In today's news, the BBC published the findings of their Freedom of Information request into adoptions that have broken down. 

Sadly more adopters tell us that their families are in crisis than ever before, and the number of children leaving the family home prematurely has more than doubled since before Covid. 

These situations are devastating for everyone involved in the family, not least the child who will have already faced trauma and disruption in their earliest years of life.

Despite huge investment in wider children’s social care, we are not seeing the same level of commitment to adopted and kinship children. 

In spite of a manifesto commitment to adoption support, there have been cuts to specialist therapy for adoptive families, putting more families at risk of breakdown.

Adoption UK is calling for a full review of adoption support and a system that delivers proper assessments of need with a commitment to deliver the support highlighted – something that is now the law in Northern Ireland. We also need professionals across public services including in schools and mental health services who are specifically trained in the needs of those with care experience, including understanding trauma.

Anyone is welcome to call our Information and Advice Line including adoptees, adopters, kinship carers, professionals and members of support networks. 

0300 666 0006