Family Ties is the support service for birth parents and relatives who are impacted by a child having a plan of adoption.

If social workers are making plans for the adoption of your child, you may be confused and hurt and want to talk to someone independent. You might want advice about what’s happening and have someone explain how the process works, what will happen next and what this will mean for you and your child.

Referrals can be accepted by Family Ties from the point that a plan of adoption is being considered for your child. We can help explain what is happening through the adoption process at each stage, assist in writing letters through a Keep in Touch arrangement and help prepare information for the child’s file. We also offer advice and guidance to birth parents going through the process and arrange groups with people who have had similar experiences.

Our Birth Parent Support Workers have significant experience in supporting birth parents who have experienced the loss of their children to adoption. We work with birth parents of all ages and backgrounds, whether they have recently experienced, or are in the process of experiencing, the adoption of their children, or if the children were adopted decades ago because of the stigma of being unmarried parents.

If you would like to make a referral for Family Ties, either as a birth parent or a professional, please complete a referral form, which can be found here.

If you would like to speak to us before making a referral, you can call 01902 553818 and ask to speak to the Duty Worker, or email familyties@adoptionatheart.org.uk .