adoption
adoption | help and info | real life stories
help and info
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organisations
Adoption Register for England & Wales
Unit 4
Pavilion Business Park
Royds Hall Road
Wortley
Leeds LS12 6AJ
Tel: 0870 750 2173
Adopters' Helpline: 0870 750 2176
E-mail: mail@adoptionregister.org.uk
Website: www.adoptionregister.org.uk
The Adoption Register, which has been run by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) since December 2004, contains the details of both children awaiting adoption and approved adoptive families. It uses a specialist database and the skills of a specially trained team to find potentially suitable families for children across England and Wales.
Adoption UK
46 The Green
South Bar Street
Banbury OX16 9AB
Tel: 01295 752240 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Helpline: 0870 7700 450 (Mon-Fri 11am-4pm)
E-mail: helpdesk@adoptionuk.org.uk
Website: www.adoptionuk.org
An invaluable source of information and support for anyone who is considering adoption, is going through the process or is now an adoptive parent.
After Adoption
12-14 Chapel Street
Manchester M3 7NH
Actionline: 0800 0 568 578 (see website for opening hours)
E-mail: information@afteradoption.org.uk
TALKadoption: 0808 808 1234 (see website for opening hours)
E-mail: helpline@talkadoption.org.uk
Website: www.afteradoption.org.uk
Provides independent adoption support services, including face-to-face sessions, family work, group sessions and a search room facility, for anyone who has been affected by adoption. Offers two free confidential helplines: Actionline and TALKadoption (for young people under the age of 26). You can also contact Actionline to find out what services are offered in your area.
British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF)
Skyline House
200 Union Street
London SE1 0LX
E-mail: mail@baaf.org.uk
Website: www.baaf.org.uk
One of the UK's largest adoption and fostering agencies, with information and nationwide events for those concerned with adoption, fostering and child care. They run a free agency search service to help you find a suitable adoption agency.
The Fostering Network
87 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8HA
Tel: 020 7620 6400
Website: www.thefostering.net
UK charity for everyone with a personal or professional involvement in fostering. Through their four UK offices, the organisation offers training, publications, advice and support for foster carers and other professionals. They also work directly with young people in and leaving foster care, as well as with the sons and daughters of foster carers.
Intercountry Adoption Centre
64-66 High Street
Barnet EN5 5SJ
Advice line: 0870 516 8742 (Mon-Thurs 10.30am-1pm and 2.30-5pm)
E-mail: info@icacentre.org.uk
Website: www.icacentre.org.uk
Provides independent, accurate information and advice to anyone in the UK who is considering adopting a child from abroad, to adoptive families, adopted people and adoption professionals.
NORCAP
112 Church Road
Wheatley 0X33 1LU
Tel: 01865 875000 (see website for opening hours)
E-mail: enquiries@norcap.org
Website: www.norcap.org.uk
A charity which offers help and support to those who are adopted, the birth relatives of adopted people and adoptive families. The charity runs several specialist support groups, includng one for for adults abandoned as babies, and has a network of local counsellors. The Intermediary Service helps reunite people separated by adoption.
Natural Parents Network
Garden Suburb
Oldham OL8 3AY
Tel: 0161 287 8737
E-mail: administrator@n-p-n.fsnet.co.uk
Website: www.n-p-n.fsnet.co.uk
A UK-based, self-help organisation offering non-judgmental, confidential support to parents whose children have been adopted. This resource provides the opportunity to air the memories and feelings that surround the adoption of their children, the resulting separation and, for some, the emotions around contact and reunion.
OASIS (Overseas Adoption Support and Information Service)
Helpline: 0870 241 7069 (Mon-Fri, normal hours)
Website: www.adoptionoverseas.org
UK-based membership group offering support for people who wish to adopt, or who have already adopted, children from orphanages overseas. Call the OASIS helpline for information on overseas adoption – if this number is not answered directly, a recorded message will give you the telephone number of the member on duty. The website includes links to other relevant organisations and discussion groups.
websites
AFAA
www.afaa.mcmail.com
The Association for Families who have Adopted from Abroad (AFAA) is a UK-based association for families with adopted children from overseas. It aims to help adopted children grow up happy and well adjusted, proud of their birth country and to feel integrated into their country of adoption.
Directory of UK Local Authorities
wwww.tagish.co.uk/tagish/links/localgov.htm
A list of contact details for all local authorities in the UK.
DTI: Parental Leave
www.dti.gov.uk/er/parental_leave.htm
Parental leave is a right to take time off work to look after a child or make arrangements for the child’s welfare. This page lists the Department for Trade and Industry's guidance on parental leave, including the short guide for employees and employers.
SSAFA
www.ssafa.org.uk/ConsideringAdoption
Comprehensive information from the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Assoication (SSAFA) for anyone considering putting their child up for adoption. The website is aimed at members of the armed forces and their dependants but contains useful advice for others.
reading
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Adopting a Child: A guide for people interested in adoption by Prue Chennells, Chris Hammond, Jenifer Lord (British Association for Adoption & Fostering, 2002) |
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Intercountry Adoption: Development, friends and perspectives by Peter Selman (Editor) (British Association for Adoption & Fostering, 2000) |
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(November 2001, updated October 2005)
Return to the main feature or follow this link to read two real life adoption stories.
