Some children placed with our adoptive families have complex and continuing needs arising from their earlier, sometimes damaging experiences. The effects of loss, separation, abuse and neglect are not always completely resolved by placement in adoptive families so we aim to provide a range of Post Adoption support and advice.
Support Services for Leeds approved Adopters and their children:
We recognise that some adoptive parents and their children will need to receive ongoing support or assistance at specific times. Our Adoption Support Service includes:
- an established Adoption Support staff team who offer a range of advice and support to adoptive families, including the 'Home and Away ' short breaks service; advice on contact arrangements with birth families; help with children's educational needs
- a twice yearly Newsletter to help Leeds adopters keep in touch with the range of support and advice on offer
- a regular Support Group for adoptive parents
- an annual Social Event for adoptive families
- Training and Workshops on a range of issues, eg: attachment, parenting strategies, contact, education issues
- established links with an Adoption Clinic who provide a service for families
- experiencing emotional or behavioural problems with their child(ren)
- helping adopted children with life story work
- putting adopted young people in touch with each other and other support organisations
- links with After Adoption Yorkshire, a Leeds based, regional post adoption service
Services for Birth Families:
At present we can offer services for those birth families whose children are planned to be or are placed for adoption, including:
- advice and counselling
- intermediary services for birth parents in some instances
- the provision of an independent advice service via our links with After Adoption Yorkshire
Services for Adopted Adults:
We provide a counselling service for those adopted adults who wish to have advice and information about their birth origins, including:
- assistance for adopted adults undertaking a limited search for birth relatives
- an intermediary service for adopted adults wishing to contact a birth relative and advice and involvement in facilitating direct contact with a birth relative
Contact Details:
For more information on our Post Adoption Services, please contact:
The Adoption Support Team
3rd Floor West,
Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre,
Leeds LS2 8QB
Tel: 0113 224 3756 (24 hr answerphone)
Fax: 0113 247 8695