FACTUAL
16 July 2007
Monday 16 July 2007 11:00-11:30 (Radio 4 FM)
This programme explores the difficult and uncertain process of trying to adopt a child from a Chinese orphanage.
It covers the first few months as those involved negotiate the stresses of the first phase of their attempted journey to parenthood - the intensive and often intrusive process of trying to get approval for overseas adoption from the UK authorities. It examines the contrasting stories of three couples and follows them through the various stages - their exhaustive assessment by social workers, the panel hearings which decide on their suitability, the reaction from friends, the preparations they make - and the changes in their own thinking and psychology along the way.
It also looks at why these couples want a Chinese child, what they have to do in order to be approved, and how they feel about the often negative public perception of inter-country adoption. And it explains why social services feel the need to make the procedures so thorough and testing. The process can be gruelling and stressful, and there are some dramatic twists and turns.
Related links
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/intercountryadoption/: Government information pages about intercountry adoption on Departement for Children,Schools and Families website
http://www.baaf.org.uk/index.shtml: British Association for Adoption and Fostering A UK charity dealing with all aspects of fostering and adoption
http://www.cach.org.uk/index.php: Children Adopted from China (CACH) A support group for UK families who have adopted children from China
http://www.adoptionoverseas.org/: Overseas Adoption Support and Information Service (OASIS) A support group for people whoare adopting children from orphanages overseas
http://www.internationaladoptionguide.co.uk/: A information website put together by UK parents of children adopted from overseas
http://www.pactadopt.org/ An American website with information about adoption from a different culture
http://www.icacentre.org.uk/ Intercountry adoption centre - a support group for intercountry adopters
