English: Becoming a parent is a significant commitment and the start of an emotional journey that brings great rewards. But you will know as well as I that being a parent is not always simple and that challenges can and do arise. And, at these times of challenge, we may need support that enables us to continue to provide a loving, stable home environment - a home that enables our children to thrive. That support is available in many forms - be that friends or family, support groups, or from the range of universal and specialist services. It continues to be a tremendous inspiration to me personally that individuals continue to commit themselves to care for and support children right across Wales. And I particularly want to pay tribute today to those who have already adopted and to encourage anyone who's considering adoption to come forward. And I also want to recognise the role that professionals and organisations play in supporting adoption right across Wales and, finally, to highlight the action being taken to enable and empower improvement in this area. More practical support is being delivered for adoptive children, for young people and families as part of a national framework that is driving consistency and improving outcomes. For professionals, a toolkit has been developed to support them to undertake life journey work in adoption. The toolkit has been developed in collaboration with children, young people and adopters, ensuring that the voice of children and young people is heard and, through their lived experiences, is helping to shape and to inform further improvement. As part of driving this improvement agenda, we have also commissioned the National Adoption Service to, firstly, lead the development of an awareness-raising toolkit for primary health and child and adolescent mental health services and also to secure research to better evidence why prospective adopters choose not to proceed and progress their applications. The National Adoption Service for Wales was established in November 2014. It's led by local government, in line with local authorities' legal responsibilities for adoption, and it was created in response to recommendations made by National Assembly for Wales committees on how adoption services should be improved. And improvement is happening. The latest annual report from NAS confirms that children are being placed with adoptive families quicker than before, that nearly one third of placements were sibling groups, with brothers and sisters together, that nearly all adoption placements are lasting and successful, and that more people want to adopt. So, these are positive outcomes that are sometimes lost. And that's why today and this week are important, because it allows us to offer deserved focus and recognition on the successes of adoption in Wales. Continuing the improvement journey requires further co-operation and partnership to improve the outcomes for children, and to address, collectively, the adverse childhood experiences that impact on children, irrespective of their family background or structure. That is why adoption is an intrinsic component of my work programme for improving outcomes for children, advised by my ministerial advisory group. Building the emotional well-being and resilience of children is key to addressing the challenges they have faced, as is providing them with the skills to recognise and to address situations and events that may challenge them in the future. This is where life journey work, which has improved significantly since the establishment of the National Adoption Service, can help provide a solid foundation from which to build and grow. It's recognised that children who are placed for adoption will often have experienced some degree of trauma or loss in their young lives. Equally, building a securely attached relationship with a traumatised child can be challenging. This requires collaborative approaches between partners to deliver seamless services across health and social care, as the Cabinet Secretary and I have emphasised repeatedly in 'A Healthier Wales'. One such example is happening in south-east Wales where the south-east Wales regional collaborative of the National Adoption Service and the Aneurin Bevan health board have worked together to secure improved access to clinical psychology input from the child and family psychological health service. And we know that challenges and trauma are not always immediately apparent. They might not come to the surface until later in a child's development. That is why it's imperative that adoption agencies continue to provide access to their services and support to families in the event that challenges start to arise. Prevention and early intervention are core principles across social care and health, as are co-operation and partnership. We expect partners to deliver seamless whole-system approaches that mitigate the escalation of need, and of crisis. So that we better understand how and when these experiences become apparent, and to help to evidence and inform improvement, I am pleased to announce that we have commissioned further work with Cardiff University that builds on the adoption cohort study. This is a unique study of almost 400 children adopted from care that provides a level of detail about early adversity, family relationship quality, child psychological health and so on. This next phase will directly engage with a cohort of families to explore their experiences of informal and formal sources of adoption support in Wales, including child psychological well-being and children's experiences at school, including additional learning needs. Our approach in Wales remains that we will identify and deliver a range of timely adoption support for families, based on evidence. The legislation provides families with a right to an assessment of their needs for adoption support and it provides local authorities with the powers to meet those needs. For those who are considering adoption, I can offer no greater encouragement than to direct you to the experiences and the family stories on the National Adoption Service website and the poignant words of those who know best. Colin and Carol say: 'There are children out there that need mums and dads and we were a couple who wanted to be a mum and dad.' Eileen says: 'Taking on three children at the same time is daunting, but it brought me incredible joy.' And Tony and Jacquie say: 'We have found it hard, but our two have given us the family we have always wanted. AND we'd do it again.' And, finally, the words of those who have been adopted. Firstly, the force that is Jamie Baulch. He says: 'I never really wanted to talk about adoption before because the time wasn't right. Now I'm happy to tell everyone how amazing my life has been. I'm older and wiser and look back on my life and realise how magical and fantastic it has been.' And, secondly, but equally importantly, from Nick, who says very simply, but very effectively: 'Being adopted is insignificant to me. But my parents mean everything.' So, tomorrow, I am looking forward to meeting two new prospective adopters to hear about their personal journey toward creating a new family. Today and this week is about recognising the success of adoption in Wales and I urge all Members to join me in celebrating and promoting adoption. Diolch, Llywydd.
Welsh: Mae bod yn rhiant yn ymrwymiad sylweddol ac yn gychwyn taith emosiynol sy'n dod â chymaint o fodlonrwydd. Ond fe wyddoch cystal â minnau nad yw bob amser yn syml bod yn rhiant ac y gall heriau godi, ac maen nhw'n codi. Ac, ar yr adegau hyn o her, efallai y bydd angen cymorth arnom ni sy'n ein galluogi i barhau i ddarparu amgylchedd cartref cariadus a sefydlog - cartref sy'n galluogi ein plant i ffynnu. Mae'r cymorth hwnnw ar gael ar sawl ffurf - boed yn ffrindiau neu deulu, grwpiau cymorth, neu gan amrywiaeth o wasanaethau cyffredinol ac arbenigol. Mae'n parhau i fod yn ysbrydoliaeth enfawr i mi yn bersonol bod unigolion yn parhau i ymrwymo eu hunain i ofalu am a chefnogi plant ledled Cymru. Hoffwn i dalu teyrnged arbennig heddiw i'r rhai hynny sydd eisoes wedi mabwysiadu, ac annog unrhyw un sy'n ystyried mabwysiadu i fynegi diddordeb. Ac rwyf hefyd yn dymuno cydnabod y rhan y mae gweithwyr proffesiynol a sefydliadau yn ei chwarae wrth gefnogi prosesau mabwysiadu ledled Cymru ac, yn olaf, hoffwn dynnu sylw at y camau a gymerir i alluogi a grymuso gwelliant yn y maes hwn. Darperir cymorth mwy ymarferol i blant a gaiff eu mabwysiadu, pobl ifanc a theuluoedd yn rhan o fframwaith cenedlaethol sy'n ysgogi cysondeb ac yn gwella canlyniadau. Mae pecyn cymorth wedi'i ddatblygu i gefnogi gweithwyr proffesiynol i ymgymryd â gwaith taith bywyd ym maes mabwysiadu. Mae'r pecyn cymorth wedi'i ddatblygu ar y cyd â phlant, pobl ifanc a mabwysiadwyr, i sicrhau y clywir llais plant a phobl ifanc a, thrwy eu profiadau bywyd, mae'n helpu i ffurfio a llywio gwelliannau pellach. Yn rhan o sbarduno'r agenda wella hon, rydym hefyd wedi comisiynu Gwasanaeth Mabwysiadu Cenedlaethol, yn gyntaf i arwain datblygiad y pecyn cymorth codi ymwybyddiaeth o iechyd sylfaenol a gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a'r glasoed, ac i sicrhau ymchwil i well tystiolaeth o'r rheswm pam mae darpar fabwysiadwyr yn dewis peidio â pharhau â'u ceisiadau. Sefydlwyd y Gwasanaeth Mabwysiadu Cenedlaethol ym mis Tachwedd 2014. Caiff ei arwain gan lywodraeth leol, yn unol â chyfrifoldebau cyfreithiol awdurdodau lleol o ran mabwysiadu, ac fe'i crëwyd mewn ymateb i argymhellion a wnaed gan bwyllgorau'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol ynghylch sut y dylid gwella gwasanaethau mabwysiadu. Ac mae gwelliant yn digwydd. Mae'r adroddiad blynyddol diweddaraf gan y Gwasanaeth Mabwysiadu Cenedlaethol yn cadarnhau bod plant yn cael eu lleoli yn gynt nag o'r blaen gyda theuluoedd sy'n mabwysiadu, bod bron traean o leoliadau yn grwpiau o frodyr a chwiorydd, wrth i frodyr a chwiorydd gael eu lleoli gyda'i gilydd, bod bron pob un o'r lleoliadau mabwysiadu yn barhaus a llwyddiannus, a bod mwy o bobl yn dymuno mabwysiadu. Felly, mae'r rhain yn ganlyniadau cadarnhaol a gaiff eu colli weithiau. A dyna pam mae heddiw a'r wythnos hon yn bwysig, oherwydd ei fod yn ein galluogi i roi pwyslais haeddiannol ar lwyddiannau mabwysiadu yng Nghymru a'u cydnabod. I barhau â'r daith o wella, mae angen rhagor o gydweithrediad a phartneriaeth i wella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant, ac i fynd i'r afael, ar y cyd, â'r profiadau andwyol yn ystod plentyndod sy'n effeithio ar blant, ni waeth beth fo'u cefndir neu strwythur teuluol. Dyna pam y mae mabwysiadu yn elfen annatod o fy rhaglen waith ar gyfer gwella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant, gyda chyngor fy ngrŵp cynghori gweinidogol. Mae meithrin lles emosiynol a chydnerthedd plant yn allweddol i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau maen nhw wedi'u hwynebu, ynghyd â rhoi'r sgiliau iddyn nhw adnabod ac ymdrin â sefyllfaoedd a digwyddiadau a all eu herio yn y dyfodol. Dyma sut y gall gwaith taith bywyd, sydd wedi gwella'n sylweddol ers sefydlu'r Gwasanaeth Mabwysiadu Cenedlaethol, helpu i ddarparu sylfaen gadarn i adeiladu arno a thyfu. Cydnabyddir y bydd plant sydd wedi'u lleoli ar gyfer mabwysiadu yn aml wedi cael profiad o drawma neu golled i ryw raddau yn eu bywydau ifanc. Yn yr un modd, gall meithrin perthynas â chysylltiad cadarn â phlentyn sydd wedi dioddef trawma fod yn heriol. Er mwyn cyflawni hyn, mae angen dulliau cydweithredol rhwng y partneriaid i ddarparu gwasanaethau di-dor ar draws iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, fel y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a minnau wedi pwysleisio dro ar ôl tro yn 'Cymru Iachach'. Ceir un enghraifft o hyn yn y de-ddwyrain lle mae grŵp cydweithredol rhanbarthol y de-ddwyrain o'r Gwasanaeth Mabwysiadu Cenedlaethol a Bwrdd Iechyd Aneurin Bevan wedi cydweithio i sicrhau gwell mynediad at fewnbwn seicoleg glinigol gan y gwasanaeth iechyd seicolegol i blant a theuluoedd. Ac rydym yn gwybod nad yw heriau a thrawma bob amser yn amlwg ar unwaith. Efallai na fyddan nhw'n dod i'r amlwg tan yn ddiweddarach yn natblygiad y plentyn. Dyna pam y mae'n hanfodol bod asiantaethau mabwysiadu yn parhau i ddarparu mynediad at eu gwasanaethau a chymorth i deuluoedd pan fydd heriau yn dechrau dod i'r amlwg. Mae atal ac ymyrraeth gynnar yn egwyddorion craidd ar draws gofal cymdeithasol ac iechyd, fel y mae cydweithredu a phartneriaeth hefyd. Rydym yn disgwyl i bartneriaid ddarparu dulliau system gyfan ddi-dor sy'n atal yr angen rhag gwaethygu ac yn lliniaru argyfwng. Er mwyn ein bod â gwell dealltwriaeth o sut a phryd y daw'r profiadau hyn i'r amlwg, ac i helpu i gasglu tystiolaeth o welliant a llywio gwelliant, rwy'n falch o gyhoeddi ein bod wedi comisiynu rhagor o waith gyda Phrifysgol Caerdydd sy'n parhau â'r astudiaeth o'r garfan mabwysiadu. Mae hon yn astudiaeth unigryw o bron i 400 o blant a fabwysiadwyd ar ôl bod mewn gofal, sy'n darparu lefel o fanylder am adfyd cynnar, ansawdd perthynas deuluol, iechyd seicolegol y plentyn, ac ati. Bydd y cam nesaf hwn yn ymgysylltu'n uniongyrchol â charfan o deuluoedd i archwilio eu profiadau o ffynonellau ffurfiol ac anffurfiol o gymorth mabwysiadu yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys lles seicolegol plant a phrofiadau plant yn yr ysgol, gan gynnwys anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Mae ein dull gweithredu yng Nghymru yn parhau i nodi a darparu amrywiaeth o gymorth mabwysiadu amserol i deuluoedd, yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth. Mae'r ddeddfwriaeth yn rhoi hawl i deuluoedd gael asesiad o'u hanghenion ar gyfer cymorth mabwysiadu ac mae'n rhoi pwerau i awdurdodau lleol ddiwallu'r anghenion hynny. Ar gyfer y rheini sy'n ystyried mabwysiadu, ni allaf gynnig gwell anogaeth na'ch cyfeirio'n uniongyrchol at y profiadau a'r hanesion teuluol sydd ar wefan y Gwasanaeth Mabwysiadu Cenedlaethol a geiriau ingol y rhai sy'n gwybod orau. Mae Colin a Carol yn dweud: 'Mae 'na blant mas 'na sydd angen mamau a thadau, ac roedden ni'n gwpl oedd eisiau bod yn fam a thad.' Mae Eileen yn dweud: 'Gall derbyn tri ar yr un pryd fod yn hynod anodd, ond mae wedi rhoi llawenydd anhygoel i mi.' Ac mae Tony a Jacquie yn dweud: 'Mae wedi bod yn anodd, ond mae'r ddau wedi rhoi'r teulu i ni yr oeddem ni wedi bod ei eisiau erioed. A byddem yn ei wneud eto.' Ac, yn olaf, geiriau'r rhai hynny sydd wedi eu mabwysiadu. Yn gyntaf, y grym sydd yn Jamie Baulch. Dywed ef: 'Doeddwn i erioed yn awyddus i siarad am fod yn blentyn a fabwysiadwyd tan fod yr amser yn iawn i wneud hynny. Nawr rwyf i'n hapus i ddweud wrth bawb fy mod i wedi cael magwraeth ardderchog. Rwy'n fwy aeddfed erbyn hyn ac wrth i mi edrych yn ôl ar fy mywyd rwyf i'n sylweddoli pa mor wych a rhyfeddol y mae wedi bod.' Ac, yn ail, ond yr un mor bwysig, Nick, sy'n dweud yn syml iawn, ond yn effeithiol iawn: 'Nid yw'r mabwysiadu'n golygu dim i mi, ond mae fy rhieni'n golygu popeth.' Felly, yfory, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gyfarfod â dau ddarpar fabwysiadwr newydd i glywed am eu taith bersonol tuag at greu teulu newydd. Diben heddiw a'r wythnos hon yw cydnabod llwyddiant mabwysiadu yng Nghymru, ac anogaf yr holl Aelodau i ymuno â mi i ddathlu a hyrwyddo mabwysiadu. Diolch, Llywydd.