What is Adoption?

Thousands of children and young people, for whatever reason, are unable to live with their birth parents. Just like any other youngsters they come from a broad mix of cultures and religions. And like other children some also have learning difficulties or physical disabilities.

What they all have in common is the need for love and attention - something that, permanent families can give them.

Like any kind of parenting, adopting is very demanding but also very rewarding. What potential parents need to take into consideration is that there are some important differences from having your own children; it is a decision that needs a lot of thought.

Each child will have their own birth family but they might have been placed with foster carers and they may have also had difficult experiences. These children need to grow up understanding their origins and identity.

A panel of experts look at every application for adoption in very close detail and because adoptive parents take full responsibility for the new young members of their family, adoptions also have to go through the courts.

For further information contact the adoption team.

Address	Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Children's Services - Adoption Team The Exchange Ainsworth Street Blackburn - BB1 6AD
Tel no	0800 328 6919 (Freephone)
E mail	familyplacement@blackburn.gov.uk