Arrangement for Birth Relatives and Adoptive Families to share information safely and securely are now seen as the norm in modern adoption. This is a completely confidential service and we understand that initially as a prospective adopter you may have some anxieties around this.

Benefits of contact

the child

• Being able to keep in touch with birth parents/significant other family members
• To know that their birth parents and other family are safe and well
• To help gain a sense of their own history
• Reduce feelings of loss and rejection

the adopters

• To provide important information that may not have been available at the time of the adoption, eg hereditary medical conditions
• To receive information about the wellbeing of the child’s birth family
• It can help reduce any myths about the birth family and prevent ‘fantasies’
• It may help adoptive parents to talk openly with the child(ren) about their adoption.

the birth parent & family:

• To reassure that the child(ren) is safe and well
• For the child to know that you and other birth relatives are safe and well
• To give you updates about the child’s progress
• Gives you the chance to share news about your life that may be interesting and helpful
• As the child grows up it may be important for them to know that you stayed in touch. This may help them to make sense of their past