No turning back?

Adoptions are increasingly breaking down due to the lack of support services available to adoptive parents. The Dept of Health has failed to focus on long-term support despite referring to adoption as irrevocable in its White Paper. Older children accounted for 88% of the 7,000 children adopted during 1977-1991, while older children are more likely to suffer long-term problems. Adoption agencies criticise the lack of support for parents adopting severely damaged children. Lack of respite care or therapy is thought by some to lead to disruption.