Adoption Exchange Days

[Barbadosgirl]

Hi Everyone

What are your views or experiences of these? I ask because our social worker has asked if we want to attend one. We are approved to adopt a dual heritage child of 0-12 months and I just wondered if, in people's experiences, children of that age would typically attend such events?

Hi Barbadosgirl we went to an adoption exchange day in January.

You asked I just wondered if, in people's experiences, children of that age would typically attend such events?

Adoption Exchange days do not feature the actual children, those are adoption activity days. But if you are asking if the details (information/photo etc) of children aged 0-12 months would be at such events then yes, you would possibly/probably find such children's details at events. There would not be a huge amount in relation to children who are older, I think you would find more aged 18 months and even more aged 3, 4, 5 etc. I am not sure but there seem to be a lot of children aged 5 in the system when I have looked. But Please bear in mind these are just my experiences in my area and it is best to ask the organisers of any event what age range of children they would expect to have at the event.

Also, IMHO I think it is true to say that very young babies, especially babies with no health problems or other issues may not be at these events since such babies would be very easy to place. County councils, city boroughs etc who have children to place would possibly not take the details of such children to exchange events because they would be more easily matched within their own county/area. Does that make sense?

Hi

That's so helpful, thanks. Yes, I realised shortly after posting this I had got the two the wrong way round. Doh!

That is really helpful. What I also think (and someone suggested) is that it is a good opportunity to meet family finders. The thing is babies are easy to place but dual heritage babies less so and I think social workers would still prefer to place them with mixed couples or dual heritage singles. There is a real shortage of mixed race adopters and the family finders who tend to get a lot of dual heritage babies through the system may then be interested in our details or think of us for a child they have but whose details they have not brought. Apparently only 2% of adopters are mixed race and we have been told how rare we are throughout the process!

You will be very valued. You are, indeed, rare. All the best.