More Reading & Resources, Page 3

Advice, Help Lines, Self-Help Groups, etc.

Contact Details Correct as of 25 October 2002(Note: These Are Not Adoption Agencies)

Adoption & Fostering Information Line

For information, current news and advice to the public and adoption agencies on all aspects of adoption. The site also includes profiles of children needing new families, but the photographs are of models and much of the descriptive information is altered to avoid identifying the children, so they serve more as examples of the types of children needing adoption than anything. There is also a post-code-based directory of agencies: you enter your postcode and a list of agencies covering your area is called up, but it is incomplete because agencies pay to be listed. The organisation is financed by memberships and donations. Write to: Adoption Information Line193 Market StreetHyde, Cheshire SK14 1HFPhone: 0800 783 4086 (help line) web site

The Adoption Register for England and Wales

This is the body, run by Norwood for the government, which from 2001 operates the statutory matching service for children and prospective adopters. The register only takes referrals from agencies. Individuals should only contact the register for information. Write to:The Adoption Register for England and WalesPO Box 33629London N16 0XAPhone: 020 8800 3332Fax: 020 8800 3356 web site E-mail: admin@adoptionregister.net

Adoption UK

For people who want to adopt or have already adopted. Their special interest is the adoption of special-needs children but they welcome all comers. They publish Adoption Today and its supplement, Children Who Wait. They also publish books and adoption cards. They have a national network of about 130 co-ordinators ready to help and listen to problems. They keep a register of families who have experience in specific areas of adoption and who are ready to share this with others (PAL). They also run courses, lobby for legislation to help adopters and their children, etc. etc. This is the largest organization of its kind in Britain, with about 4,000 members, and a must for anyone considering adopting.Write to: Adoption UKManor FarmAppletree RoadChipping WardenBanbury, Oxon. OX17 1LHPhone: 01295 660 121 (office)0870 7700 450 (help line)Fax: 01295 660 123 web site E-mail: enquiries@adoptionuk.org.uk

The Association for Families Who Have Adopted from Abroad (AFAA)

Help for families who have adopted children from overseas or are thinking abut doing so. Write to (SAE, please): AFAA30 BradgateCuffley, Herts, EN6 4RLPhone: 01707 878 793 web site E-mail: m.thomas@cwcom.net

The Association for Transracially Adopted People (ATRAP)

A support group for Black adults adopted or fostered by white families. Holds social activities and group meetings and offers education and training to professionals about trans-racial adoption and fostering. Write to (SAE, please): c/o Racial Equality UnitUnit 35Kings ExchangeTyle Yard RoadLondon N7 9AHPhone: 020 7619 6231Fax: 020 7619 6230 E-mail: enquire@atrap.org.uk

British Association for Adoption and Fostering

Primarily an organisation for adoption professionals and adoption societies, but they welcome lay members. They publish and distribute a number of books for professionals and lay people, including Adopting a Child, and also Be My Parent and Adoption & Fostering. The London HQ is supplemented by regional offices in Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne, Birmingham, London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Write to: Skyline House200 Union StreetLondon SE1 0LXPhone: 0171 593 2000Fax: 020 7593 2001 web site (Includes a list of all UK/British adoption agencies)E-mail: mail@baaf.org.uk

Children’s Family Trust (CFT)

CFT runs a network of homes for children who need long-term foster care. Rather than paid staff, with days off and shifts, CFT homes are run by full-time parents, just as if they were their own families, supported by professional back-up. The families support themselves on fostering allowances, with the Trust taking responsibility for the upkeep of the property, equipment and transport. Write to: MKA House4-6 St. Andrews RoadDroitwich, Worcs. WR9 8DNPhone: 01905 798 229Fax: 01905 798 230

The Compassionate Friends

The Compassionate Friends assists families in the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child and provide information to help others be supportive. Write to: 53 North StreetBristol BS3 1ENPhone: 0117 966 5202 (office)0117 953 9639 (help line) Fax: 0117 914 4368 web site E-mail: info@tcf.org.uk (information and support)

CRUSE-Bereavement Care

CRUSE offers a free counselling service by trained volunteers to all who are bereaved by death. More than 100 books, booklets and pamphlets are available from their mail order service. CRUSE offers training for those whose work brings them into contact with the bereaved. They also have close links with other bereavement groups, statutory and voluntary organisations and work with government departments on health and social issues which relate to bereaved people. Write to: Cruse House126 Sheen RoadRichmond, Surrey TW9 1URPhone: 020 8939 9530 (office) 0870 167 1677 (help line) Fax: 020 8940 7638 web site E-mail: info@crusebereavementcare.org.uk

The Fostering Network

The Fostering Network (formerly known as the National Foster Care Association) is the biggest UK organization of and for foster carers, providing support and training for all people interested in foster care. They publish a wide range of materials for foster carers and their families, and children in foster care. Their Web site includes a directory of local authority fostering services with links to their Web sites. Write to: 87 Blackfriars RoadLondon SE1 8HAPhone: 020 7620 6400Fax: 020 7620 6401 Web site E-mail: penny.king@fostering.net

The Foundling Group

This is a group sponsored by NORCAP for foundlings, and can be contacted through them. web site

ISSUE: The National Fertility Association

A self-help group for people with fertility problems. Write to: 114 Lichfield StreetWalsall WS1 1SZPhone: 01922 722 888Fax: 01922 640 070 web site

JAFA: Jewish Association for Fostering, Adoption and Infertility

Support group for Jewish families interested in adoption or fostering or with infertility concerns. No mailing addressPhone: 020 8952 3638 (adoption matters)020 8207 6585 (infertility treatment matters)

Lesbian and Gay Foster and Adoptive Parents Network

Support group for gay men and lesbians who are seeking to adopt or foster, or who are already doing so. Write to: c/o Stonewall Parenting Group16 Clerkenwell CloseLondon EC1R 0AAStonewall phone: 020 7881 9440Stonewall fax: 020 7881 9444 Web site E-mail: lagfapn@hotmail.com

National Organisation for the Counselling of Adoptees and their Parents (NORCAP)

A self-help group for adoptees and their parents. Their main activities centre around their matching register for adoptees, birth families and adoptive families. They counsel adoptees and their families, especially about tracing matters, run courses to help adoptees search official records for their birth relatives and also facilitate initial contact between them. They also host two specialist groups: The Foundling Group, and the Rejection-Network. Write to (SAE, please): 112 Church RoadWheatley, Oxon. OX33 1LUPhone: 01865 875 000Fax: 01865 875 686 web site E-mail: enquiries@norcap.org

Natural Parents’ Network (NPN)

A self-help group for birth parents and other relatives of adopted persons. Write to (SAE, please): Garden SuburbOldham, Lancs. OL8 3AYPhone: 0161 287 8737 (help line)01273 307 597 (office) web site E-mail: administrator@n-p-n.fsnet.co.uk

OASIS

A self-help group for people wishing to adopt from overseas. Write to (SAE, please): Dan-y-GraigBalaclava RoadGlaisSwansea SA7 9HJPhone: 0870 241 7069 (help line) web site E -mail: membership@adoptionoverseas.org

Overseas Adoption Helpline

Advice for people wanting to adopt from overseas. Write to: 64-66 High StreetBarnetHerts. EN5 5SJ Phone: 0870 516 8742Fax: 0208 440 5675web site E-mail: info@oah.org.uk

Post Adoption Centre

Help for birth parents, adoptive parents and adoptees experiencing troubles. This is the premier UK counselling service, but there are others covering different regions, based in Manchester, Cardiff, Newtown (Powys), Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Nottingham. See the current issue of Adoption Today for an up-to-date list. Write to: 5 Torriano MewsTorriano AvenueLondon NW5 2RZPhone: 020 7284 0555 (office) 020 7485 2931 (help line) Fax: 020 7482 2367 web site E-mail: advice@postadoptioncentre.org.uk

Rejection-Network

This is a group sponsored by NORCAP for adoptees who have traced their birth families but been rebuffed by all or some of their found birth relatives, either straightaway or afterwards, and can be contacted through NORCAP. Phone: 0870 770 3273 (help line) web site E-mail: info@rejection-network.org

Society of Special Needs Adoptive Parents (SNAP)

A group based in British Columbia but open to membership beyond BC. Their Web site has a remarkable amount of useful information on special needs, such as fetal alcohol syndrome and attachment disorder, and a lengthy list of links to other Web resources. They also publish a bi-monthly newsletter, with back issues available online.Write to:101-2780 East Broadway

Vancouver, BC, V5M 1Y8CanadaPhone: 00 1 604 687 3114Fax: 00 1 604 687 3364 web site E-mail: info@snap.bc.ca

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association Forces Help (SSAFA)

The SSAFA Forces Help includes a social work department and is a registered independent adoption agency, with a specialist adoption and fostering officer stationed in Germany. It also gives advice and help on adoption matters to UK forces families overseas. The Royal Navy and the Army also have their own social welfare services. Write to: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother House19 Queen Elizabeth StreetLondon SE1 2LPPhone: 020 7403 8783Fax: 020 7403 8815 web site E-mail: info@ssafa.org.uk

TALKadoption

An advice line for young (under-26) adopted people, young birth parents, their friends and relatives. They can be contacted by mail, telephone or e-mail, and they run a chat room from their web site. Write to: 12 Chapel StreetManchester M3 7NNPhone: 0161 819 2345 (office) 0808 808 1234 (help line)Fax: 0161 832 2242 web site E-mail: helpline@talkadoption.org.uk (support) youthgroup@talkadoption.org.uk (youth line)

Previous Page Next Page