Fostering & Adoption
Adoption
If you have been adopted, you may or may not want to find out
more about your birth family. If you've recently found out, you
might have mixed feelings about your situation and it may help you
to talk to others in similar situations.
Remember that your adoptive parents made a positive choice
to have you, and they might be able to help you deal with it all.
When you are 18 or older, you can see a copy of your original birth
certificate. You might want to talk things through with someone who
knows nothing about you but knows all about adoption and the issues
you are facing, if so, contact:
The Homefinding Team - Jersey Children's Service - Tel:
443500
For more information on access to birth records for adopted persons
living in Jersey and their birth parents.
You may have been born with the help of assisted fertility
treatment like sperm or egg donation or in-vitro (test tube)
fertilisation. You can contact:
Talk Adoption - Tel: 0800 0568 578
www.talkadoption.org.uk
Having your baby Fostered or Adopted
If for any reason you feel you are unable to look after your
baby, Social Services can provide support and advice and may
arrange foster care. This means that another set of carers will
look after the baby on a temporary basis.
Sometimes babies are fostered for a short term, sometimes for
longer, depending on the reasons. If you are considering adoption
for your baby, foster care might give you the space to enable you
to think more clearly about what you want before making the final
decision.
If you are in a position like this, you can contact
Social Services: Tel: 443500
Downlaod the Fostering & Adoption leaflet or click here for more information.
For most people, the decision to have their baby adopted is a
difficult one. You could speak to someone close to you and also
ring Social Services and ask to speak to a social worker for
advice.
Although planning often happens befroe the birth, you will have
at least 6 weeks after the birth to change your mind. Adoption is a
final decision and all rights over the baby are given up, you will
no longer have a legal relationship with or responsibilties for the
child in the future. It's a tough decision.
For information you can contact:
The Duty Officer - Children's Service - Tel:
443500
The British Association for Adoption & Fostering
(BAAF) Tel: 020 7421 2600
If you are considering fostering or adopting a child please
click here for more information
