On Tuesday 18 October, members of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity’s Adoption Service and adopter families came together to celebrate the success of placing more than 316 children into military homes since becoming a registered agency in 2000.
The celebration was held at the Household Cavalry Museum where guests first heard from SSAFA’s Controller, Sir Andrew Gregory and the Head of the Adoption Management Committee, Susie Moran. The last speech of the night came from Mark Law whose adoption story didn’t leave a dry eye in the house.
Mark laid his cards on the table and gave a heartfelt recounting of his and his wife, Karen’s, journey:
“Our adoption journey hasn’t been a Disney story; at times it has been nothing but pain, disappointment, anger and frustration. I didn’t think it would be the sort of adoption story that SSAFA or potential adopters would want to hear at a celebration of their success. But then I thought about what positives our story provides about adopting through SSAFA as a military family.”
He went on to praise SSAFA for the support his family received but put a particular emphasis on the “for life” part of the service:
“Adopted children are going to need some therapeutic support throughout their journey to adult hood and possibly throughout their life. When you need that support it is a phone call or email away and answered within hours…
“From Claire, through Hannah and Kaley, to our current rock, Fran, that support has always been steadfast, resolute and ultimately timely. Add to this the fact that SSAFA continue to provide excellent trauma based training and life story work training for adopters, as well as providing opportunities to get together with other military adopters on activity weekends, and you have an all-round package of support that is unrivalled.”
Research shows that the outcomes for children placed in an adoptive family are markedly better than those who remain in the care system.
The SSAFA Adoption Service is advocate for all in the military community who wish to adopt. The Service has been working with the MOD Armed Forces Covenant Team to promote the positive qualities of Military adopters to Regional Adoption Agencies.
The team’s Social Workers and Adoption Panel members have specialist training in LGBT+ adoption and work closely with the Armed Forces, Stonewall and their partner agency, New Family Social, to support LGBT+ adopters.
SSAFA supports families in a variety of ways, from expanding family units via our adoption service and supporting those struggling with bereavement, to hosting families with additional needs on our Short Breaks holidays and providing welfare assistance to families in tough times. SSAFA recognises the importance of families and steadfast believes we all need to support each other.
