Adoption Exchange Events

'Adoption Exchanges' are where approved adopters who are waiting for a match are able to come and exchange their information. NLAC often works in conjunction with other adoption consortiums and boroughs from various parts of London, along with neighbouring counties and a number of voluntary adoption agencies to talk to approved adopters about particular children waiting for families and to discuss whether they might meet their particular needs.

South London Adoption Consortium Pan London Exchange Saturday June 28th am/pm.

These events are for approved adopters and are by invitation only. Please speak with your social worker for further details.

What is an Adoption Exchange?

Once you have been approved as an adoptive parent, your agency may invite you to an Adoption Exchange Event.
What is this?
Why might it be useful to attend?
And how can you get the best out of it?

Adoption Exchanges are about making sure that children do not wait unnecessarily for a suitable adoptive family, and similarly that approved adopters are not left in limbo as they wait to find out about possible children. Exchanges are not alternatives to looking in Be My Parent and Adoption UK, for having your details on the Adoption Register, or for making sure your social worker is doing all they can to search for the child or children who will become part of your family. But as an additional way of making links Exchanges offer something different and special, which is why they are now taking place quite frequently in many different parts of the country.

So how do adopters attend and what happens?

First of all, you need to be invited, and respond to say that you plan to attend. There is a good reason for this - sensitive information about children will be available, so the social workers and administrators organising Exchanges need to be sure who is coming. Systems for inviting people may vary slightly, but once you have confirmed your attendance, it is usual to receive information to help you find the venue. You are likely to be given a time slot during which you are requested to arrive, and any other useful information to help you get as much as possible out of the experience. Light refreshments are usually provided on site or available nearby, and it is as well to set aside a couple of hours or so as you may want to walk around more than once and take time to reflect on what you see and hear. There are not many do's and don'ts, but it's worth remembering to take your letter of invitation to confirm who you are when you arrive. It's also worth making sure your profile is up to date and that you and your agency have several copies for distribution. Although these events are about children, they are not suitable for children to attend, so a usual expectation would be that you make other arrangements for those already part of your family.

Adoption Exchange Events are held in large venues, perhaps a Town Hall, Community Centre or a Leisure Centre. The number of agencies represented varies. It could be twenty, thirty or even more. On arrival, you will find a reception area, and having signed in, arrangements are usually made for you to be linked with your social worker, or someone else from the agency that you are with. This is why attending at a prearranged time is important, as it helps manage the flow of people. You will immediately be aware of lots of stands displaying details of waiting children and adopters. These stands will be staffed by workers from one agency, or in the case of a consortium, by staff from a group of local authorities and voluntary agencies.

Exchange Events are interesting and exhilarating - after all, hearing about your future son or daughter may first occur on this day - but they can also be somewhat overwhelming. You will be surrounded by lots of information about children desperately needing families, some of whom have already waited far too long despite the best efforts of those responsible for their futures. You will also be aware of lots of other people in the same situation as you are, although probably most of them will be strangers. Whereas some people feel fine about going round by themselves and trying to identify children whose needs they could meet, others prefer to be accompanied by their social worker, at least initially. As you approach the different stands, there will be opportunities to talk with social workers about children their agency is family finding for, and to give them your details if any child or children appears to be a possible link for you. Sometimes short films of children can be viewed on the agency's laptop computer. And even if your conversation with a social worker doesn't seem fruitful in respect of a specific child, it's always worth leaving a copy of your profile so people remember you are available. After all, the right child may be at an earlier stage in the process, but before too long the agency will begin searching for the right family and it could be you!

So what are the benefits of Adoption Exchanges as a way of linking children? One of the main things is that they provide adopters with a 'reality check' about children waiting for families. And it is often possible speak to those who know the children, and can bring them to life in a way that is both immediate and engaging. Because they increase awareness of the wide range of children needing families, they can sometimes cause adopters to rethink what they could offer, and to whom. As well as being an event for adopters, Exchanges also bring together staff from many different agencies. This helps to strengthen networks and increases awareness. They can be particularly helpful for placing black and minority ethnic children, and indeed some Exchange Events focus specifically on these children as often they wait the longest. Staff from the Adoption Register may also be present, and they too will have a number of profile's on display.

So if you are an approved adopter, you may want to ask your social worker if there is an opportunity to attend an Adoption Exchange Event. Even if you are in the early stages of approval, it may still be interesting to find out what will be available for you later on. Although they cannot work miracles for all the children and families waiting, Exchange Events can make a very significant contribution towards transforming lives.

We hold and attend Adoption Exchanges throughout the year. You will be able to discuss this with your Assessment Social Worker.