David Grislis April 2021 Blogs

Why Special Guardianship Needs Support

Every child, no matter their age, needs a guardian to look after them as they grow. Typically this is the child’s parent, but that’s not always the case. In some instances, children are looked after by special guardians: caretakers who are not a child’s parent but retain parental responsibility.

They are given all of the rights and responsibilities that someone legally has when taking care of a child by a court, and the parental responsibilities of a special guardian override those of the child’s parents.

Special guardianship is different than adoption. When adopting a child, ties between the child and their birth parents are cut. Children with a special guardian, however, can still remain in touch with their birth family. This guardianship is best suited for children who aren’t suitable for adoption but would still benefit from a long-term caretaker.

Though initially special guardianship was a lesser-used method of care, recent years have shown its increase in popularity; family courts have placed more children in a special

guardianship than with adopters and maintained family networks for the children as a result.

Adoption is instead used as a last resort when “nothing else will do.”

This shift in decision-making shows just how beneficial special guardianship is for vulnerable children. It gives children a stable and permanent place to call home, and they often end up having better school results than children who are looked after by children’s services. Special guardianship provides an anchor for these children to hold onto when they’re at their most vulnerable.

Despite the benefits of special guardianship, the system isn’t one without flaws. Deciding to raise a child is a life-changing decision, yet special guardians aren’t automatically entitled to legal aid or training. They aren’t prioritized for rehousing or financial support either, and though they are entitled to therapeutic support, only 9-percent have received help in the past four years.

Special guardians don’t get automatic employment leave when taking a child into their family either, unlike adopters and foster parents.

Despite the issues at hand, they aren’t unfixable. The first steps needed to address these issues and improve the practice have already been taken. This doesn’t mean that the battle over, though; it’s barely begun. A national strategy is needed to address the flaws of special guardianship in addition to government support so that special guardianship is recognized more widely.

Support for special guardianship equates to support for vulnerable children who need care from these caretakers. The benefits of this guardianship far outweigh any cons, and supporting the notion opens up a bright future for these children to embark on with their guardians at their side.

Adopting as a Single Parent: What to Know

Adoption is a tough process to go through when you’re in a relationship; adopting as a single parent can be tougher. Unfortunately, a negative stigma surrounds single parents thanks to How society views parenthood and a healthy family. Though this viewpoint has wavered over the years, many still hold onto the idea that the “traditional” way of parenting is the best way: a child needs two parents, one mother and one father, to grow up happy and healthy. This couldn’t be further from the truth—when raising a child, all that matters is how they’re raised, not who is raising them.

There are many things to consider when you’re adopting a child, regardless of your relationship status. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Do Your Research

As with every major decision in life, you need to do your research before committing to anything.

Learn as much as you can about the adoption process: how much it’ll cost, what steps you’ll need to take, what documents you’ll need on hand, etcetera. Having this knowledge beforehand will help you as the adoption process starts and let you made the best, informed decisions for you and your future family.

Have a Support System Though you’ll be a single parent, having a support system in place will ensure that you aren’t alone as you journey into parenthood. It’s one thing to be independent, but another entirely to not ask for help when you need it most. Parenting is a challenge that you don’t have to undertake alone. If you don’t already have a support system in place, go out and find one!

Become involved with your community, look for resources for single parents, join a support group for those in your situation—whatever it takes to have someone at your back when you need help.

Check Your Finances Adoption isn’t cheap, and raising a child isn’t cheap either. When you adopt a child, the expenses don’t stop at the adoption fee; you’ll be responsible for your child’s welfare until they’re eighteen at minimum, though chances are you’ll help your child along well after they reach that age. From birth until the age of eighteen, children roughly cost their parents about $245,000, or $13,600 a year. Before committing to adoption, make sure that you can financially afford a child both now and in the future.