Are you an adoptive parent?

Parenting an adopted child brings the same joys and anxieties as parenting a birth child, but there are some extra issues.

Sometimes talking to a social worker can help.

If you require help it is usually best to approach the agency who placed the child with you.

Reasons for contacting an adoption social worker:-

• You may want help with telling your child about his/her adoption
• Your child may ask questions about birth family and you may be concerned about telling him/her facts, which may be find upsetting.
• You may wish to find out extra information about your child's background or about the family health history.
• You may find your child's behaviour difficult. Most children have difficult behaviour at times, but sometimes children who are adopted can feel confused or insecure because of the adoption. You may benefit from advice.

If you want to discuss any issues about your child and believe that the Family Care Society can help, telephone Family Care Society, 511 Ormeau Road, Belfast at 028 9069 1133 or Family Care Society, 1a Miller Street, Derry at 028 7136 8592

Birth Mother

If you are a birth mother who placed a child for adoption in the past, and you would like to discuss this time in your life, Family Care Society offers a sympathetic counselling and support service. If you would like to leave information on the file of your child who was placed for adoption, Family Care Society can help you do this. If Family Care Society do not hold or cannot access the file, we will attempt to identify the appropriate agency, and refer you there.

If you feel that you would like more information, contact Chief Officer, Family Care Society, 511 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 3GS. You can register your interest in your adopted child by joining the Adoption Contact Register, which was established in 1996 specifically for this purpose. Contact the General Registrars Office, Oxford House, 49-55 Chichester Street, Belfast for details.

Birth Relatives

If you have a relative, for example an adult sister or brother, who has been adopted and whom you wish to locate, the Family Care Society may be able to help you.

Each request for tracing is judged on its own merits, in which the best interests of the adopted person are the primary concern. If you would like more information, please contact Family Care Society, 511 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 3GS

Birth Father

If you are the natural father of a child placed for adoption, and you would like to discuss this time in your life, Family Care Society offers a counselling and support service. If you wish to leave information on the file of your adopted child, or instigate a trace it is important that  you have evidence of your relationship to the child. Your name might appear on the original birth certificate for example, or on a legal document or letter in relation to the adoption. If this is not the case, your name might appear on an adoption file, or the birth mother may acknowledge and confirm that you are the birth father. If you cannot produce this evidence however, it may be very difficult for the Family Care Society to proceed with your enquiry.