Plan to advertise children on website

November 4, 2004 in Fostering and adoption

Baaf Adoption and Fostering may advertise children on a
website.

The move is intended to increase the number of matches between
children and permanent parents. Currently one in four children up
for adoption do not receive a single enquiry.

But the charity is considering how it can intervene to prevent
paedophiles misusing the pictures or accessing contact details.

Chief executive Felicity Collier said: “It is a question of
balancing the need to protect children against the need to attract
more adopters.”

John Carr, internet adviser at children’s charity NCH, said: “If
reasonable precautions are taken and details leading to the
whereabouts of the child are not with the picture I don’t see why
children should not be put on the web.”

l Views should be sent to www.baaf. org.uk/NAW/FF4C