Keeping in touch with Birth Family

Published: Thursday, February 23, 2023

Keeping in touch with Birth Family

Here at Adoption Support we have been working with some of our adopters to think more creatively about how they and their child/ren can keep in touch with birth families. Traditionally, all contact with birth families has been through an annual letterbox scheme, but for some families this type of contact hasn’t felt right. This work has led us to introduce a new role within our team to enable families to feel fully supported, if this is something they want to explore, enabling them to feel empowered to pursue arrangements that meet their child’s changing need and sense of identity.

One of our social workers, Bev, will now be leading on supporting families across Adoption East Midlands interested in exploring something different, moving away from the more traditional letterbox arrangement. We recognise that for some children and families, letterbox may work initially, but as the child gets older, it is often not enough, children may start to explore their adoption identity and for some adopters, it is about further developing the relationship they share with their child’s birth family. We understand this can feel a little daunting, even though it might be something adopters have been thinking about, or perhaps not, until their child has started to initiate these discussions. Either way, we want families to feel supported.

Bev is now offering consultations to adopters wishing to explore new ways to keep in touch with their children’s birth family. The aim of Bev’s role is to explore, risk assess (if required) and support the setup of keeping in touch arrangements, supporting all parties involved, with an aim of empowering them to continue without ongoing social work input.

You can request a consultation with Bev by contacting the Adoption Support enquiry line on 0115 8044500 or email adoptionsupport@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk to arrange. At present there are two days a month for consultations, each day offering three consultation slots.

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