‘Big Consult’ survey gives new insights into adoption experiences

Adoption support agency, Family Action PAC-UK has published the findings of ‘The Big Consult’ a survey of birth parents and adopted people’s experiences and feelings around the adoption process.

The survey, launched last November, was funded by the National Adoption Strategy Team and seeks to gain an understanding of birth parents and adopted people’s feelings and experiences around the adoption process, the services they received before and after, their thoughts on how these can be improved, and their suggestions for the future of adoption.

Adopted people and birth parents launching The Big Consult

Key findings from the report reveal that:

• Over 70% of adopted people state there is not enough information about why they were adopted and about their birth parents
• 85% of adopted people had attempted contact with birth parents after reaching 18 and 92% were glad that they attempted contact
• 76% of adopted people said that direct contact with birth parents should be standard practice
• 90% of adopted people feel that adoption should be more open
• 77% of adopted people accessed mental health support as an adult
• 50% of birth parents cite mental health issues as a main factor in a child’s removal and 84% of birth parents have mental health issues currently
• Only 12% of birth parents received letterbox letters, from children, for 6 years or more
• 62% of birth parents had contact with children when they were over 18, as adults

You can read the full report of the Big Consult of Adopted People here.

The results of The Big Consult of Birth Parents can be found here.