Binge Britain: Significant harm for the unborn child

Information: Recent research into the area of children affected by birth mother’s use of drugs and alcohol has shown that this is a serious and increasing contemporary problem. A recent BBC documentary found that there are no reliable figures of the number of children affected, but experts estimate that there are about 7,000 children living in the UK, who were born with lifelong incurable problems caused by their mother’s drinking during pregnancy. Mothers’ drug-taking too, is a factor in a significant proportion of care proceedings, often leading to the permanent removal of those children from their birth family. A number of these children are in the looked after population, some will need to be placed with permanent families.

A range of national and international experts have been assembled for the programme of this conference, to highlight the needs of the children involved and ways in which their long-term needs can be diagnosed. Other speakers will address ways in which these children can be helped, from a multi-disciplinary approach. The speakers represent a range of disciplines.

Contact: To book a place on this conference contact Charlotte Lindsell on 020 7520 2880 or by E-mail: charlotte@parentsforchildren.org.uk or web: www.parentsforchildren.org.uk