BAAF Scotland - News , meetings and press releases

This page details the most recent news from our office, future committee meetings and press releases.

Adoption & Children (Scotland) Act 2007

The programme of work to achieve the successful implementation of the legislation was announced at BAAF’s Legal Group Conference held on June 13 at Discovery Point, Dundee.  It is hoped that the necessary regulations and guidance will be developed over the next few months with a training programme scheduled for the beginning of 2009.  BAAF and The Fostering Network (tFN) have been awarded the contract to develop and then deliver the training programme.

Speaking about the contract, Barbara Hudson, BAAF’s Scottish Director said,

“We are delighted to have been asked to undertake this work and believe that this is a unique opportunity to influence the way in which practitioners make permanent plans for children.  There are some excellent provisions within the legislation which have the potential to improve both the planning for, and support to, children in permanent fostering or adoptive placements.  We also want to take this opportunity to highlight the positive outcomes for children of adoption. 

The adoption policy review which led to the development of this legislation was unequivocal in its support of adoption as a planning option for children.  We want to ensure that we do not lose sight of this aspiration”.

A fond farewell!

Ian Millar, who has been a trainer/consultant with BAAF Scotland since 1997 retired at the end of June.  Ian began his career in social work in Glasgow some 42 years ago and throughout his time working in Scotland and for a brief period in England, has specialised in children and families work, including fostering and adoption.

Ian has a formidable reputation as a trainer/consultant and his passion, professionalism and wealth of experience have helped many practitioners and carers to make a positive difference to the lives of children.

A ceilidh, held in Edinburgh was one of the many events to celebrate his work.  A book of memories was presented to him by BAAF Scotland Director, Barbara Hudson.

“Changing children’s lives” CD-Rom launched by the West of Scotland Consortium

The West of Scotland Family Placement Consortium launched a new CD-Rom “Changing Children’s Lives” at the Glasgow Film Theatre at the start of National Adoption Week.  The CD-Rom is aimed at encouraging potential adopters and foster carers across the West of Scotland to come forward to adopt/foster sibling groups and/or older children.

The CD-Rom features a short film about 3 West of Scotland families who adopted groups of brothers and sisters talking frankly about the changes in their lives, with comments from the children about what it means to have a family and to be able to stay together with their brothers or sisters.  Its is also designed to provide easy access to information, in the form of questions and answers, for families who want to know more about adoption and fostering.

The families who were featured in the CD-Rom were invitied to come along with the Consortium members who commissioned this piece of work, Peter Willman, Scottish Executive and Cathie McQueen, Care Commission  to view it for the first time and were all very impressed with the end result.  After the viewing of the short film the children were invited to view the projection box, which they all really enjoyed.

Copies of the CD-Rom, and advice about adoption and fostering, are available from local authority social services departments.

BAAF Scotland Annual Review 2006 to 2007

2006 to 2007 was another busy and eventful year for BAAF Scotland. Read about the achievements by downloading the pdf.

Beyond Caring

This report was carried out by BAAF and Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance. It is an examination of the circumstances of a sample of ‘looked after and accommodated’ Black and minority ethnic children in Scotland.

Download the report as a pdf.

Committee Meeting Dates 2008

Scottish Committee - Facilitator: Barbara Hudson
10 September
3 December

Practice Development Forum – Facilitator:  Ravinder Kaur
16 September
11 November

Panel Chairs Forum – Facilitator:  Pat Hutchison
24 October

Press releases

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