Resources list
Below we have brought together a list of resources for professionals.
Key CVAA Publications
- CVAA Strategy 2024-27
- A home for me – Sonnet Advisory/CVAA analysis of the value of adoption
- My people – a vision for a new network and hub to support adopted children’s relationships with those that matter to them
- CVAA response to the Public Law Working Group report on Adoption
Best practice guides and training resources
Click here for the latest training sessions on offer from CVAA focused on a range of practice areas.
Maintaining relationships
ARC Adoption NE – ARCBOX – a digital life story tool for children and families
Family Futures – Executive Summary of Framework for Contact for children who are fostered, in special guardianship/ kinship care placements or adopted
National Adoption Service / AFA Cymru – Good practice Guide on contact
PAC-UK – Research briefing on maintaining relationships with birth families
The fostering – Network Top tips for foster carers regarding your role in supporting positive contact for children and young people in your care
Research in Practice – resources for practitioners working on post-adoption contact plans
Research in Practice – learning resources and events on contact
Research in Practice – Life Story Work, Practice Tool
Matching
Adoption England – National Practice Standards for Matching
Adoption England – AFDiT Transracial Adoption Framework
Coram – Guide to matching
Early permanence
Adoption England – Early Permanence Resources for Professionals
Coram Centre for Early Permanence – Good practice guidance
Coram Centre for Early Permanence – answers to FAQs from practitioners
Adoption Support
Adoption England – Adoption support resources
Adopt Cymru – Adoption support good practice guide
Department for Education – Guidance on the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund
Coram Baaf – Blueprint for adoption support
Family Adoption Links – Centre for Adoption Support videos covering a range of issues for adopters and professionals
Adoption UK – Report on Strengthening Families: improving stability for adopted children
Research in Practice – Reflections on accessing care records
Key external reports and resources
- Department for Education – The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care
- Department for Education – Stable homes, built on love
- Department for Education – Kinship Strategy
- Department for Education – Ending racial disparity in adoption
- Ofsted thematic inspection of RAAs
- Independent evidence review of post-adoption support interventions
- PAC-UK Big Consult
- Public Law Working Group: adoption sub-group report 2023
- Scottish Government (2021) Keeping brothers and sisters together
- Scottish Government – Keeping the Promise implementation plan
- Adopt Cymru – National Adoption Service 2023/24 Progress Report
- Adoption England – Insights Report on Panel Ethnic Diversity within RAAs in England
- Adoption England – International Scoping Review LGBTQ+ Communities and Adoption
- Adoption England – Placing children with disabilities with adoptive families
- Adoption England Strategy 2024-27
Statistics and data
Coram Children’s and Social Care Secretariat data (ASG data):
- Coram-i provides quarterly data updates looking at timeliness of adopter approvals and of linking and matching.
- ASG Data Reports
Department for Education (DfE) – Children looked after in England including adoption: 2022 to 2023
- This comprehensive report provides statistics on looked after children at both national and local authority levels, including details on children adopted from care.
- Children looked after in England including adoption: 2023 to 2024
Adoption UK – The Adoption Barometer 2024
- This annual survey offers an in-depth look at the experiences of adoptive families.
- The Adoption Barometer 2024
Home for Good – Statistics on Children in Care
- Provides detailed statistics on children in care, including those waiting for adoption, with a focus on different regions within the UK.
- Home for Good – Statistics
Adoptions in Wales, 2022-23
- Offers statistics and reports on adoptions in Wales, including the number of children adopted and their average waiting times.
- Adoptions in Wales data
Northern Ireland – Children in Care Statistics
- Provides data on children in care and adoption in Northern Ireland, including recent trends and changes in adoption numbers.
- Children in Care Statistics Northern Ireland
Scotland
- Looked After Children – Children’s Social Work Statistics
- Statistics & Quarterly Reports – Scotland’s Adoption Register
Support and advocacy organisations
CoramBAAF (British Association for Adoption and Fostering)
- Provides resources, training, and support for adoption professionals and prospective adopters.
- CoramBAAF
Adoption UK
- A charity providing support, community, and advocacy for adoptive families.
- Adoption UK
PAC-UK
- PAC-UK offers a wide range of services to children and families, including comprehensive training workshops and seminars for adoptive parents.
- PAC-UK
You Can Adopt
- A national campaign aiming to raise awareness of adoption and encourage more people to consider it.
- You Can Adopt
Home for Good
- A Christian charity seeking to find homes for children in the care system by mobilizing the church community.
- Home for Good
New Family Social
- A UK network for LGBT+ adoptive and foster families, providing support and advocacy.
- New Family Social
First4Adoption
- Offers advice and information for people interested in adopting in England.
- First4Adoption
Beacon house
- Beacon House provides a range of assessments and therapies for children and young people, families, and adults, who are experiencing mental health difficulties, emotional and behavioural problems, and relationship conflict.
- Beacon House
Children and Trauma Community Hub
- Children and Trauma Community Hub (formerly The Adopter Hub) is an online platform providing support to adopters, foster carers, special guardians, and the professionals that work with them.
- CATCH
National Association of Therapeutic Parents
- The National Association of Therapeutic Parents (NATP) is a helpful space for adoptive parents that provides support, education, and resources as you move along on your parenting journey.
- National Association of Therapeutic Parents