Post-adoption support
All parties to an adoption are entitled to support (Section 25 of the Adoption Act). Post-adoption support is available to the adoptee, adoptive parents and biological parents who wish to discuss the adoption.
You can get support from your wellbeing services county’s social services or Save the Children Finland if the wellbeing services county procures the services.
Post-adoption support is free of charge.
Support for adoptive parents
An adoptive parent may need support in many different situations. The objective is to support and help the adopted child and parents in their new life situation and in the different stages of the child’s growth and development.
Support may be necessary for:
- working on your own parenthood and relationship issues
- talking with the child about adoption and their background
- supporting the child in various family changes (e.g. moving, a new addition to the family, divorce, falling ill)
- in matters related to the child’s development and transition phases (early childhood education, school, adolescence)
- finding out the child’s background or establishing contact with biological parents
Support from adoption counselling can include, for example:
- discussion support
- identifying the need for help and support
- statements to parties related to the child, such as early childhood education or school
- attending meetings with the authorities or other parties involved in the child’s life and highlighting the importance of adoption
- support in communicating with the child’s biological parent
- support according to the special competence of adoption counselling employees
- nationally or regionally organised training and peer meetings
- referral to other services
Support for adoptee
The adoptee has the opportunity to receive support at different stages of life. Thoughts about what happened in the past, why I was adopted, the impact of adoption on my life and, in particular, how all of this feels, can require a lot of attention and resources. Often, these reflections come up at different phases of life and developmental stages and in connection with changes. Every adoptee has their own story and life situation, and the need to clarify adoption matters is individual.
Some questions can be answered in discussions with your family and loved ones, while others can be addressed via the post-adoption service, in the form of documents, for example. For domestic adoptions, the documents can be found from the adoption counselling provider.
During the post-adoption support meeting, you can:
- review adoption documents
- receive support in working with information
- discuss matter such as the stages that lead to adoption
- get help, advice and support with communication or other adoption issues
- discuss adoption and current life situation
An adoptee who has reached the age of 12 has the right to get to know their background independently with a social worker. However, if you are an adopted child or young person, we recommend that you come to the meeting together with your adoptive parents.
Support for the biological parent
In domestic adoption, biological parents are offered support, help with the grief process and questions related to communication. We also aim to offer peer support.
All parties are supported in communication related to open adoption. For example, helping to make a contact agreement, arranging meetings and helping to maintain the agreed contact, which is the child’s legal right to contact the former parent.
Adoption counselling
Adoption counselling for domestic and intercountry adoptions is available at all of our regional offices.
Our employees are happy to provide more information and help. Don’t hesitate to contact us.