Last week was National Adoption Week 2022, which this year focused on the theme of identity.
The national ‘You Can Adopt’ campaign has been showing how important it is for adopted people to be able to understand and feel connected to their past, often in the form of memory boxes which contain physical keepsakes such as letters, photographs and childhood toys.
A special film has been released which explores adopted people’s memories from before, during and after their adoption, discussing how these make them who they are today. The emotional interviews demonstrate how identity has been formed through various powerful connections in the participants’ lives including birth families, foster carers, friends and adoptive parents. You can watch it here.
Providing support and advice throughout adoption journeys
Sarah Skinner, Head of Service for Adoption Partnership South East (APSE), said: “I am delighted to fully endorse the focus of National Adoption Week on recognising the significance of identity for children who are adopted. We understand just how important this is to people; our adoption teams provide advice and support around identity to adopters during their adoption journey and to parents who are parenting adopted children.”
APSE is a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) comprising of London Borough of Bexley, Kent County Council and us. Find out more on its website, or on its Facebook page.
Find out more about National Adoption Week.
A new podcast from You Can Adopt, featuring presenter Ashley John Baptiste and adopted adult Jamal, has also been launched for National Adoption Week exploring the issues of identity, birth relatives, and the relationships developed along the adoption journey. Listen here.