Some of these children will be in Foster Care, some will be in group homes. None will presently be living with their original, or Birth Family.

In the UK, if a Birth Family is unable to care for their child, but there is still a possibility that Parent and Child may be re-united, then that child will be looked after within a Foster Family. These children are not normally 'available' for Adoption.

There are families where, for a variety of reasons, there is no possibility of the child returning - at least as a child. The reasons may include death or permanent total incapacity of the Parent, where the child has been legally removed from the Birth Family for reasons of culpable neglect, or where physical, sexual or emotional abuse is proved.

More often than not a combination of some, even all of these factors are evident. It is these Children who, without the security of a loving and totally committed Family of their own, are

Children are not possessions!

They are real, unique, personalities that need love, understanding and, above all, acceptance.

Each child is an individual. What one child expects, or hopes for, may be quite different to another.

Many children really don't know what to expect. Their experience of Family Life may have been neglectful, abusive or hurtful. This is what they expect.

Don't be surprised if your Child's initial view of you is tinged with a palpable cynicism.

The Child, having little else to 'go on', will expect nothing other than that which you expect of yourself.

Easy? Beware! Do you really know what you expect of yourself?

What all children hope, deep down, is that any Family with whom they are placed will care about

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