Adopting a child means becoming the legal parent of a child who was not born to you. It is a process where an adult takes full responsibility for raising a child and becomes their permanent parent in the eyes of the law.
Adopted children from AiM are unable to live with their birth family for a range of reasons. These reasons mainly being serious safeguarding concerns such as neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Their birth parents may also be struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, mental health difficulties or domestic abuse.
Building Families Through Adoption
The child/children will be placed into foster care for a short time and then move permanently to a new family.The new family will take their surname and being legal parents with same rights and responsibilities as if the child were their biological son or daughter.
Birth parents no longer have any legal rights over the child however, children continue to maintain relationships with their birth families through cards/letters/face-to-face so that they grow up understanding their background.
In simple terms, adoption is about building a family. It shows that family isn’t just about being related by blood – it’s about love, care, and commitment.
Our Adoption Support Team is on hand to provide excellent help and advice to adoptive parents and their children throughout the adoption process and beyond.
Early Permanence (Fostering for Adoption)
Early Permanence also known as Fostering for Adoption (FFA) is another route to adopting a child while being a temporary foster carer for a specific child. This ensures early permanence and is a popular route for those wanting to adopt a younger child or baby.
Adoption in Merseyside hold responsibility for the initial screening of step parent enquires for our Local Authorities. If you want more information about the process, please download the leaflet below.
Do we have to pay for the application and DBS check?
Yes, this is not funded by the local council.
Do I need to contact the birth mother of birth father before making the application?
Yes. We will not process the application unless birth mother/birth father knows that this is taking place. If birth parent has deceased, then another brith family member will have to be contacted.
At what age can I adopt my partner’s child?
During the assessment it is important that the child understands what is happening and agrees to the adoption. You cannot adopt anyone over the age of 18 as they are legally an adult.
