Our Work with Birth Relatives
Current legislation on access to adoption records
Where to get support

Our leaflet on services
for birth relatives

Magic Moments...

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Birth Relatives are important....

If you are a birth relative of someone who was adopted or is about to be adopted SWAN believes that Birth Parents are important.

Before adopted children are 18

The needs of birth families are now beginning to be recognised.

Many birth relatives with current adoptions, can be involved in the choice of adoptive parents and will have indirect contact with their birth children through letterbox schemes after adoption.

You may need help in dealing with your feelings about the adoption or with the practicalities of writing letters and keeping contact. Research is showing that it benefits both birth parents and their adopted children to have good direct or indirect contact. SWAN can help this work.

After Adopted People turn 18

The new Adoption Act gives rights to intermediary support services, to help birth relatives make contact with their adopted adult relative and birth relatives may now find it easier to trace children placed for adoption many years ago.

We Believe:-

• Even if your children can’t live with you, you are still very important in your child’s life
• You have a vital part to play when adoption plans are made for your child
• You should be offered support which is independent of Social Services
• You should have the chance to talk through your situation with someone who is independent, and knows about adoption

Children need to grow up knowing about the family they came from.

A SWAN worker will:

• Contact you soon
• Offer an appointment to see you locally, at a time that suits you
• See you in private
• Not judge you
• Treat you with respect whatever your situation

Click here to read more about SWAN's services.

If you have given up a child for adoption, find out about support services and how to look after yourself
Also check out our leaflet for birth relatives.

People's Stories:

Click here to read
the life story of
a birth mother who spent
many years looking for
her lost son and the
steps that she took to find
him again.....

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Do You Want To Trace a Child You Placed for Adoption who is now an adult?

With adoptions that happened in the past, we can offer searching and intermediary work.

We can assist you in searching for your adult adopted child, grandchild, brother or sister and can act as an independent intermediary in making contact.

We are able to enter into agreements with adoption agencies and courts, which allows us to access information, which can help us to trace adult adoptees. There is a charge for research, tracing and intermediary work.

We can then act as intermediaries in approaching the adoptee through their adopted parents, and seeking their views about making contact with you. Sometimes this leads to important reunions.

Sometimes it is less successful and SWAN counsellors can support you in dealing with your feelings and understanding the situation.

We can also help to put you in touch with other people in similar situations through our groups and our links

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