Children Belong in Families

For too long, the world's lonely and vulnerable children have been forgotten and ignored. Millions of children are abandoned for a life on the streets or live with unsafe families or in soulless institutions. Now the tide is turning. Pioneers like Mick Pease and his remarkable charity SFAC lead a global movement for change. This insightful and uplifting book takes us on a journey that spans three decades and five continents. We meet judges and social workers, missionaries and aid workers, the children and families themselves. Mick asks tough questions, such as: Would you want your children in a safe family or in an institution? Would you want them to belong to something or to someone? He offers proven solutions for children separated from their families in widely different societies, from the hills of Myanmar to the sprawling cities of Brazil. SFAC supports measures to keep children in their families and communities or to find safe alternatives where this is not possible. The key is always the best interests of the child. It is an extraordinary journey from the Yorkshire coalfields to advocacy and influence in the corridors of power. It offers practical wisdom and a hope for the future. ""Mick's story will resonate with those who, like myself, desperately want to contribute to the protection and care of vulnerable children around the world. We all may not take on a national system of care, as he did in Brazil, but we all can do something to encourage the care for children in safe, loving families."" --Elli Oswald, Interim Executive Director, Faith to Action Initiative ""Wrapped within a humorous and personal narrative, this book contains a powerful illustration of how one man with a true passion for justice can create a ripple effect, reaching from the gutters of favelas to the offices of influential government agencies. Anyone who cares about children should read it."" --Helen Conway, District Judge ""Learning from their own mistakes, this book shows that families are the best place for children to be raised. Professional skills are needed to ensure that children's needs are met. As Mick asks, 'Would you want your own child to be cared for in an orphanage?' If not, why is this good enough for other children?"" --Ruth Barley, Sheffield Hallam University, UK ""From the coal mines of Yorkshire, to the favelas of Brazil, to the intolerable orphanages of Romania and Tajikistan, to the villages of Myanmar, this book will take you around the world as it follows a man with only one goal in his heart--the well-being of the world's vulnerable children. This book raises vital and urgent questions about orphanages and children's villages; it offers many practical examples of alternative forms of care. I commend it you warmly."" --Krish Kandiah, Founding Director of Home for Good ""Children flourish in families. I hope the inspirational account in this highly readable book encourages many more families from across the world to come forward to care for children who would previously have never experienced the love and joy which family life can uniquely provide."" --Fiona Bruce, Member of Parliament Mick Pease is founder and director of SFAC (Strengthening Families for Abandoned Children, SFAC.org.uk). He promotes and advocates family-based care for vulnerable children worldwide. A qualified social worker and former miner, he lives in Leeds, UK, with his wife Brenda. Philip Williams is a freelance marketing researcher and writer. He has worked in communications management for universities and colleges and won several writing prizes. He lives in Cheshire, UK, with his wife Penny.