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From The Times
November 6, 2007

Adoption myths linked to shortage

Rosemary Bennett

Public attitudes towards adoption are 40 years out of date, according to new research.

A study carried out for the British Association for Adoption and Fostering found that a minority (29 per cent) of people knew that most children seeking new homes had suffered neglect or abuse, while 41 per cent of respondents still thought that mothers “put up” their babies for adoption when they were born.

In reality, most children awaiting adoption have been removed from their homes by social workers because of emotional or physical neglect or abuse. Few are under the age of one by the time they are “approved” for adoption.

Until the 1960s, thousands of mothers gave up their babies for adoption, but this is now rare and there is a strong emphasis on keeping children with their natural parents if possible.

The association is concerned about a shortage of adoptive parents. This year 3,300 children were adopted, compared with 3,700 in 2006.

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