New Body Established To Find Foster Families For Children
A new organisation has been created to help pair children with foster families.
A new organisation has been created to help pair children with foster families.
The Adoption and Fostering Alliance Scotland (AFAS) is to provide support services following the closure of the British Association for Adoption (BAAF) and Fostering, Children's Minister Aileen Campbell announced.
It will be responsible for training, consultancy and a helpline for the public and professionals, with staff from BAAF Scotland transferring to the new organisation.
It follows the appointment of St Andrew's Children's Society to run Scotland's Adoption Register in July. Ms Campbell said: We know that having a secure, stable and supportive home is vital to a child's well-being. When children are no longer able to live at home it is vital that there are effective services in place with knowledgeable, confident professionals who can support children into appropriate, alternative care placements.
The importance of maintaining the services that match and keeps them together is clear. It impacts the young person's mental and physical health, improves their performance in school and sets them on the road to a successful and fulfilling life and this must be a priority for us all.''
Rhona Pollock, Legal Consultant at AFAS, said: We are delighted to be able to offer an independent, multi-disciplinary Scottish voice that supports those involved with children and families and those affected by adoption, fostering and kinship care.
We will strive to promote permanently better lives for children in Scotland and look forward to working with other agencies in achieving this.''