Adoption Support The impacts of traumatic experiences in early childhood can last a lifetime. Relationships, learning and health can all be affected. But with the right support, adopted people can thrive. Yet most adoptive families say they face a continual struggle to get the support they need, and adoptees continue to face this challenge into adulthood. That’s just not fair. Whether it’s specialist therapeutic help, support in school, help with tracing and birth family contact or peer support from others with lived experience, we owe it to adopted people and adopters to get them the right support at the right time, every time. Research Policy Campaigning Research For the past five years we’ve been surveying the adoption community across the UK about their experience of life as adopted people and adopters – particularly, the support they seek and receive. These surveys feed into the annual Adoption Barometer, a report that is taken very seriously by adoption agency leaders, politicians and other decision makers. The Barometer covers life from all perspectives – from prospective adopters right the way through to adopted adults. Read the Barometer for an in-depth analysis of adoption support and what needs to change. The Adoption UK Barometer Report Policy AUK paper on effective adoption support This paper outlines the principles of building an effective adoption support system. View PDF here Future of children's social care consultation In February the government set out its plans for the future of children’s social care, alongside three separate consultations inviting views from the sector, children and families: The implementation strategy: ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ (invites views from children and families) Plans for a children’s social care national framework (invites views from children and families) Proposals for the child and family social worker workforce The consultations close at 11.45PM on 11th May, 2023. More information Family Hubs and Adopted Families The ambition of Family Hubs is “a system-wide model of providing high-quality, whole-family, joined up family support services.” However, it is not clear that the needs of adoptive families have been included in the development of the model to date. Read our recommendations Latest news Adoption UK welcomes government proposals to remove barriers to support for adopted people and adopters Historic victory for the adoption community in Northern Ireland Adoption support lifeline for adoptive families receives £144m injection Campaigning Want to make a difference? Get involved with our campaigning Manage Cookie Preferences