Post-adoption support
If you have adopted a child, we can support and advise you as your child grows up.
We know that there are different stages in a child's life when adoption issues impact on daily life. You are welcome to contact us to discuss any such issues.
Advice on contact with your child's birth relatives
You may already be in contact with our Letterbox Co-ordinator (see also Croydon Letterbox Service) and have existing arrangements for exchanges of information with your child's birth relatives. If this is not the case and you would like to explore the possibility of contact with birth relatives, or to see if there is any information available about the birth relatives, you are welcome to discuss this with us.
At the point of an Adoption Order being made, family members are often not able to contemplate contact arrangements, but with the passage of time they may reconsider and we may be able to help to negotiate this.
Contact with other adoptive parents
Adoption UK is an organisation run by adoptive parents for adoptive parents to give mutual support and share information.
For more details of Adoption UK and other agencies and support services see also Adoption support organisations.
Talking to your child about their adoption
Most people are able to tell their child that they are adopted, but talking about the reasons for the adoption can feel difficult and complicated. The topic often arises at a time that you least expect it and can catch you unprepared.
Some families think that if their child does not mention adoption, they are not interested. This may be the case, but often they need your support to be able to talk about it.
We are able to support you in preparing for such situations, which can be emotionally demanding for both you and your child.
Training events
Croydon runs a programme of training events for foster carers and adopters throughout the year and produces a training booklet which we can send to you upon request. We also subscribe to the Post Adoption Centre. It is able to offer courses at reduced rates to Croydon residents. We are sometimes able to nominate adopters to specific training events run by members of the South East London Consortium of Adoption Agencies, of which we are a member.
Assessment of support needs
Under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, you are entitled to an assessment of your needs in relation to adoption issues. This may result in support and advice in relation to issues already mentioned and/or referrals to other agencies including CAMHS. In some cases it may include some form of financial support.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Fostering and Adoption Service
- Telephone
- Freephone 0800 389 0129
- Fax
- 020 8760 5665
- Address
- 4-06 Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon CR9 2BA
