I have adopted a child

Advice and support for adoptive families

There may be times throughout your child’s life when you would find it helpful to talk to someone outside of the family about issues related to adoption. You may for example want some ideas about how to discuss adoption with your child, or how to react to and cope with your child’s feelings about his or her adoption or you may be concerned about contact arrangements.

Our Support Service can offer:

• The chance to meet up with other adopters and adoptive families
• Groups and workshops to help explain adoption to your children
• Discussion and counselling on any aspect of adoption.

In Hampshire we work in partnership with Adoption UK to provide support to adoptive parents. Adoption UK is a self-help charity run by and for adoptive parents and foster carers offering support before during and after adoption.

All newly approved adopters in Hampshire are given one year of free membership to Adoption UK. Existing adopters are also welcome to attend their meetings which include a programme of guest speakers and social events.

Hampshire also link with the Portsmouth Adoption Agency and Adoption UK to provide a Buddy Support Scheme to support adoptive parents in the early stages of placement or later on at a time when adopters may be experiencing a particularly difficult time with their child.