Adoption in the Black Community
Black and mixed ethnicity children in London often wait longer for an adoptive family, with some never finding a permanent home. Adopt London is committed to supporting Black and mixed-relationship couples who want to start or grow their family through adoption to join a growing community of parents who have already adopted.
Why Black adoption matters
Black & mixed ethnicity children are overrepresented in the care system, with fewer options for them to be adopted than their peers from other racial backgrounds. This can lead to instability and missed opportunities for their identity development.
Adopt London’s Black Adoption Project is looking at the disparities within the adoption system to create better futures for Black adopted children and ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a loving, supportive home that reflects or promotes their cultural heritage.
At Adopt London, we are reaching out to residents from the Black communities – those of African and Caribbean heritages – in and around London to consider adoption as a pathway to parenthood.
Adoption in the Black community
Black culture is rooted in storytelling, food, faith, music and family – all of which shape a child’s sense of self. We need adopters who are willing to honour and celebrate this in their home environment and beyond. – and have a willingness to embrace children’s identity, help them to explore their cultural heritage and walk beside them as they grow and discover the important elements of their racial identity.
Black Adoption Project
The Black Adoption Project was born out of a commitment to address the disparities that exist within adoption for Black children and families. It aims to create better futures for Black adopted children in London and looks beyond short-term solutions to understand and respond to the many complex factors that impact adoption in the Black community.
The initiative is centred around encouraging more Black and mixed heritage adopters to come forward, challenging systemic barriers and providing tailored support for Black children and families.
Black adoption project
“Knowing that Black children wait three times as long to be adopted is heartbreaking … Adopting my two sons was the best decision I ever made – they are my everything. I’m so pleased that the Black Adoption Project is striving for better equality throughout the adoption process. I’m happy to be a part of the Project and support those creating their families through adoption.”
– Adoptive parent involved in the Black Adoption Project
Let's Talk About Adoption
London already has a community of Black adoptive parents, and some of these parents have come together to be members of a new initiative that places families who are thinking about adoption at its heart. This pilot initiative is run by people who have already adopted and are eager to support Black prospective adopters. Their knowledge and enthusiasm are compelling — they want to support you along your journey.
Once you officially start the process with Adopt London and enter Stage 1, your social worker will invite you to join the Let’s Talk About Adoption group.
We need you
Whilst families from the Black community are coming forward to adopt, we need more. We ask that you create a family home that helps to celebrate and promote that child’s heritage and ethnicity, and embrace all that comes with being a multi-ethnic family. Come and talk to us to find out more.
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