(no subject)

[llywela]

Apparently, the BBC are running a series of programmes on fostering and adoption this week.

They make it sound so easy. But it so isn't. I mean, if a stable married couple - special needs teacher and paramedic - who are unable to have children of their own apply to adopt and are turned down on spurious grounds, it's surely a sign that the system is in trouble.

Stupid system.

I'm not bitter on my sister's behalf at all. Not, of course not... *sigh*

Comments

[bagpuss1966.livejournal.com]

I thought about your sister when I read about this last week. It's so wrong that they were turned down, and then they make it sound like people aren't applying. Crazy.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what annoys me - the fact that I keep seeing adverts and programmes extolling the benefits of fostering and adoption, implying that more are needed, that they welcome all applicants and can't get enough. Then when an ideal couple do apply they are stuffed around left, right and centre, and then turned down for no good reason. Apparently they are overweight and might live (shock horror!) ten years less than someone who isn't overweight. Well, so what? They are in their mid-30s - any child they adopted would still be an adult by then! God, if you could see the letter the agency sent them, how ludicrous it was. It really does destroy all faith in the system - D&R are horribly disillusioned with it all.

Madness. It's all madness.

[bagpuss1966.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine fosters and she's overweight and so is her husband. They currently have two foster children and one of them has been with them for over a year. They live in Northants. I guess it must vary from county to county?

It's just such a shame. Could your sis go through a different agency? Did she appeal, I can't remember.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

They looked into appealing, and looked into different agencies, but felt so disillusioned that they decided not to put themselves through it all just yet. They're exploring the fertility options now, despite the fact that it would be trying to get through a pregnancy that would be dangerous to D's health, although she could parent a child without any health concerns whatsoever. But even that has to wait until she's had the surgery on her back that she's waiting for.

The systems do vary from one local authority to another. I mean, the process was so enormously different for my parents with Small, although the circumstances were also very different, too.