Children and Families Across Borders

Who we are

Since 1955, Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) has been protecting children and reuniting them with their families across international borders.​

We assess long-term care options for children — wherever possible reuniting them with their family. Our qualified international child protection team operates a free professional Advice Line and works with 80% of local authorities on cross-border children and family cases. ​ 

We are the sole UK member of the International Social Service (ISS) — a worldwide network of social workers, lawyers and other child protection professionals. 

Our culture and values

CFAB exists to ensure that every child in the UK has the right to care, protection and family life, no matter where they come from.

In an increasingly globalised world, we recognise the complexity of international social work. With our partners worldwide, CFAB works to increase efficiency and provide an effective, high quality service. 

We provide our expertise, experience and trainings to local authorities, the courts and other public agencies to help ensure the best possible outcomes for children. 

Our Vision

A world where the complexity of migration and international separation does not deny children in need the right to care, protection and a safe family environment. 

Our Mission 

To use our expertise to ensure children who have become separated from their families across international borders, are given care and protection, no matter where they are.

Our Values 

Our values of professionalism, impartiality and respect underpin everything we do, so we can care for and protect children in need, and reunite them with family wherever possible.

Our Global Network

CFAB works with partners in over 130 countries, both as part of the International Social Service (ISS) network and through independent partnerships. The ISS network gives us unrivalled access to expert, on-the-ground support to assess whether a child’s return to their home country is realistic and in their best interests. 

The ISS is the only international network focussed on inter-country social work 

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

As a cross-border, cross-culture children’s charity, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion is at the heart of what we do.  We are committed to fostering a workplace that promotes mutual respect and allows equal opportunity for all. We are committed to removing real and perceived barriers, valuing everybody who works for, volunteers with, supports or benefits from our work. We are committed to creating a society that respects and values individuality and difference. We see this every day in our work across 130 different countries, and we know how important it is to support inclusivity to avoid miscommunications, misunderstandings and misinterpretation across different languages, cultures and backgrounds.

As a result, we have set out our plan for fostering greater inclusion within CFAB and with those with whom we work.  Our commitment to understanding and breaking down systemic and institutional barriers and creating an equal and fair society must start with us.

Our work in this area is guided by three principles:

1. Transparency - we will share our diversity data in relation to our workforce.

2. Accountability – we are committed to getting this right and learning from any mistakes we make along the way.

3. Partnership – we will work with our staff and peer organisations to share and learn from experiences.