Adoption: Children Needing a Family

Who are the children waiting to be adopted? 

Children from all racial and cultural backgrounds need families. 

Some who need adoption are babies, many are older children and others are brothers and sisters who want to grow up together. Some may have physical disabilities, learning difficulties or medical conditions. Others may have been abused or neglected. Many have complex backgrounds and need lots of extra time and attention. Often older children, children with disabilities or from minority ethnic groups wait the longest.

Why do children need to be adopted? 

A small number of babies are placed for adoption soon after birth at the request of their birth parents.  Many more children are taken into care by social workers due to issues of neglect or abuse.  Foster carers look after the children while a social worker works with the birth family to see if things can change so that they can return home.  Most children do return home.  But for some children returning home is not in their best interests and social workers will look for the option that can provide an alternative permanent home.  This may mean the child is placed for adoption. 

You can read more about preparing children for adoption and finding a suitable family on a separate page.