Dad David, Baba Chris and Me
| Ed Merchant
This charming and affirming picture book for young children encourages an understanding and appreciation of same-sex parents, as well as showing that families come in all shapes and sizes.
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Dale's tale
| Helen Jayne
Published as part of the Our Story series, this is the story of Helen, a foster carer, and her family, and what happened when Dale joined their family as a foster child. But what was planned as a short-term foster placement soon became longer than expected, and inevitably the family grew attached to Dale, and he to them.
Frozen
| Mike Butcher
What happens when IVF goes wrong? Published as part of the Our Story series, in Frozen Mike Butcher recounts his, and his wife Lesley’s, experience of undergoing IVF treatment. But when Lesley suffers a near-fatal reaction to the treatment, the couple’s lives and plans for a family are thrown into turmoil. After an escalating series of setbacks and heartache, Mike and Lesley are almost resigned to giving up their dreams of parenthood – until they pick up a flyer from a local adoption agency.
Helping birth families
| Elsbeth Neil, Jeanette Cossar, Paula Lorgelly and Julie Young
This research study explores and evaluates the growing area of adoption support of birth families where a child has been adopted. It is based on data collected from eight agencies providing independent support services to birth relatives, and from interviews with 73 birth relatives with recent experience of losing a child to adoption.
Holding on and hanging in
| Lorna Miles
This compelling story, published as part of the Our Story series, tracks Wayne’s journey from first being fostered by Lorna at the age of nine, in a therapeutic fostering placement, through nearly four years of family life. Wayne is traumatised by his early experiences of neglect and domestic abuse. Even when surrounded by a team of experienced foster carers, counsellors and therapists, helping him grow and heal will be a long and difficult process. But Lorna and her family are determined not to give up hope…
Pathways to permanence for black, Asian and mixed ethnicity children
| Julie Selwyn, David Quinton, Perlita Harris, Dinithi Wijedasa, Shameem Nawaz and Marsha Wood
This pioneering study explores the care pathways of minority ethnic children in three authorities in England, and considers possible differences in decision making and outcomes for them, in comparison with white children, especially in relation to permanence. This study raises key questions about our understanding of ethnicity and culture and how these are reflected in and affect social work practice.
Preparing to adopt - Northern Ireland and Wales
| Pat Beesley, Barbara Hutchinson, Ian Millar and Sushila de Sousa
Preparing to adopt is a well-established and highly respected training resource which enables agencies to offer relevant, high quality and comprehensive preparation for people who wish to adopt, providing agencies in Wales and Northern Ireland with an agreed common curriculum for preparation courses. This Applicant’s workbook is an accessible, appropriate and easy to use resource that provides an inclusive and comprehensive approach to the preparation process.
Preparing to adopt - Northern Ireland and Wales
| Pat Beesley, Barbara Hutchinson, Ian Millar and Sushila de Sousa
Preparing to adopt is a well-established and highly respected training resource which enables agencies to offer relevant, high quality and comprehensive preparation for people who wish to adopt, and provides agencies in Wales and Northern Ireland with an agreed common curriculum for preparation courses. This Trainer’s guide includes a DVD containing film clips and a CD-ROM containing a PowerPoint presentation and hand-outs.
Special guardianship in practice
| Jim Wade, Jo Dixon and Andrew Richards
Since its introduction in 2006, special guardianship has become a well used option for finding permanence for children. But how is it working out in practice? This pioneering research study provides a critical assessment of the implementation of special guardianship, how it is being used, and the policy and practice issues that have arisen.