The Family Care Society, a voluntary adoption agency, is developing an innovative new project aimed at minimising the upheaval facing very young children going into care.

The new project is a process of working towards family re-unification, while at the same time establishing an alternative permanent plan for a child in care.

The aim is to place children early with carers who can, if necessary, become their permanent adoptive family, while Social Services and the court make decisions about their future.

Family Care Society’s Concurrent Planning Project is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and is a partnership project with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, part-funded by the Department of Health and Social Services.

Concurrent planning recognises the need of very young children for stability and security.

It seeks to avoid the delays and multiple placement moves often experienced by young children in the care system, which inevitably leads to broken attachments, and can contribute to emotional and developmental difficulties as the child continues to grow.

The concurrent planning team at Family Care Society will work with Social Services to identify young children (normally 0 – two years) likely to be vulnerable to protracted legal proceedings and at risk of experiencing multiple care placements.

The child will then be matched with appropriate concurrent carers, who are willing to care for a child, initially on a fostering basis, but with a view to adopting him or her, should rehabilitation to birth family not be achieved.

For more information on the Concurrent Planning Project, or about adoption in general, contact Family Care Society on 9069 1133 between 9am and 5pm.

Or you can attend information evenings on Wednesday, April 14, at the Bradbury Centre, Lisburn Road, Belfast and Thursday, April 15, 2010, at Family Care Society, 511 Ormeau Road, Belfast.

Family Care Society staff will be present on both days between 2 and 8pm for informal discussion and advice.