Why are so many adoptive families in the UK breaking down?

Families struggle with traumatized children and often face blame and insufficient support from authorities.

What is the scale of the adoption breakdown crisis in the UK?

More than 1,000 adopted children have been returned to care in the UK over the past five years.

Are UK authorities failing adoptive parents?

Parents report being threatened, blamed, and pushed into mental health crises by authorities.

Home / Crime and Justice / Adoption Crisis: UK Families Face Ruin

Adoption Crisis: UK Families Face Ruin

28 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Over 1,000 adopted children returned to care in five years.
Parents report threats, blame, and mental health struggles.
Authorities allegedly offer little support to struggling families.

A hidden crisis is fracturing adoptive families across the UK, with over 1,000 children returned to care in the past five years. Investigations reveal parents subjected to lies and blame by authorities, pushing them to breaking points. Many families struggle with traumatized children who have experienced prior abuse.

Parents recount harrowing experiences, including threats, harassment, and severe mental health impacts. One adopted teenager believes with more support, his family might still be together today. These accounts paint a stark picture of systemic failures within the adoption system.

This breakdown has led some couples to label the situation a 'national scandal,' questioning the current suitability of adoption practices. The findings suggest a critical need for increased support and a re-evaluation of how authorities handle complex adoption cases.

This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.