Why Subscribe?

Implementation of the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 and some sections of the Adoption & Children Act 2002 in June 2003 (as well as the additional sections that will be implemented with effect from 30th December 2005) introduced many changes in intercountry adoption, resulting in an increased workload for all who are working in this specialist area.

Many local authorities chose to newly subscribe to IAC last year, perhaps because they wished to ensure that their adopters could attend our Preparation Courses, or because they wished to access specialist training or consultation for themselves as managers, their adoption social workers or their panel members. Some recognised that subscription to IAC would add value to the service they offer their prospective intercountry adopters and their established adoptive families, and that it would enable them to meet inspection standards.

Over 70 subscribers now know that they can rely on us to provide the specialist information and advice they need and to support their intercountry adopters.

Subscription entitles an organisation to:

• offer places to your applicants on a Preparation Course, a service exclusive to subscribers
• offer places to your applicants on a Kinship Preparation Course, which has been designed specifically for those adopting relatives. This is also exclusive to subscribers
• offer places to your applicants on an Adopting Again Workshop, again exclusive to subscribers
• receive priority booking at concessionary rates for your applicants’ attendance at Consultation Days, Information Days for Extended Family Members and Post Adoption Workshops
• receive free or concessionary attendance for your staff at meetings and seminars for subscribers
• commission training and consultation at a discounted rate
• receive free and priority attention to your calls to the Advice Line
• receive Intercountry Adoption Centre publications and revisions automatically and mailings which, from time to time, include adoption books published in other countries

Although the majority of services are run at our London offices we travel to subscribing organisations to run these events, if there is sufficient demand.

During the past year, IAC has been working towards enhancing the services available to subscribers:

This website has a separate section for subscribers so that adoption managers and social workers can better keep up to date with changes in the requirements and procedures overseas and with developments in the UK as progress is made towards implementation of the Adoption & Children Act 2002. Subscribers will also be able to make online referrals to our various Preparation Courses.

We have recently launched a Preparation Course (Kinship Course) designed specifically for applicants who are wishing to adopt related children from overseas. As with our existing Preparation Course, this will be offered exclusively to applicants from subscribing authorities. Our series of Post Adoption Workshops will also be available to support intercountry applicants after approval and after adoption.

The year so far has been busy responding to consultation on the regulations and guidance which will implement the Adoption & Children Act 2002. It is clear that, when implemented later this year, the Act will place further duties on local authorities in respect of their intercountry adoption service. As part of our commitment to offering high quality support to subscribers, IAC has also launched an Intercountry Adoption Practitioners’ Forum in order to:

• provide an opportunity for practitioners to share knowledge and expertise
• provide an opportunity for practitioners to discuss and explore practice related issues
• offer peer support

This website also allows subscribers exclusive assess to the Subscribers' Professional Network (SPN), an online area designed to allow intercountry adoption practitioners to discuss current issues and share knowledge.

Website design: Frank Roper
- frankweb