Our adoption services
Our adoption support services
meet the needs of adoptive families, children and young
people.
We're passionate about finding homes and families for children
who can't grow up with their birth family. In fact, because Action
for Children was one of the first approved adoption agencies, we're
experts at it.
It's no surprise, then, that our adoption services have made a
positive difference to the lives of thousands of children, young
people and their families. And we'll make sure they continue to do
so for future generations of children and young people who need a
new home.
We find adoptive families for:
- children of all ethnic backgrounds and ages including white and
black children from Asian, African-Caribbean, African and
mixed-parentage backgrounds
- disabled children and children with a developmental
uncertainty
- brother and sister groups of all ages and ethnicities
- single children aged four and older
Contact us
Visit our contact
details information to get in touch.
We provide the following services:
Assessing needs
It's crucial for us to ensure the right match between a child or
young person and their adoptive parents. And assessing potential
adopters to make sure they are right for the responsibilities of
adoption is equally important. That's why we offer a wide range of
assessments for:
- adoption or permanent carers
- step-parent adoption
- special guardianship
- relatives in care proceedings
- foster carers wishing to adopt
Adoptive parents also need support. So, we carry out independent
assessments of the adoption support needs of adoptive parents,
adoptive children, children of an adopted parent and birth
families.
Chairing supervisory services
We're experienced in chairing meetings where independence is
important, including disruption meetings. And, as an independent
party, we can supervise placements on behalf of the
commissioner.
Training adopters
Adopters need to prepare for the challenges and rewards
ahead.That's why we offer a wide range of training for them.
Tailor-made packages and placements on existing courses mean we can
meet the wide range of adopters' needs. Training ranges from
planning for introductions to valuing and managing contact and
caring for abused children. We also train social workers in all
aspects of adoption practice and legislation.
Developing life stories
Our experience shows that adopted children need to take part in
life story work at different stages in their lives. We can do this
work directly, or help local authority staff to develop and share
the value of life stories.
Support groups and social events
From single adopters to black families and families of disabled
children, we provide support groups and social events for all types
of people.
Individual support and family intervention
Offered on behalf of commissioners, our discrete packages of
individual support and family intervention really work. Individual
support can include explaining adoption in an age-appropriate way,
and helping children to develop techniques to manage demanding or
disruptive behaviour.
Managing and facilitating contact
We're experienced in managing and facilitating contact
arrangements for families. This includes 'post-box' services,
direct contact, reviews of arrangements as needs change or
counselling at the point of search and reunion. We can offer
advice, guidance, training and reviews about managing all types of
contact.
Case study: Connecting Adopting Families Independent
Services (CAFIS)
Action for Children CAFIS provides independent adoption support
and kinship care services where the placement has been arranged
through Kent County Council (except Medway). They give a wealth of
support to adopted people, from basic information about their
adoption to a counselling service for all parties involved in the
adoption process. They also liaise with other agencies, providing
post-adoption counselling.