New Survey Shatters Stereotypes Of Potential Adopters

A new MORI survey, commissioned by BAAF, reveals that 1 in 4 people (24%) have considered or would consider adopting in the future. The research reveals that amongst those most likely to adopt, single and co-habiting couples are more likely to consider adopting in the future than married couples, families are twice as likely as childless households and black people are twice as likely as their white counterparts to consider adoption.

Post-adoption support is also a vital factor in encouraging people to consider adoption. One quarter of all adults cite support after the adoption as a factor that would encourage them to adopt - including regular financial support, larger accommodation and support with difficulties as the child got older. 12% of families with children, 12% of single people and 18% of black people cite the need for regular financial support.

The Government has set targets to increase adoption by 40% by 2004 and BAAF estimates 5,000 new adoptive parents will be needed to cut waiting times for children and meet these targets.

Felicity Collier said:

"These findings are important for adoption agencies who are trying to find more families for waiting children. This research clearly demonstrates how important it is for adoption agencies to be inclusive in targeting their recruitment campaigns at people from all social and ethnic backgrounds and in all types of family structures, as there is a particular shortage of families for older children, groups of siblings and black children. We are concerned that a third of adults aged over 45 years feel they are too old to adopt, whereas we know that older people often have the maturity and experience to care for children with a troubled past. The survey also reveals that in order to build confidence in potential adopters, agencies must provide support to these families after the adoption."

Research Findings:

• 1 in 4 people (24%) have considered or would consider adopting in the future while 2% of people have adopted a child
• One in ten have considered adopting in the past (13%) and a further one in ten (12% would consider adopting in the future
• Single adults are three times more likely to consider adoption in the future than married couples (21%/7%)
• Co-habiting couples are more likely to consider adoption than married couples
• One in three people (33%) aged over 45 years consider themselves too old to adopt while BAAF's research (Ivaldi, 2000) shows that the average age of adoptive parents is 38 years and there is no upper age limit for adopting
• Black people are twice as likely to express an interest or consider adopting a child (48% vs 24% in the whole population) [ 'Black' refers to Black-Caribbean, Black-African and Other Black people ].
• People with children already are twice as likely to express an interest in adoption: 35% as opposed to 18% among childless respondents
• 10% of people would be more likely to consider adopting a child if they had larger accommodation, 8% if had regular financial support and 7% if had support with difficulties as the child gets older

Technical details

1. 5,000 children nation-wide are currently waiting for a suitable adoptive family
2. The Prime Minister has set a target for increasing the number of children adopted from care by 40% by 2004. BAAF estimates that 5000 approved adopters are needed every year to meet this target.
3. 14,000 children have been in care continuously for more than five years
4. New Adoption Standards published in July 2001 state a decision should be made about the suitability of prospective adopters within eight months of their initial enquiry
5. British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) is the leading organisation with a UK- wide voice promoting best practice in both adoption and fostering services for children separated from their birth families.
6. MORI interviewed 2006 adults aged 15+ in 195 samples across Great Britain. Interviews were carried out face-to-face in homes between 6-11 Sept 2001 on a MORI Omnibus. The data was weighted to reflect the national profile
7. Visit www.nationaladoptionweek.org for more details on the campaign
8. The Department of Health has provided 16350,000 in funding for National Adoption Week