Foster parents are warning that recent efforts to reintroduce children to their biological parents after several years of no contact could be traumatic. Those who spoke to Times of Malta over the past few days are concerned about the “lack of sensitivity” by the board that is responsible of reviewing the situation of children in care and makes recommendations about such contact. The Minor Protection (Alternative Care) Act, which regulates this board, was implemented in July. John Rolé, who has worked with children in care for over 40 years, acknowledged the importance of keeping in touch with biological relatives. However, this is not always beneficial for children who have not been in contact with their family for years. “These children would have gone through a ‘bereavement phase’, and some would have also gotten closure over the ‘loss’ of their biological parents. “While reintroducing contact after a short period of time is understandable, when we try to do the same for children who have been in care for a long time, we are just pulling the rug from under their feet. And at the end of the day, it is foster carers who will have to pick up the pieces.” Rolé, who helped set up...