Maybe you have been adopted, maybe you want to adopt a child or maybe you are putting your own child up for adoption.  Here's some more information about it all.

If You Have Been Adopted

Many people who have been adopted are curious to find out more about their birth parents. There are many organisations who can help you do this. Others don't want to know anything about their birth parents- that's ok too.

If you do want to find your birth parents it’s a good idea to go through the adoption agency you were adopted through, or an organisation like the Scottish Adoptions Advice Service. Finding your birth parents may be difficult so these organisations can support you both emotionally and practically. For more information go to the Scottish Adoption Advice Service website.

You might find out some distressing information or you might be worried about upsetting your adopted parents. However, they may have some information about your life before you were adopted that can help.

If You Want To Adopt

There are thousands of children who are in need of loving, secure homes. Adopting a child can be very rewarding, even thought it isn't always easy.

You need to be over 21 to adopt, but you don’t need to be in a relationship and you don’t need to be hetereosexual (straight). You also don’t need to own your own home, have a job or have experience of being a parent. Having said that, adoption agencies will want to make sure that a child will have a secure home and that you can afford to bring it up.

The first step is to contact an adoption agency, generally your local council. Have a look on their website (there is usually an A-Z section to help you find what you are looking for) for contact details and more information. They should offer an information evening where you can go and meet social workers and people who have already adopted to find out more and learn about the next steps It can take a while between this stage and actually adopting a child or children, but the adoption agency need to know as much about you as possible to make sure you are suitable to adopt.

The British Association for Adoption and Fostering website has more information and you can search for local adoption agencies.

Giving your child up for adoption

Not many people give up their new babies for adoption any more, most children who are adopted have been neglected in some way by their parents. However, if a social worker is concerned about how you are treating your child, they will try and help you rather than take a child away. Even if it comes to that, you should still be able to visit your child in foster care, and it may be that with more support your child can come back to you.

It’s a very complex area and your social worker should help you out with the information you need. If you would rather talk to someone independent then contact the Scottish Adoption Advice Service. If you have decided to have your new baby adopted you will get help and support from your council’s Social Services department. It’s not an easy decision to make and again you may find that the Scottish Adoption Advice Service can help. Most adoption agencies encourage some form of contact with your child, usually by sending letters or cards to find out how they are getting on.

More…

Scottish Adoption Advice Service Website - This organisation offers support and counseling to people who have been adopted, are having a child adopted or are adopting children

British Association for Adoption & Fostering- This site has lots of information about all aspects of adoption.