Celebrating the launch of the AFDiT framework
‘The Anti-Racist Framework for Decision-Making and Transitioning Children from Minoritised Racial and Ethnic Groups into Transracial Adoptive Families’ (AFDiT), also referenced as ‘supporting children’s identity in permanence’, was founded by Dr Tam Cane and developed by a research team at the University of Sussex. This innovative framework emerged through a collaborative process involving social work practitioners, individuals with lived and living expertise in transracial adoption, and partnerships with Adoption South East and CoramBAAF. The research received funding from the British Academy and Adoption England.
The purpose of the AFDiT framework
The AFDiT framework is designed to identify, guide, challenge, and address the issues which affect the racial and cultural identity of adopted children. But it’s potential is much wider reaching than that, and it is relevant for anyone working with children living away from their parents. For the framework to be used to its potential it needs to be integrated into practice. It can be used by individuals, teams, panels and families. Every stage of permanency planning, the adoption process, early permanence planning, the Child Permanence Report, and the assessment and support of adopters and families will benefit from embedding the AFDiT framework. If we get it right for children being moved to transracial adoptive families, we will get it right for all our children.
Addressing the challenges of supporting children’s identity.
At the launch of the framework in July we heard powerful testimonies from those with lived experiences, underscoring the significant challenges when transracial adoption is not carefully managed. Children and adults in such situations often experience conflicts in identity, a lack of self-esteem, and may internalise colour-blindness.
Child protection and permanency planning, particularly adoption, remain grounded in a Eurocentric understanding. We all need to work together to challenge and address these issues, committing to meeting the unique cultural and racial needs of each child who is not able to be remain in the care of their parents.
Integrating the framework into practice
We have already started this important work. In collaboration with Dr Tam Cane, the framework is now embedded in the updated Child Permanence Report (CoramBAAF), which is currently being piloted within local authorities across the UK. Every so often, a piece of work emerges that has the potential to significantly shift and change practice. The AFDiT Framework is one such initiative.
- The framework has many uses, some of those discussed at the launch were, team meetings: facilitating discussions and challenging perceptions and beliefs.
- Supervision and self-reflection: providing a basis for self-assessment and professional growth.
- Assessing families: ensuring that families are prepared to meet the needs of children.
- Planning for children: creating comprehensive plans that address all aspects of a child’s identity.
- Conversations and connections: building bridges between social workers, children, and their families.
- Creating safe spaces: ensuring children feel seen and heard.
- Increasing confidence: helping social workers feel equipped to discuss complex issues and challenge where necessary and giving them words and pictures to begin discussions.
- Panel training and discussions: enhancing the knowledge and preparedness of adoption panels.
I genuinely love this document. It contains a wealth of information on every page, including cartoons, discussion starting points, valuable insights and presents as more of a ‘toolbox’ There is something useful for everyone. I ask you to engage with this framework on both a personal and professional level to challenge and help shape your practice. If you are a social worker, read it and perhaps use it as your CPD for Social Work England. Share it with a team member and talk about it.
Dr Tam Cane, Dr Sushri Puhan, Professor Gillian Ruch, Michael Wilson and everyone involved in the co creation of the Framework deserve our thanks for producing a piece of work that has real potential to shift practice in supporting children's identities and make a difference to children’s lives.
Jane Poore, Adoption Consultant, CoramBAAF.