There are hundred of children across the country who are waiting to be adopted at any time. In the 12 months to 31^st March 2006, 3,700 children were adopted across England and Wales. There are very few healthy white babies. However, we urgently need families to care for older children, children with a disability or who are able to adopt brothers and sisters who need to stay together. The majority of children are aged between 18 months and 8 years when placed for adoption.

Very occasionally children are relinquished or given up for adoption by their birth parents, so we are asked to find an adoptive family for them.

The vast majority of children can no longer live with their birth parents or extended birth family and this may be for a number of reasons, such as neglect, different types of abuse or family breakdown.

The decision to remove a child from the care of their birth family is not taken lightly and this is often why children are older when we are looking for adoptive families for them.

Most children being placed for adoption are cared for by foster carers prior to being placed for adoption, so their adoptive family is likely to be at least the third family the child will have lived in. These moves may lead to the child feeling unsettled and it may have an impact on their development.

What would I tell my child about their history?

Adopted children have the right to know about their origins and past history. Honesty and openness are known to assist with a child's sense of identity. Answer any questions honestly, but in a simple and straightforward manner and appropriate to the age of the child.

Your adopted child should also have a 'life-story book' with photographs and text outlining their early life. This should be made available for the child.

Do adopted children need to keep in contact with their birth families?

Most children who are adopted do need to maintain some form of contact with their birth families, although the type and amount of contact can vary considerably. This may be by letters, that are exchanged via the adoption agency or there may be regular face-to-face meetings, which would be most common for brothers and sisters who need to maintain their relationship.

If you were approved as an adoptive parent by Blackpool Council you would be expected to facilitate some form of contact for your adopted child if required.

For more useful information, please see our leaflet "Children's Guide to Adoption".