Press releases

Government Minister to address BAAF conference on adoption support

Issued: 26 January 2005

Lord Filkin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, will address a one-day BAAF conference, entitled "A new era in adoption support?" on Thursday 27th January

The Adoption and Children Act 2002 introduced a range of new measures to improve services to children and families after adoption. These were partially implemented in England on 31 October 2003 (and in Wales in April 2004). The final adoption support regulations and guidance, which will support implementation of the Act, are expected to be laid before Parliament in the near future and it is hoped the Act will be fully implemented by September 2005.

For the first time statutory duties were placed on local authorities to provide a range of adoption support services, appoint a specialist adoption support service adviser and undertake assessments of support needs of adopted children, adopters, birth parents and adults affected by adoption.

The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) is hosting a conference to find out from local authorities, adoptive parents, lawyers and adoption workers whether the new measures are working and what still needs to be done. Lord Filkin will talk about the government's expectations for adoption and support, and is expected to introduce new guidelines for social workers on how to support families. He said: "I am delighted that we are on track to reach our target of a 40% increase in adoptions by April. However, we cannot be complacent as it is vital that even more children are adopted and benefit from a stable and secure family life."

"To ensure the number of adoptions continues to rise, excellent adoption support will be essential. Adoption support is about getting better outcomes for children and young people, which is why we all have a duty to make it happen." Felicity Collier, chief executive of BAAF said: "Increasing numbers of children in care are being placed for adoption - these children have often experienced neglect or abuse and they can have many difficulties. Adoptive parents need a lot of support if these adoptions are going to be successful. We want to know if the new legislation is working and we hope Lord Filkin will convince us that the government will make the necessary investment needed to make a real difference to the lives of those people."

Ends

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Notes to Editor

1. The British Association for Adoption & Fostering is the UK's leading adoption and fostering charity. For more information about adoption, please contact 020 7593 2000 or visit www.baaf.org.uk
2. Lord Filkin will speak at 10am on Thursday 27 January 2005 at Woburn House Conference Centre, 20 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HQ.
3. Other speakers include: Annie Hudson, Head of Children's Services Bristol City Council and member of ADSS Children and Families Committee; Richard White, Partner, White & Sherwin Solicitors; Lynda Gilbert, Independent Consultant, Adoption UK; Dr Eugenia Ngwane; BAAF Vice-Chair and member of BAAF Health Group; Sarah Borthwick, Panel Chair and Independent Consultant; Maureen Crank, Director, After Adoption; Barry Luckock, University of Sussex; Dr Angie Hart, University of Brighton.