LGBTQ+ Fostering & Adoption Week runs from 6-12 March. The week is hosted by New Family Social to raise awareness and encourage the LGBTQ+ community to consider adoption or fostering.
We have hand picked some of our materials and resources to share during #LGBTQ+AdoptionandFosteringWeek that relate to adoption, fostering and kinship specifically from an LGBTQ+ perspective.
Supporting the LGBTQ+ community to become foster carers
We recently hosted an Exploring Expertise webinar in association with Proud 2B Parents. The session focused on how professionals can support the LGBTQ+ community to become foster carers. Members can watch this webinar again
Watch againThe focus for 2023 is to consider adopting or fostering single children or those in sibling groups with '1, 2, 3, or more?' the theme for the week. Below are just two of the upcoming sibling related training we're running in the coming months.
Exploring Expertise: Reflecting on sibling reunion - a professional and personal journey
11 April 2023 | 11.30am - 1pm | Zoom
In this session Denise McLean, experienced social worker and chair of CoramBAAF's Black Workers Support Group, will be sharing her experiences of sibling reunion and meeting some of her siblings for the first time as an adult, and reflecting on this from both her personal and her professional perspective.
Sibling Assessments: Beyond, together or apart
25 April 2023 | 10am - 4pm | Zoom
This open course will offer a comprehensive approach to undertaking sibling assessments. Most importantly it will explore how to gain the views of the children, observe sibling interactions and draw conclusions on the quality of sibling relationships as well as focusing on the individual needs of each child and of the sibling group.
CoramBAAF publications
All Books
Things foster carers need to know: Young People and Sexuality
How can you help a young person in your care to develop healthy attitudes to sexual relationships? What about sexting and keeping safe online? What can you do to encourage safe sex and further an understanding of consent?
Read more
The pink guide to adoption for lesbians and gay men
NEW REVISED AND UPDATED 2020 EDITION How easy is it for lesbian and gay couples to adopt? Can we adopt jointly? Is the adoption process any different from heterosexual adoption? The pink guide to adoption answers these and many more questions. It is an essential step-by-step guide for lesbians and gay men who are considering adoption in the UK
Read more
Recruiting, assessing and supporting lesbian and gay adopters
This Good Practice Guide provides practical guidance, information, advice and signposts to further resources to help agencies and practitioners to welcome lesbian and gay applicants, and work effectively to assess and support them.
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Proud parents
This is a compelling collection of stories of lesbians and gay men who have adopted or fostered children. Single and in partnerships, they share their experiences on a number of issues and write about life as an adoptive family.
Read more
Check out our other books and publications:
- Beyond together or apart - Planning for, assessing and placing sibling groups, Shelagh Beckett (2021)
- Practice Note 69. Assessing and supporting transgender foster carers and adopters, Claire Brown, Charlotte Andrew and Paul Adams (2018)
- Becoming Dads, Pablo Fernandez (2011)
- Is it True you have Two Mums?, Ruby Clay, (2011)
- Dad David, Baba Chris and Me, Ed Merchant, (2010)
- Josh and Jaz have Three Mums, Hedi Argent, (2007)
Read our journal articles
Did you know members members have free access to all issues of the journal dating back to 1977? Just sign into your website account to receive access. Here are some journal articles from previous issues that delve into topics that involve the LGBTQ+ community:
- Polek, E., & McCann, D. (2020). The feasibility and effectiveness of a time-limited psychodynamic couple-focused therapy for adoptive parents: preliminary evidence from the Adopting Together project.
- Open access to all - Cane, T. C. (2020). Recognising resilience factors among people living with HIV seeking to adopt
- Dambach, M. (2011). The International Legal Context Governing Intercountry Adoptions by Gay Men and Lesbians.
- Cocker, C., & Brown, H. C. (2010). Sex, Sexuality and Relationships: Developing Confidence and Discernment When Assessing Lesbian and Gay Prospective Adopters.
- Brown, H. C., & Cocker, C. (2008). Lesbian and Gay Fostering and Adoption: Out of the Closet into the Mainstream?
- Hicks, S. (2005). Lesbian and Gay Foster Care and Adoption: A Brief UK History