Welcome to our ExChange conference series entitled Reframing Adoption running from May- June 2023. We aim to shine a light on the often forgotten area of adoption and highlight some of the most recent and important research and development in this area. Adoption provides an often elusive permanency for many children and is ever evolving. We have a range of eminent speakers from across the UK who have contributed to our knowledge base on this topic.
The conference is opened by Suzanne Griffiths, Head of the National Adoption Service in Wales. The conference series includes live and pre-recorded sessions, podcasts, research reports and blogs. Young people who have been adopted in Wales have created artwork for the conference series which will be show cased on the ExChange website.
Welcome to the conference
Suzanne Griffiths, Director, National Adoption Service for Wales / Foster Wales
Wednesday 3rd May – 12:30
Webinars
A Home for me? A comparative review of the value of different forms of permanence for children: adoption, SGO and fostering
Prof. Jim Clifford OBE Chief Executive, Sonnet Advisory & Impact
Maintaining relationships in adoption – new research and a theory of change
Prof. Beth Neil, University of East Anglia
Safeguarding children living with foster carers, adopters and special guardians: learning from case reviews
Prof. Hedy Cleaver and Wendy Rose OBE
Outcomes of Open Adoption: what can we learn from Australian practice?
Prof. Harriet Ward CBE, Rees Centre, University of Oxford
Videos
The voices of those with lived experience of maintaining significant relationships
Abbie and Rosie
Dr John Simmonds
Chris Holmquist, Adoption Wales
Releasing Friday 5th May – 12:00
Identities, family relationships and feelings of belonging within adoptive families through ‘name stories’
Dr Jane Pilcher, Associate Professor, Nottingham Trent University
Dr Hannah Deakin-Smith, Researcher, Nottingham Trent University
Dr Jan Flaherty, Researcher, Nottingham Trent University
Releasing Wednesday 24th May – 12:00
The current practice in Wales of ‘pre-meets’: meetings between children and their prospective adopters.
Jenny Blackmore, Cardiff University
Releasing Monday 19th June – 12:00
Blogs
Two mothers, one child: an adoptive mother and birth mother with direct contact
Chris Holmquist, Adoption Wales
Friday 5th May
Adopting older children
Claire Palmer, Cardiff University
Wednesday 17th May
Keeping Connected
Chris Holmquist, Adoption Wales
Thursday 1st June
Race in Adoption, the Absent Presence
Dr Lorraine Agu, Leeds Beckett University
Friday 12th May
Early Permanence
Sarah Johal, National Adoption Strategic Lead, National Adoption Service England
Monday 22nd May
Adoption in education through identity
Andrew Brown, Cardiff University / Rees Centre
Monday 5th June
Resources & Creative
With the help of AUK and 14 Young people from their Mid Wales group we have created a gallery of artworks exploring reflections on adoption from the perspective of the adoptees. These works showcase a broad range of responses. Some have powerful and literal interpretations, others are more enigmatic and some just playful. They ensure that you are reminded of the young people and their voice when you discuss adoption and we hope that their creativity can help to inspire you. Our sincere thanks to AUK, their Youth Workers and the Young People attending their Mid Wales group in April 2023.
Excitement By Harry, Aged 12 
Sadness By Harry, Aged 12 
Beach by Becca, Aged 12 
Group work 
Snail by Hetty, Aged 15 
Will and people by Will, Aged 14 
Dog by Becca, Aged 12 
Voices of young people by Imogen, Aged 11 
Holly and friend by Holly, Aged 19 
Rainbow by Hannah, Aged 11 
The work of art original by Sam, Aged 12 
The work of art by Sam, Aged 12 
Panda family by Imogen, Aged 11 
The dragon by Megan, aged 15 
Birth mothers by Eirwen, Aged 62 
Painted creature by Hannah, Aged 11 
Wolf drawing by Alix, aged 12 
Survival of the fittest by Alix, Aged 12 
Primary parents by Jamie, Aged 16 
My Bedroom by Daryn, Aged 11 
My life journey by Chloe, Aged 13 
Dad by Georgina, Aged 13 
Mum by Georgina, Aged 13 
Robot by Georgina, Aged 13
Looking for something specific?
Check out more resources around adoption in our dedicated Padlet wall
Are you looking for world-class dissemination around the subject of social care?
ExChange Wales brings leading researchers together with practitioners and service users to share expertise, research evidence, and care experiences.
