CoramBAAF Conversations

Episode 39 | Encouraging adoption in Black African and Caribbean communities

Adoption rates vary significantly across different ethnic groups, with Black Caribbean and Black African children facing disproportionately longer waiting times. According to the Government’s Ending Racial Disparity report (2022), Black Caribbean children wait an average of 30 months for adoption, while Black African children wait 33 months—compared to the overall average of 21 months and just 20 months for White British children. 
Jennifer Kwakye is the Adoption Outreach Ambassador for Coram Ambitious for Adoption, an organisation dedicated to recruiting families who can meet the needs of children waiting for a permanent home. In her role, Jennifer works to raise awareness of adoption within African and Caribbean communities by engaging with local groups, organisations, and major employers. Through community outreach, online advocacy, and information events, she aims to challenge the disparities and stigmas surrounding adoption. 
In this conversation, Jennifer speaks with Jane Poore, CoramBAAF’s Adoption Consultant, about the importance of finding children a stable, loving home while preserving their cultural heritage and identity. They explore the challenges faced when recruiting Black adopters, and the vital support available for adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents. 
Adoption systems have historically been shaped by white-centric values, making the process less accessible and inclusive for families from diverse backgrounds. To truly address adoption disparities, Black adopters must see themselves represented in the workforce, and the system must evolve to be more inclusive of all cultures and identities.
Find out more: Episode 39 | Encouraging adoption in Black African and Caribbean communities | CoramBAAF

Adoption & Fostering journal #12 | Child to parent violence and aggression with Dr Morvwen Duncan and Hetty Verhagen

Dr Dennis Golm hosts a conversation between Morvwen Duncan and Hetty Verhagen about child to parent violence and aggression. They combine their research, practice and experiences of working with children and their families to explore the topic. 
Dr Morvwen Duncan is a Principal Clinical Psychologist and researcher, currently working across the NHS in a Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team and in private practice at The Lotus Psychology Practice. Dr Duncan talks with us about her research exploring primary and secondary trauma in adoptive parents. 
Hetty is an independent Therapeutic Social Worker, a lecturer in social work at the University of Leeds, and the author of Parenting Matters: Parenting a child affected by child to parent violence and aggression. Her background is in adoption and fostering services, and worked in an adoption support team and was part of the team that set up adoption support at adoption matters. 
This episode was inspired by Morvwen’s article in Adoption & Fostering journal, from Volume 48 Issue 2. Members, sign in to read the article for free. 

Adoption & Fostering journal #11 | Vol.48 Issue 3 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Vicky Walker

Dr Dennis Golm (Journal Editor) and Vicky Walker (Production Editor) introduce Volume 48 Issue 3-4 of our 'Adoption & Fostering' journal. The final instalment of Volume 48 is a bumper issue, containing eight research articles.
Wellbeing, adolescence and the role of the government are key themes in this edition. For more information about the journal or the table of contents for the issue, visit our website. Members, remember to sign in to access the journal.
www.corambaaf.org.uk

Adoption & Fostering journal #10 | Vol.48 Issue 2 introduction with Dr Dennis Golm and Jo Francis

Dr Dennis Golm (Journal Editor) and Jo Francis (Publications Manager) introduce Volume 48 Issue 2 of our Adoption & Fostering journal.  
They talk us through Dennis' editorial about ‘Breaking the taboo: Let’s talk about child-to-parent violence’, and talk us through each article in this issue. 
For more information about the journal or the table of contents for the issue, click here. Members, remember to sign in to access the journal.

Episode 38 | The AFDiT Framework

Dr Tam Cane joins Jane Poore, CoramBAAF Adoption Consultant, to talk about the Adoption Framework for Diversity and Inclusion in Transracial adoption, also known as the AFDiT Framework The framework is an initiative by Adoption England, in collaboration with the University of Sussex and The British Academy.
It aims to improve positive identity outcomes for children in transracial adoption. It was developed through a process of co-creation involving social work practitioners, individuals with lived experiences of transracial adoption, and organisations including CoramBAAF and Adoption South East. The AFDiT Framework is seen as a groundbreaking publication that underscores the commitment to enhancing the adoption experience and ensuring better support for children and families involved in transracial adoption.
Dr Tam Cane is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex. Dr Tam Cane's research interests centre around HIV reproductive health and adoption. Over the past few years, she has researched and published peer-reviewed articles around HIV-related reproductive health, adoption, problematic and unhealthy alcohol misuse and contextual safeguarding.
Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk!
Intro and outro music by MoodMode - Groovy Ambient Music: https://pixabay.com/music/funk-groovy-ambient-funk-201745/

Episode 37 | My adoption journey with Al Coates

In celebration of National Adoption Week, Jane Poore is joined by Al Coates. They talk about a range of elements that were a part of Al’s journey as a parent, adopter, foster carer, and social worker. In 1999, Al and his wife Paula adopted a sibling group of three, later expanding their family by adopting two children they had fostered, followed by their sibling in 2013
Al became a qualified social worker in 2013 and, two years later, advanced to the role of a social work practice educator. With over 20 years of experience working with adoptive families and foster carers, he has dedicated his career to training and advising parents and carers on managing challenging behaviours in children.
Drawing on both his personal and professional experiences, Al is also a qualified advanced non-violent resistance practitioner, specialising in supporting families facing difficult dynamics. Beyond his hands-on work, Al is a passionate advocate for adoption-related issues, lobbying for change and raising awareness. He hosts the weekly Adoption & Fostering Podcast and contributes articles on topics such as childhood challenging, violent, and aggressive behaviour.
Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk!
Intro and outro music by MoodMode - Groovy Ambient Music: https://pixabay.com/music/funk-groovy-ambient-funk-201745/

Episode 36 | FRG’s Lifelong Link and Build Not Break campaign

Join us as we explore the Build Not Break campaign with our guests. In this episode hosted by James Bury, Head of Policy, Research and Development, we delve into the inspiring work of the Family Rights Group (FRG) and their mission to support children and young people in care.  
Special guests Andrew, Saima, and Sandra will share their experiences with the innovative Build Not Break campaign, which aims to ensure care-experienced individuals have enduring, positive relationships. We’ll discuss initiatives like Lifelong Links, connecting children with relatives, former carers, and other significant individuals to foster a stronger sense of identity and stability. Tune in for powerful stories, expert insights, and practical advice on building supportive relationships for those in care. 
Andrew is a family group conference and Lifelong Links practice adviser at Family Rights Group, with years of experience in education and child welfare. He specialises in training practitioners to support the relationships of children, young people, and families; strategic development; and system change. Andrew is committed to improving the lives of people who experience the sharp end of children’s social care. 
Saima is a young care care-experienced person with lived experience of Lifelong Links. Saima and her sister were in care and had limited time with their family. Lifelong Links increased the number of connections and the quality of their relationships while helping them understand their rights. 
Sandra is a Lifelong Links coordinator and a Life Story facilitator. She exemplifies the importance and the connection that Life Story work has in relation to Lifelong Links. Sandra endorses the importance of connection vicariously through young people. 
At the end of the episode, we have included a jingle about Lifelong links created by the Lifelong Links team at Brighton and Hove Council. The song features a fantastically talented care experienced young person Maddie Hughes. 
Find out more at corambaaf.org.uk!

Episode 35 | The kinship assessment process: listening to carers

For Kinship Care Week, Ann Horne interviewed Clare Seth about their work on the new Form K (previously known as Form C) due to be launched in January 2025. Clare shares the feedback from focus groups, including the voices of kinship carers, and how they used this to inform the development of Form K. Form K is currently being piloted within 10 local authorities across the UK. CoramBAAF hopes the revised form will improve the assessment experience for kinship carers.  We hope it will enable relationship-based assessment practice that captures their strengths and vulnerabilities, and what is important to them as a family.  
To find out more about accessing CoramBAAF forms, and forms licensing, click here.
Ann Horne, our Kinship Care Consultant, has 20 years' experience as a social worker in children's services, with 14 years focused on kinship care. She co-managed a kinship care team in Brighton & Hove, contributed to best practice models, and helped shape national kinship assessment policies. Ann also developed comprehensive support services for kinship carers. 
Clare Seth, also our Kinship Care Consultant, is a qualified social worker with over 20 years' experience in children’s services, specialising in kinship care and adoption assessment and support. She has managed teams in Brighton & Hove and worked as a freelance social worker for the last four years, focusing on kinship. Clare is also a qualified trainer with experience delivering support programmes in Sussex.
 

Access and support rights to children's social care files: in conversation with Leonie Sheedy

Leonie is the CEO and co-founder of Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN). She is an advocate for the rights of care leavers and people who are victims of institutional abuse. Leonie has given several major presentations including at the UN in Geneva and received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2007.
 
Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/access-records/childrens-social-care-files/access-and-support-rights-childrens-social

Access and support rights to children's social care files: in conversation with Frank Golding

Frank Golding is an author, researcher, activist and historian. His childhood as a Ward of the State of Victoria in Australia in the ‘care’ of three foster mothers and three institutions underpins his active involvement in Care Leaver issues as an advocate and lobbyist.
Find out more: https://corambaaf.org.uk/resources/access-records/childrens-social-care-files/access-and-support-rights-childrens-social