Adoption: Ethnic Groups

(asked on 4th November 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for Black children to be found an adoptive family.


Answered by
Vicky Ford Portrait
Vicky Ford
This question was answered on 9th November 2020

Ensuring the right adopters come forward for the children we have waiting for forever homes remains a priority for the government. That is why we have given Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) £1 million to develop a sector led recruitment campaign during the 2020-21 financial year. This campaign, launched on 16 September 2020, is challenging preconceived conceptions about who can adopt and encouraging more potential adopters to come forward.

Part of the campaign has a specific focus on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities through outreach work in two pilot areas, London and Birmingham. The RAAs are also funding the voluntary sector organisation, Home for Good, to run a triage service to support prospective adopters from these pilot areas. This will include a safe space to explore adoption and ask further questions, but also seek extra support during the process. Lessons learnt from this work will be spread to all RAAs and Voluntary Adoption Agencies.

The Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board regularly monitor adoption data including children who are waiting to be matched with a family. Ensuring children from BAME backgrounds are placed without delay is a priority for the Board.

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