Can I adopt or foster if my partner is not keen on the idea?
As a couple, you would both need to be assessed to adopt or foster a child together
The needs and views of all members of the household are important and will be taken into consideration. Adoption and fostering agencies are unlikely to proceed with your assessment, and let you go ahead by yourself, if a partner or significant member of your household or support network is not in favour of your adoption or fostering plans. This is because of the additional stress and pressures that the placement of a child could cause to relationships within the household, including with your partner, and the risk of the placement disrupting for the child.
Children needing foster carers or adoptive parents have often experienced many losses in their lives, including separation from their birth family, as well as some form of abuse. To help them recover and thrive, both physically and emotionally, they need to experience a stable family life where they feel safe, secure and accepted - and can develop a sense of belonging.
Adopting or fostering a child is not right for everybody. Sometimes a reluctance to adopt or foster a child may be linked to other anxieties, like the assessment process itself, which some people find invasive, or a lack of information about what is involved. For some people, this may be resolved if they have the opportunity to talk through their anxieties, or gain more information, perhaps by meeting other carers. For others, feelings of reluctance may simply remain unchanged.
For more information, why not:
- Take our quiz to see if you've got what it takes to adopt or foster a child
- Contact BAAF to talk to one of our trained social work staff
Last updated: 30 March 10
