In the past five years, the number of children in the United Kingdom who have been returned to foster homes after being adopted has doubled. The increase comes in spite of an overall decrease in the number of adoptions:

Going back into care after living with an adoptive family is a traumatic experience for children, and for the adoptive parents. It is also a huge cost to an already over-stretched system with the children likely to need expensive specialist care. (Source: The Times)

The high number of children returning to foster care also reflects dramatic changes in adoption. Before the 1970s, most people adopted babies, but today the majority of children are placed for adopted after being removed from their homes due to neglect.

Charity organization Adoption UK is pushing for systemic changes that would focus less on the arduous adoption process and more on teaching parents how to deal with difficult children.

Labels: adopted children, failures

Posted By: Aspen/CRC