Re comment no 4. Surely a child born in Britain wouldn't have any 'heritage' apart from a British one. Whether the parents are white British, Black British, Black African, Black Caribbean, Pink and gay it doesn't matter one bit so long as they are going to love that child irrespective of the tone of their skin. I can't believe we are still having this debate in 2011. | Re comment no 4. Surely a child born in Britain wouldn't have any 'heritage' apart from a British one. Whether the parents are white British, Black British, Black African, Black Caribbean, Pink and gay it doesn't matter one bit so long as they are going to love that child irrespective of the tone of their skin. I can't believe we are still having this debate in 2011. |
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| This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/moderation.shtml#house" target="_blank">House Rules. | |
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