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Barnardos Post Adoption Service has been running an independent and confidential service to adopted people, birth parents and adoptive parents since 1977. Over the years hundreds of people have contacted us discuss their feelings and experiences in adoption and to seek advice on a range of issues.

The service provides with the support of the Health Services Executive (HSE) a support and counselling service to parents who have adopted children from abroad and their children.

Some of the extra tasks in raising adopted children can be challenging for parents. Attachment issues, explaining adoption, dealing with racism and accessing specialist services are some of the areas where we are happy to offer advice and assistance.

Birth relatives and adopted people can often feel the need to talk about their experiences. The Post Adoption Service can offer both a chance to meet others in the same situation through our group work service. We also offer individual support especially to birthmothers and adopted people who are considering contact with birth relatives perhaps through the National Adoption Contact Preference Register. The Register which was launched by the Adoption Board in 2005 gives adopted people and members of their natural family an opportunity to register their wishes about contact.

Adoptive parents are also welcome to contact the service to discuss any questions or anxieties they might have about their adult son or daughter making contact with birth relatives. For further information on Barnardos Post Adoption Service, please see our information leaflet.         

Who can avail of the service

• Parents who have adopted from abroad who would like advice and support about different aspects of raising their children. For further information on our service to children and families please see our information leaflet.
• Adopted adults who would like support in seeking birth information and who may have particular questions about the National Adoption Contact Preference Register.
• Parents who have adopted in Ireland.
• Birth mothers and other birth family members who would like to discuss their experiences and who may need some guidance about contact with an adopted family member.

Our services

We provide a number of services, including:

• A helpline and email advisory service for adoptive parents, birth family members and adopted young people and adults.
• Training and support meetings for parents who have adopted from abroad in the Eastern region.
• Individual counselling for children and families living in the Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow area.
• A mediation service for adopted people and birth family members who are preparing to meet through the National Adoption Contact Preference Register .
• Support meetings for birth mothers and other family members. See Birth Mothers' Group (pdf)
• Support meetings for adopted adults and adoptive parents around search and reunion issues

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Upcoming events/support groups by Barnardos:

Training events for adoptive parents:

• Saturday 6th November 2010 - a date for your diary. Holly Van Gulden, the US attachment specialist and auther of "The Dance of Attachment" will facilitate a training day for adoptive parents and professionals on "Managing Challenging Behaviours". Details and online booking will be available nearer the date.  

• Support/information meetings on attachment focused parenting and talking about adoption will be held in September, October and November 2010-details will be posted shortly.

For birth/natural mothers:

• A series of support meetings will be held in Autumn 2010 to allow women whose children were adopted an opportunity to discuss their experiences in the past and hopes for the future. Details to be posted shortly- please see our birth mothers' leaflet for more information.

Contacting us

If you would like more information about our Post Adoption Service, please  contact us.

Visit our Useful Websites page for details of other organisations that may be of interest to you.

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