GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS TRACKER
Tracking commitments made to adoptive families across Scotland
Following the Scottish Parliament debate on adoption support on 21 May 2026, the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise made a series of commitments aimed at improving adoption support across Scotland. The Scottish Adoption Alliance is tracking these commitments and publishing the evidence available regarding their implementation.
Why This Matters | The Case for Change
Adoption can transform lives, but for many families the journey does not end when an Adoption Order is granted.
As children grow and develop, new challenges can emerge, particularly during adolescence and key life transitions. While many families thrive, others face increasing difficulties accessing the specialist support they need.
The latest Adoption UK Scotland Barometer found that only 24% of adoptive families reported that they were “mostly doing well” during 2025. Forty per cent reported facing challenges but managing, while 36% reported severe challenges or reaching crisis point.
These findings reinforce concerns raised by adoptive families, practitioners and researchers that support remains inconsistent across Scotland and that many families struggle to access help before difficulties escalate.
The commitments being tracked on this page represent an opportunity to strengthen adoption support and move closer to Scotland’s vision of lifelong support for adopted children and their families.
Key Findings from Scotland
Together, these findings demonstrate why adoption support remains a significant public policy issue and why the commitments made by the Scottish Government matter to adopted children, young people and families across Scotland.
24%
Families mostly doing well
40%
Facing challenges but managing
36%
Facing severe challenges or crisis
WHAT SCOTLAND HAS COMMITTED TO?
Following publication of the Cross-Party Group on Social Work’s report and the subsequent Scottish Parliament debate, seven commitments were made to improve adoption support across Scotland. This tracker monitors progress against those commitments.
Review Adoption Support Guidance
Review the 2011 adoption and looked-after children guidance to ensure it reflects current evidence and practice.
Statutory Adoption Support Guidance
Consider using powers within the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 to introduce statutory guidance.
Improve Support Services
Improve preparation, crisis intervention, respite support, adoption allowances and professional training.
Peer Support Promotion
Require local authorities to actively promote peer support throughout and beyond the adoption journey.
Adoption Breakdown Definition & Data Collection
Develop a shared national definition of adoption breakdown and improve consistency of data collection across Scotland.
Care Experience Inclusion
Ensure guidance linked to the Care Experience Bill explicitly includes adopted children and young people.
CAMHS & Therapeutic Support Access
Continue work to improve access to mental health and therapeutic support for adopted children and young people.
FROM COMMITMENTS TO CHANGE
Delivering Scotland’s Vision for Adoption
Scotland already has a vision for adoption.
The challenge is implementation.
The commitments being tracked on this page should not be viewed as isolated actions. Together they represent an opportunity to build a system where support is consistent, evidence-based and available when families need it.
HOW WE GOT HERE
The call for better adoption support in Scotland did not emerge overnight. It is the result of years of lived experience, national reviews, parliamentary scrutiny and policy commitments recognising that adoption is a lifelong journey requiring lifelong support.
The Independent Care Review and The Promise
The Independent Care Review was commissioned in 2016 and listened to more than 5,500 experiences across Scotland. On 5 February 2020, the Review published The Promise, setting out Scotland’s commitment that children should grow up loved, safe and respected.
Source: Independent Care Review / The Promise Scotland
Scotland’s Adoption Task Force
Scotland’s Adoption Task Force was originally formed as a temporary planning group in 2014. It later developed into a collective of organisations working to improve best practice in adoption nationally, hosted by CELCIS and bringing together local authorities, voluntary adoption agencies, academics, children’s rights expertise and people with lived experience.
Source: CELCIS
National Apology for Historical Adoption Practices
On 22 March 2023, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a formal apology in the Scottish Parliament to people affected by historical adoption practices. The apology recognised the lifelong impact experienced by mothers, fathers, adoptees and families affected by forced adoption.
Source: Scottish Government
Scotland’s Adoption Vision
On 26 November 2024, the Scottish Government published Supporting Adoption: Vision and Priorities for Scotland. The statement sets out the Government’s vision for adoption in Scotland, the importance of support for the adoption community, and strategic priorities to achieve this.
Source: Scottish Government
Adoption UK Scotland Barometer
The latest Scottish Barometer highlighted continuing challenges for adoptive families. Only 24% reported that they were mostly doing well, while 40% faced challenges but were managing and 36% experienced severe difficulties or reached crisis point.
Source: Adoption UK Scotland Barometer
Cross-Party Group Report
The Cross-Party Group on Social Work published Strengthening the Safety Net: A Framework for Adoption Support in Scotland. The report highlighted fragmented infrastructure, inconsistent support, gaps in adoption breakdown data and the need for a national adoption practice model.
Source: Cross-Party Group on Social Work
Scottish Parliament Debate
Fulton MacGregor MSP’s motion S6M-20902: Strengthening Adoption Support for Families was taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2026. The motion recognised serious concerns about fragmented and inconsistent post-adoption support and called for a comprehensive national framework for adoption support.
Source: Scottish Parliament
Ministerial Commitments
Following engagement around adoption-related amendments, correspondence from Fulton MacGregor MSP’s office confirmed that the Minister supported the aims of improving consistency, support, data collection and therapeutic provision for adoptive families, while seeking further work on scope, delivery mechanisms and funding arrangements before statutory duties were embedded.
Source: Correspondence from Fulton MacGregor MSP’s office
FROM COMMITMENTS TO DELIVERY
The commitments made to adoptive families are important, but they are only the beginning. Real change will depend on whether those commitments lead to clear action, published guidance and better support for families in practice.
What Has Been Promised
Scotland has committed to reviewing adoption support guidance, considering statutory guidance, improving support services, promoting peer support, strengthening data collection, recognising care experience and improving access to therapeutic support.
What Delivery Requires
Delivery will require clear timescales, published guidance, national standards, consistent local authority practice, transparent data collection and direct involvement of adoptive families, adopted people and practitioners.
What Families Should See
Families should experience earlier help, less postcode variation, clearer routes to support, improved crisis response, better access to therapeutic services and support that recognises adoption as a lifelong journey.
The challenge now is delivery.
The Scottish Adoption Alliance will continue to track evidence of implementation, not simply statements of intent.
DRIVE CHANGE WITH US
Change happens when lived experience is heard clearly, consistently and collectively.
Adopted people, adoptive families, practitioners and supporters all have a role in making sure Scotland’s commitments lead to real support in real lives.
Join the AllianceShare Your Experience
Help build the evidence base by telling us about your journey and the support you received, waited for, or were unable to access.
Join the Alliance
Become part of a growing Scottish network of families, adoptees and supporters working together for lifelong adoption support.
Engage Your MSP
Ask local representatives how they will support delivery of the seven commitments and Scotland’s national adoption vision.
Attend Future Events
Take part in conferences, webinars and conversations bringing together families, adoptees, practitioners and policymakers.
ADOPTION IS LIFELONG. SUPPORT MUST BE LIFELONG TOO.
Scotland has made important commitments. The task now is ensuring that every adopted person and every adoptive family experiences those commitments as real, practical and timely support when it matters most.