Supporting direct contact after adoption

A number of adopted children have direct contact with members of their birth family after adoption. But contact can be difficult to arrange and challenging for all those involved. This important research study outlines the first investigation of the government and council services established to support direct post-adoption contact. The study draws on the experiences of 51 adoptive parents, four long-term foster carers and 39 birth relatives, all of whom were involved in agency supported direct contact. Individual experiences of the challenges and benefits of direct contact are described, different models of contact are explored, and their costs, benefits and suitability described. Finally, the study sets out the implications for social work practice and what agencies can do to improve the contact experience. This study will be of particular interest to social workers and support workers in child and family teams, adoption and post-adoption support teams, legal professionals, child mental health professionals, adoption researchers and students.

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