Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children’s Post

At the core of Adoption England's new three-year strategy is modernising adoption to better serve children and families. Sarah Johal MBE, Adoption England Strategic Lead, highlights the focus: 'Over the next three years this #AdoptionEngland strategy will prioritise recruiting adopters from diverse communities, matching children with their permanent family in a timely way, ensuring that those whose lives have been impacted by adoption are listened to, maintaining relationships that are important to adopted people, and supporting adopted people and their families when they need it.' 📄 Download our detailed strategy here: https://lnkd.in/eGv88rGG

Article 21 of the UNCRC states that, "States Parties that recognize and/or permit the system of adoption shall ensure that the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration..." This underlines the centrality of best interest determination in adoption especially in judicial decision making which marks the last gatekeeping point in the adoption process. This recent court ruling in Kenya demonstrates the application of the principle. In this case, the court relying on article 186(5) of the Children Act 2022 approved an application by a couple, one of whom was above the maximum allowable age of 65, citing the best interest of the child. The article allows for exemptions to this requirement under special circumstances. In this case, the court argued that the couple had bonded well with the child and that they were already adoptive parents to another child. Specifics of the case aside, this example demonstrates the potential of documented adoption court rulings for the analysis and interrogation of the interpretation and application of the best interest principle in arguably the most crucial and consequential gatekeeping mechanism in the adoption process.

It was inspiring and exciting to spend the morning collaborating with practitioners, academics, sector leaders, policymakers and, most importantly, people with lived expertise of child protection and out of home care services, at the first Family Inclusion Roundtable, hosted by the University of Newcastle Centre for Law & Social Justice. What is family inclusion? Put simply, it’s the active and meaningful involvement and participation of children, parents, extended family and kin in family strengthening and child protection processes at policy and practice levels, with the intention of maintaining and strengthening their connections and valuable ongoing role in children’s lives. Simple to say, but challenging to embed in systems and structures that aren’t built to prioritise it. Right the way through the service continuum for vulnerable families, there are opportunities to improve responsiveness, respect and active involvement of families in decision-making about their own futures. More hopeful still was the commitment by many of those present to continue to work together to establish a new Family Inclusion Alliance to continue The important work of integrating research, practice wisdom and lived experience and advocating for system reform and service development that furthers family inclusion in practice. Massive thanks and congratulations to Nicola Ross, Dr Wendy Lee Foote, Jessica Cocks, Shantelle Common, Deb Swan, Family Inclusion Strategies in the Hunter (FISH) and the many others who worked together to bring the Roundtable to fruition. Interested in being part of the solution? 📷 Use the QR Code below to register your interest in keeping the momentum For Family inclusion going. ♻️ Repost to get the word out and connect with others who are interested in driving positive change and social justice. #FamilyInclusion #DignityDrivenPractice #ChildProtectionNSW #OutOfHomeCare #LivedExperience #SocialJustice

This is a detailed and impassioned plea for the recognition and rights of adoptees, particularly those who have experienced forced adoption. It addresses the systemic suppression of adoptee voices and the dichotomies in adoption practices and presents hypothetical writs from adoptees to governance, society, and family, outlining their demands for acknowledgment, legislative action, breaking stigmas, inclusive language and representation, supportive family structures, and recognition of identity. The text emphasizes the need for comprehensive support services, legislative reforms, and a national commitment to truth and reconciliation regarding forced adoptions. It also highlights the complex and deeply rooted issues that contribute to the suppression of adoptee voices, including social stigma and shame, power dynamics and authority, lack of education and awareness, legal and institutional barriers, institutional practices, global power dynamics, cultural taboos, lack of support networks, generational impact, and societal expectations. The last question is: "Can your family and close friends talk openly and freely about adoption?" #Adoption #HumanRights #Family #systemicchange #changethestory #adopteevoices #USA #AMERICA #australia #auspol Australian Human Rights Commission Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care HumanAbility Ltd Anthony Albanese

Myself and Alexandra McCarthy were recently invited to speak on a panel at St. Scholastica’s College, an all girls high school - the theme was “Voice of the Voiceless/Voices of Advocacy” , and how those on the panel can share their story in respect to how they are a voice of advocacy in their community to educate students. I was definitely nervous at first!  but knew we had something valuable to share with the young women and men of our next generation. It was a fantastic opportunity to continue to spread the word about Wildflowers - what we do and what we stand for, and educate our younger generation as they are the ones who are going to help make the changes we need in the world- the next thought leaders. For us this is incredibly important in regard to mental health and disability - reducing the stigma and spreading awareness is work that there is a continuous need for. My advice to students on Advocacy was to explore every thought you have, because every thought you have may present an opportunity. But even if nothing comes from a thought or passion, that’s still okay because you have learnt from the experience, and it is trying and failing over and over that eventually leads to success. We were asked about the challenges we experienced on our journey - a big one for me was that great ideas don’t always have a positive uptake. Sometimes we have these great ideas and we implement them, but we don’t see what we expected. So it’s important to reflect, go back to the community and ask “What could we do differently next time? What do you need?” - going back to ones lived experience, being in their shoes, and then hearing that feedback and advocating for that to make change in future offerings. When I was asked what success looked like to me, it really came down to the community trust we have built. Initially a lot of our referrals and intakes when we started Wildflower Holistic Services came through other health professionals like GP’s, and schools etc. Now, a large percentage of our referrals come through word of mouth, which is a reflection of our success in meeting our communities needs - what we are offering and how valuable they find our service. Our journey in advocacy continues to inspire and motivate us, and we hope to instil the same passion in the next generation of thought leaders.

Adoption shapes past, present, and future, fostering self-acceptance and happiness. Explore the adoption journey of AFTH's very own Jackie and Christian! #AdoptionStories #Adoption https://lnkd.in/dWu83qpR

Empowering Child Amputees: The Journey to a Brighter Future Imagine a child facing the daunting challenge of disability, standing on the verge of giving up on their dreams and education. This was the stark reality for many child amputees until a transformational partnership began to unfold. On October 16th, 2023, we celebrate the Limb Empowerment Project Handover Event, marking a significant step in their journey towards a brighter future. The IREDE Foundation joined forces with Action for Change and Empowerment (ACE) to create transformative solutions for these children. The essence of the Limb Empowerment Project Handover Event goes beyond a mere gathering. It's a testament to the transformation that can occur when organizations unite with a shared purpose. By providing these young champions with the limbs they need, we're not just restoring their mobility – we're unlocking their potential and allowing them to return to school with newfound hope. As we continue to extend our mission to empower child amputees and their families, we invite more like-minded organizations and individuals to join us. Together, we can create a world where every child's potential knows no bounds. #EmpowerChildAmputees #CreatingBrighterFutures #ACEPartnership #LimbEmpowerment #TIFACEHandover

Max Stanford, Coram's head of Impact and Evaluation, writes on new Coram research identifying the barriers and drivers of early permanence adoption placements in London. Our report concludes a more co-ordinated and systematic approach is needed for fostering and adoption, read now on Children & Young People Now. #BetterChancesforChildren #WeAreCoram #EarlyPermanence https://lnkd.in/ghENKPmB

Embracing Adoption as a Gateway to the Extended Human Family: The journey from being orphaned through adoption is a profound one that encapsulates the human capacity for resilience and growth. http://ow.ly/M9SU30sC8cf

Embracing Adoption as a Gateway to the Extended Human Family: The journey from being orphaned through adoption is a profound one that encapsulates the human capacity for resilience and growth. http://ow.ly/M9SU30sC8cf