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05/11/2013
'Age Myths' Preventing NI Adoption
Myths and misconceptions surrounding age may be preventing children across Northern Ireland from finding a permanent home, according to the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF).
The organisation has released stats to coincide with National Adoption Week that show nearly one in three adults (31%) in Northern Ireland believe being over the age of 40 would stop someone from being able to adopt a child.
The survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of BAAF, also reveals that over a third (34%) consider having a low household income and being unemployed (35%) as barriers to adoption.
Nearly a quarter (22%) believe having a disability would rule a person out as a prospective adopter, while 24% believe being overweight means you are not eligible to adopt.
One in five (19%) of all Northern Irish people surveyed ruled themselves out of adoption as they considered themselves too old to adopt, while one in ten (11%) said being younger would have encouraged them to adopt.
Priscilla McLoughlin, Director for BAAF Northern Ireland, said: "We must dispel these harmful myths in order to recruit more prospective adopters so that we have the widest possible choice of adoptive families for children waiting to be adopted. Being single, homosexual, overweight, or unemployed does not automatically rule you out as an adopter.
"If you have space in your life and home, we urge you to pick up the phone and call your local adoption agency. There are children waiting on your call to give them another chance at a family life."
(IT/CD)
The organisation has released stats to coincide with National Adoption Week that show nearly one in three adults (31%) in Northern Ireland believe being over the age of 40 would stop someone from being able to adopt a child.
The survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of BAAF, also reveals that over a third (34%) consider having a low household income and being unemployed (35%) as barriers to adoption.
Nearly a quarter (22%) believe having a disability would rule a person out as a prospective adopter, while 24% believe being overweight means you are not eligible to adopt.
One in five (19%) of all Northern Irish people surveyed ruled themselves out of adoption as they considered themselves too old to adopt, while one in ten (11%) said being younger would have encouraged them to adopt.
Priscilla McLoughlin, Director for BAAF Northern Ireland, said: "We must dispel these harmful myths in order to recruit more prospective adopters so that we have the widest possible choice of adoptive families for children waiting to be adopted. Being single, homosexual, overweight, or unemployed does not automatically rule you out as an adopter.
"If you have space in your life and home, we urge you to pick up the phone and call your local adoption agency. There are children waiting on your call to give them another chance at a family life."
(IT/CD)
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