Children and Families Across Borders

As the UK arm of the Geneva-based International Social Service (ISS), CFAB has access to a worldwide network of professionals and partners in over 120 countries.

[11] Despite the Voluntary and Community Sector funding route closing in 2016, CFAB continues to operate this advice line free of charge and, to date, have helped almost 300,000 children through this service.

[12] In the 3 months prior to the 2012 London Olympic Games, CFAB trained over 700 professionals on issues of child trafficking in order to prepare the workforce.

[18] In the wake of Brexit, CFAB has published guidance on the implications of the UK leaving the European Union on issues of child protection and has offered solutions regarding safeguarding children post-Brexit.

As of 2019, CFAB has been offering dedicated post-placement support to families who have been reunited in the UK across international borders, via Dublin III or other immigration routes.

The post placement support project provides advice, and practical and emotional guidance and assistance for whole families in this situation, helping them to stick together where this is beneficial, understand their rights, and achieve their full potential.

In 2018, CFAB published research into international placements and cross-border child safeguarding which reveals that 1 in 4 children who are placed abroad continue to be at risk of abuse or neglect.