December 2022

The Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board has made ending the racial disparity in adoption one of its major priorities. We launched a Task and Finish Group made up of black social workers, adopters, adoptees and experts in the field with one very simple aim: to present constructive proposals to end racial disparity in adoption.

The Transatlantic Summit on Racial Disparity in Adoption between the US and English governments gave us the opportunity to hear from black and mixed ethnicity young adults about their experiences of care and of adoption, as well as from government leaders, experts and adopters in the UK and the US.

Coram-i  also commissioned an in-depth survey on the experiences of black adopters, adoptees and social workers.

We consulted with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, Regional Adoption Agency leaders and the leaders of the Voluntary Adoption Agencies. This consultation, survey and summit have identified some critical areas for change and innovation which can be found in the report here.