Adoption - vision statement: priorities and plan - summary version

2. Why adoption matters

• In communities across Scotland, all our children and young people should have equal opportunities. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect, and to have their rights protected.
• If children are living with their family and are safe and feel loved, they should stay there.
• However, sometimes children and young people need short or long periods of time away from home.
• Sometimes the best decision is to find a safe and loving home where children and young people can live forever.
• When that happens, there are a few options:

1) Adoption (living with a family other than the child’s birth family),

2) Kinship care (living with relatives or family friends), and

3) Fostering (living with a foster family).

• The best choice will always depend on the needs of each child.
• Children need to be able to stay with their brothers and sisters where it’s safe to do so, and belong to a loving home.