Relationships

Adoption and Fostering

What's the difference between adoption and fostering?

You might hear people talking about adoption and fostering but you're unsure what the difference is.

Adoption

Being adopted is a legal process which means that you will become part of a new family and that you will no longer belong to your birth family. It is a way of giving you a new family if staying and living with your own family is not possible. You could change your surname to your adoptive family's, although if you are adopted at an older age, you can keep your old surname. You can legally be adopted up until your 18th birthday.

About five thousand children are adopted in England and Wales every year.

Anyone over the age of 21 who can prove that they will provide a stable, loving home can adopt. If you are adopted, you will have the same rights as if you were a biological member of the family, including inheritance rights.

Fostering

If you are going to be fostered you will be looked after by your foster carer in their home but you will still be able to have regular contact with your family and your birth parents will still be responsible for you. In most cases you will be able to return to your family but the length of time that you will be fostered can depend on your circumstances. You could be fostered for a few days, a few weeks, or in some cases much longer. For example, you could be fostered for a couple of weeks if your parent/carer is in hospital.

Tracing your birth parents

If you are adopted you might decide that you want to trace your birth parents. You must be aware that this may be a frustrating and emotional time for you. You should talk to your adoptive parents beforehand to make them aware of the situation, but also because they might be able to give you information that might help. It will be difficult as they are the people that have loved and supported you, but give them time and they will get used to the idea.

Above all you need to be realistic - don't think that your birth parents might be better than your adoptive parents.

If you decide you want to proceed with finding your birth parents, you need to be aware of a few things. You must be 18 or over to make enquiries to try to find out who your birth parents are. If you were adopted in England, the 1976 Adoption Act means you are entitled to the information on your birth certificate and to know which agency or court dealt with your adoption. If the adoption agency still exists, they may allow you to view your files.

If a parent who has put their child up for adoption wants to trace them at some point in the future, the biological parent is not legally allowed to contact them until the adopted child is over the age of 18.

You can find more information about tracing and contacting birth relatives and adopted adults on the Directgov website.

Who can help?

The British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) is a registered charity which helps lots of children to find new homes and looks out for them. It also helps to support adoptive parents and foster carers. Visit their site at www.baaf.org.uk/.

The National Organisation for Counselling Adoptees and Parents (NORCAP) is a charity that help and support people who are adopted, birth relatives of adopted people and adoptive families. Visit their site at www.norcap.org.uk.

Talk Adoption is the UK's only freephone national helpline for young people with a connection to adoption. You can phone them on 0808 808 1234 or email them at helpline@talkadoption.org.uk.

You can speak to a Personal Adviser at your local Connexions Centre. To find your local centre click on the Local Services icon in the footer of the homepage or check out your local phone book.