Adoption Connects is again renewing their partnership to CATCH (Children And Trauma Community Hub). This regional adoption agency, formed through a partnership between Central Bedfordshire Council and Milton Keynes City Council, works tirelessly to connect children who need permanent families with the right adopters, at the right time, and with the right support.
Adoption Connects is an experienced and friendly agency providing comprehensive adoption services across Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes. Their vision—’to place a child at the right time, with the right family, and with the right support’—underpins their commitment to achieving excellent outcomes for children.
The agency offers a wide range of services, including:
● Finding adopters: Finding and supporting adopters through the assessment process, providing training and guidance.
● Post-adoption support: Providing advice, information, training, signposting, and opportunities to meet other adoptive families.
● Birth family and contact support: Offering advice for birth families and supporting contact arrangements following adoption.
● Access to birth records: Facilitating access to birth records for adopted adults.
Children waiting for families
Adoption Connects is actively seeking families for children across a diverse range of needs. While the specific ages can change, the children currently needing adoptive parents include:
● Babies via foster to adopt (Early Permanence) placements.
● Sibling groups, as the agency strives to keep siblings together whenever possible.
● Older children, typically over 5 years (usually up to the age of 8 years).
● Children with additional emotional or health needs.
● Children who need support to celebrate their past and heritage.
Adoption Connects understands that most children seeking adoption have experienced loss and trauma, which may affect their behaviour and development. They look for resilient, loving, and nurturing families who can help these children feel safe and loved.
As Nickie Phillips, the Service Manager of Adoption Connects, shares: “Adoption Connects are privileged to partner with CATCH for another year to support learning and development during the adoption family journey. Understanding trauma is key to healing and CATCH is one of the tools in the parenting ‘toolbox’ to provide the knowledge, understanding and support families need to respond to their child’s needs with empathy, consistency, and confidence.”
Ray Vernon, Digital Partnership Executive at Parents And Children Together, who created and manage CATCH, commented: “Adoption Connects’ commitment to supporting every aspect of the adoption journey, from initial enquiry to lifelong post-adoption support, is outstanding. Their focused approach to finding families for children who wait longest, including siblings and older children, demonstrates true dedication to the welfare of vulnerable children. We are proud to welcome their agency to the CATCH community.”
If you live in Central Bedfordshire or Milton Keynes and are ready to consider this incredible, life-changing journey, Adoption Connects is ready to guide you.
To find out how CATCH can complement and strengthen your foster carer training and support, contact Ray Vernon for more information.