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Services for Adopted Children
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Post Adoption Counselling and Tracing
Our services We provide information, support and counselling to all those involved in adoption via this Society:
adult adopters, adoptive families and birth relatives. In addition, we have records
of children who were cared for in the Nazareth Houses in Bristol and Cheltenham. We
provide information, support and
counselling to adults who were cared for in either of these Nazareth
Houses and birth relatives
whose children were placed here.
Our post adoption service is provided by qualified social workers and we also have links with post adoption support groups.
How much will these services cost?
There is no charge for any of the services outlined. However, where birth, marriage or death certificates are purchased on your behalf in the course of tracing, you will be asked to reimburse the Society when possible.
How long will the process take?
There
may be some
delay before you are offered an
appointment depending on the volume of demand for all of these services.
If you want to
find out more, please telephone our office in Clifton: 0117 – 973 –
4253 and ask to speak to one of the adoption social workers.
Services for Adopted People
Starting the Search
If you are adopted and wish to know more about your origins, the law gives you certain rights. Adopted people who have reached their eighteenth birthday may apply to the Registrar General for access to their birth records at the following address: Office for National Statistics General Register Office (Adoptions Section) Smedley Hydro Trafalgar Road Birkdale Southport PR8 2HH
If you were adopted before the 12th November 1975, you are required to see a Counsellor before having access to your original birth record.
If you were adopted on or after 12th November 1975 you may choose whether or not to see a Counsellor. However, we know from experience that finding out about your birth family and perhaps wishing to trace them is a complex process and we offer counselling and support concerning the emotional and practical issues which can arise.
If
you
were adopted through the Catholic
Children's Society (Diocese of Clifton) you may apply to the Society for
access to your
adoption records either via the
General Register Office or directly to us.
Adoption
records are confidential, but we
will share with you as much information as we can about yourself and
your birth family without
breaking the confidentiality of a
third party, whose consent may be required before we can share their
papers.
If,
after you have learned of your
background you decide you wish to trace your birth relatives, your
Counsellor will offer help
and advice on how to do this and can
act as an intermediary if anyone is located.
Services for Birth Relatives The
Society offers support and advice to
birth relatives who have previously been parted from a child through
adoption.
Things to Consider
·
The
years up to 25 can be a particularly
difficult time for adopted people to
deal with the issues raised by contact from birth relatives. So, if
your relative is
under 25 we will only attempt to
trace them in exceptional circumstances, for example, if important
health information has
emerged.
The
law changed in 1976 to enable adopted adults to have access to their
original birth records. These days
we prepare families for this when
they apply to adopt and indeed, many birth and adoptive families now
maintain contact throughout
their child's life.
· How will other children react?
· Does it mean I have failed as a parent?
· I feel excluded and afraid
that I will lose his or her affection
· Where do I fit in? What can
I do to help?
·
I am pleased that he or she will
be able to fill in some of the gaps
Services for those connected with Nazareth Houses in Bristol and Cheltenham. We provide information, support and counselling to adults who were cared for in either of the Nazareth Houses and birth relatives of children who were placed there. Some of these children were placed for adoption and we will have their adoption records.
Brief HistoryAfter the First World War, the number of children who were thought to be in need of a place in a residential home increased rapidly. There being no welfare state, as we now know it, this responsibility was largely left to and accepted by the major Christian denominations. The Nazareth Houses in Bristol and Cheltenham were residential homes for children, and were owned and run by an order of nuns, The Poor Sisters of Nazareth. They were providing care for children from the 1920s. Nazareth House, Cheltenham closed in 1965 , Nazareth House, Bristol closed in 1970.
Records Records of children placed at Nazareth House are very variable in their quality and quantity of information provided. We will obtain as much information as possible for former residents. Former Nazareth House residents will be provided with information about Nazareth House as well as their individual records. Counselling and support will be offered. Birth relatives of adults who were placed at Nazareth House will be provided with counselling and support. We can attempt to trace relatives and act as an intermediary. Tracing can be very difficult when there is little information as a starting point. Telephone us at our office : 0117 – 973 – 4253 Post Adoption Support Groups As well as offering individual counselling based at this agency, we have good links with the following organisations who provide independent support: NORCAP 112 Church Road, Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1LV Tel: 01865 875000 A national support group for adopted people and both their birth parents and adopted families, with local contact leaders and groups. Services include counselling, advice, contact register, intermediary work and local contact leaders and groups. Partners of Adopted AdultsSee News and Events for more information about this group, which is currently being set up. Adoption UKE-mail: admin@adoptionuk.org.uk Tel: 01327 260295 A national self-help group run by adoptive parents with local co-ordinators and groups. SWAN – South West Adoption NetworkTel: 0845 601 2459 (Local call rate) Advice, counselling, groups and workshops providing post adoption support in the South West. |