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<p>The Adoption Support Fund provides funds to local authorities and regional adoption
agencies to pay for essential therapeutic services for children who have left the
care system either through adoption or special guardianship order. Since its launch
in 2015, the Adoption Support Fund has approved £168 million to deliver support, such
as therapeutic parenting, creative therapies, and specialist assessments to 59,000
families.</p><p>The government acted quickly to establish the Adoption Support Fund
COVID-19 Scheme in April 2020, and has provided over £6 million to local authorities
and regional adoption agencies to support up to 61,000 families to meet needs arising
from the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding included support for activities, such as couples
counselling, which would normally be outside the scope of the standard Adoption Support
Fund.</p><p>On 17 July 2020, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
announced the 2020 Comprehensive Spending Review, which will set out the government’s
spending plans for the next three years. The Comprehensive Spending Review will be
published in the autumn. We will consider future funding, scope and fair access limits
for the Adoption Support Fund as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review discussions.</p>
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