Post adoption - maintaining contact
Contact after adoption is a way of communicating information about your family between you, your children and the adoptive parents at agreed times throughout the year. This means that adopted children have regular information about their birth family as they grow up. It’s so important for children to know that you are thinking of them and that you are interested in knowing how they are getting on and helping them maintain links with both families.
Having news about children who have been adopted gives you the chance to know how they are developing to know that they are safe and well. We understand that this may bring back painful feelings or memories, but most people feel that the information is really important and continue sharing and receiving information plus it is generally positive for the child who was adopted.
Read more about staying in touch with birth family after adoption on the Adoption England website.
A contact agreement
An arrangement will be agreed between yourself and the adoptive parents. It’s important to remember that the agreement does not hold any legal obligation unless, unusually, a contact order has been granted in court or if contact is included in the placement order.
The agreement outlines what is expected of you and the adoptive parents. It will define when and what type of contact you have e.g. letters, photos, cards etc. It’s really important to keep to these times as children will be expecting your letter and if it does not arrive can be upsetting.
Over the years, there may need to be changes and some flexibility as the child grows up and their needs change. Any changes that are made will always be in the child’s best interest and you will be kept up to date on the changes.
If you would like further information about letterbox, get in touch:
Telephone: 0300 300 8090
Email: enquiries@adoptionconnects.co.uk
You can also read more about the different types of staying in touch and hear adopters stories on the Adoption England website.
Support and information for birth families
The Family Rights Group have an interactive map for birth relatives of children who have been adopted or may be adopted, and who are looking for information or support. It includes information about services that are free for birth families that offer:
general or legal advice
advocacy support to share your views with children’s services and other agencies
counselling or therapeutic support
support groups
advice on how you can contribute to a child’s life story book
support with contact
advice on accessing adoption records and information held by children’s services or an adoption agency
information and support about reconnecting with an adult relative who was adopted.