We provide information and advice to all parties affected by adoption.
We are able to listen if you are in need of help. We do not pretend to have all the answers but we are able to direct you to more specialist post adoption organisations if needed.
Please contact us to find out how we can help you.
Planning and Approaching a Reunion is a leaflet that gives advice to both an adopted person and to birth parents, their families and relatives.
Birth Parents
Parents who relinquished a child for adoption some years ago may want to share their feelings. At Adoption Matters Northwest there is always someone who is willing to listen and offer support.
Other information for birth parents and their families:
Intermediary Services (a guide to skilled professional support and assistance when tracing an adopted relative).
Adoption Matters Northwest also retains some information, and photographs of St Bridget’s or for further details email info@adoptionmattersnw.org
Adopted people
People who have been adopted often want to talk about their situation and their feelings. You can talk to us informally and we can provide you with information about specialist support, accessing advice about birth records, tracing, and the Adoption Contact Register. If you were adopted from within our region we can provide information on tracing, counselling and reunion services as well as other intermediary services and self help groups.
Can Adoption Matters Northwest help me trace my birth parents / relatives?
Yes, we can certainly look into your case and provide some help. When an adopted person becomes an adult at eighteen they have the legal right to seek information about their origins and may approach an adoption agency for advice. We can give assistance by helping with access to birth files but we inform the adoptee that they must do the research themselves. They may wish to try to contact their birth family and we would encourage them to allow us to be the intermediary party to assist in this task with the possibility of arranging a reunion. We also encourage adopted adults to keep their adoptive families informed but the decision must remain theirs and we would respect their autonomy. We believe it is positive when adoptive parents are part of the reunion arrangements. Adoption Matters Northwest staff will offer advice and caution and will assist in supporting those involved during the early stages of such re-unions. Alternatively we can put you in touch with other specialist services.
People who have been adopted often want to share their feelings. At Adoption Matters Northwest we can offer an informal chat, support, specialist advice or information about birth records, the implications of tracing birth relatives and the Adoption Contact Register.
Adoptive Parents
The agency also provides information for adoptive parents whose adopted children are considering tracing their birth parents.
If you wish to remain in contact with the agency to get involved with our post adoption events or for advice and assistance please keep us informed of your current address and we will be happy to keep you involved with our organisation.
