Press releases

Adoption Register success in finding families for children

Issued: 31st January 2007

Figures released today by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) reveal the Adoption Register for England and Wales is helping to match more children with adoptive families. The register matches children who tend to wait longer for adoption with approved adoptive families outside their geographical area.

Statistics from the register, which is operated by BAAF on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills and the Welsh Assembly Government, show that from December 2005 to November 2006, 157 children were placed as a direct result of links suggested by the Register - an increase of 44% on last year's figures. The number of children and prospective adopters referred to the Register is also rising - referrals of children increased by 4% (1,520) and referrals of prospective adopters increased by 10% (1,250). 

Andy Stott, Adoption Register Manager, says: "We're thrilled that the Register is helping to find more families for children waiting in care than ever before. We're beginning to see more adoption agencies using the Register at an early stage in the matching process. I'm confident that more children will be placed with families as a result of the Register successfully matching children with them."

Andy adds: "The Register has a vital role in helping to find families for children where a local family cannot be found for them. Our priority is to encourage more adoption agencies across the country to take advantage of the Register. We want to complement the regional work that agencies are already undertaking to make sure that all children and families have the best chance of finding a suitable match."

Notes for Editor:

The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) has taken stewardship of the Adoption Register on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills and the National Assembly for Wales since December 2004. 

The Register was set up in 2001 with the aim of increasing the number of children adopted each year. This national database contains the details of children needing adoption and of all approved families waiting to adopt. The Register staff then use the database to identify links between children and prospective families. For further information visit www.adoptionregister.org.uk

Additional figures:

In total 266 children have been matched at panel with families through the Adoption Register since December 2004: www.adoptionregister.org.uk 

109 children matched from December 2004 to November 2005

157 children matched from December 2005 to November 2006