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.

The course is designed for:

• those working within the field of drugs and alcohol;
• social workers;
• health and education professionals;
• lawyers involved in care proceedings; and
• families and carers.

Despite the increasing focus of the risks of drugs and alcohol, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the needs of the unborn child.  Delegates would therefore not need any prior knowledge on this topic as the programme aims to heighten this knowledge.

From attending this conference, delegates will be aware of, and understand, the permanent problems for these children and the risks for their future, together with the potential of the legal system to balance these risks, and, ways forward. Delegates should be inspired to disseminate these messages and highlight the risks and permanent problems for these unborn children, of maternal drug and alcohol usage.

The Programme