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Every year, about 2,000 children in care are adopted in Wales and England. Wrexham County Borough Council are always looking for adoptive families.
 What Is Adoption?
Adoption is the legal process by which children, who cannot be brought up by their own parents, become a full and permanent member of a new family. Legal parental responsibility is transferred to the new family by the granting of an Adoption Order by the courts.
The Children Who Wait For Adoption Placements.
There are very few babies needing adoptive placements today. The majority of children waiting for adoption are over 4 years of age. The impact of their early history may affect their development, their health and their education. Some children need to be placed with brothers or sisters and so applicants who are able to take small family groups are particularly welcomed.
 Families for children with a varied range of special needs are also required.
Children come from many different cultural, ethnic or religious backgrounds and require families who can respond to these specific needs.
Most children placed for adoption will have memories of their previous family. Adopters need to be able to accept this and help the child understand their birth family history.
Children's Previous Carers
When plans for permanence are being made for children members of their birth family are looked at in the first instance. Some adopted children may need to have either direct contact, or contact by telephone or by letter with their family of origin.
Children need to develop an understanding of their early history and birth family. Adopters need to be able to do this with their children, and not feel threatened by issues from the child's past. Every adopted person when adult, has the right to have access to his or her original birth certificate and family history. Many adoption agencies will also help adult adoptees find out more about their birth family history, and where appropriate, assist them in tracing birth family members.
 Who Can Adopt?
People wanting to adopt need, by law, to be at least 21 years of age. However, we prefer to consider people who are over 25 years old, we believe that maturity and life experience are essential to cope with the demands of parenting by adoption. Adoption can add an extra dimension to parenting.
Married couples can adopt. The assessment will look at the stability of the couples relationship.
Single people can adopt under current adoption law. Many single people also have particular skills and experience that can be offered.
Families who already have birth children can adopt. However, there should be at least 2 years, or preferably more, between the age of the birth child and the child adopted.
With regards to fertility treatment, Wrexham SSD, would prefer applicants to have completed all investigations and treatment prior to making an application to adopt. Couples who are unsuccessful with this treatment need to have a period of adjustment in their lives before contemplating adoption. Trying to cope emotionally with both processes at the same time is inadvisable.
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