1,000 signatures reached
To: John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
A Fair Deal for Adoptive Families in Scotland
1. Give every adoptive family the right to support when they need it
2. Give every adopted child the right to additional support in school
3. Give every adopted child priority status in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Why is this important?
Our adoptive families are parenting some of Scotland’s most damaged children – a significant proportion of whom are suffering the long-term effects of developmental trauma caused by neglect and/or abuse. Our families are desperate for help. As a matter of urgency, they tell us that they need access to therapeutic services (including therapeutic parenting training and guidance), access to local support groups, and help for their children in schools. We know from the evidence and experience that adoption can be a hugely transformative experience for children and their families. Yet research shows that one in four adoptive families are at risk of breaking down because of the lack of support. The emotional and financial cost of a breakdown - and a child returning to care - is incalculable. Please help us to secure a fair deal for our families in Scotland - and give hope to some of the nation's most vulnerable children.
PLEASE NOTE: to support this campaign, you don't need to live in Scotland, and you don't need to have any experience of adoption - you just need to acknowledge that this is a cause worth fighting for!
