A historical review of the concept of severe and multiple disadvantage and responses to it

Roy Parker, who died in January 2017, was one of the first researchers to study foster care and adoption and was Chair of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF – now CoramBAAF) for six years from 1980. One of his last projects was a historical review of the concept of severe and multiple disadvantage and responses to it. At a time when 13.5 million people, including 30% of the UK’s children, are living in poverty (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2016) we publish it to mark his enormous contribution to the welfare of disadvantaged children and families.