Useful Links
Adoption & Fostering Links
We have provided some useful links below to sites that can provide you with additional information on Fostering or Adoption.
There are also downloadable documents relating to tracing birth relatives for adopted adults) and information on changes to Adoption law for birth parents and relatives. All links open in a new window. If you require any of the downloadable documents on this page in a different format please contact us on 0114 273 5075.
General Fostering and Adoption Links
BAAF – British Association for Adoption and Fostering
The British Association for Adoption & Fostering is the leading UK charity working for children separated from their birth families. It speaks out on behalf of looked after children, supports thousands of professionals and supports adoptive parents and foster carers.
Directgov
Site with the widest range of government information and services online, links directly into Fostering and Adoption information pages.
Fostering Links
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network are the UK's leading charity for all those involved in foster care, and exist to help fostered children and young people to thrive by providing practical assistance to those who can make it happen.
Shared Care Network
Shared Care Network was founded by short break scheme organisers who felt a need for a co-ordinating national body to share information and promote good practice in this field. Today, Shared Care Network represents around 350 family based short breaks services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Shared Care Network’s aims are to provide an advice and information service for schemes, short break carers and parents.
Private Fostering Every Child Matters
Information on private fostering provided by the Governments Every Child Matters website.
Contact a Family
Every day over 75 children in the UK are born or diagnosed with a serious disability or rare syndrome and the vast majority of them are cared for at home. Contact a Family is the only UK charity providing support and advice to parents whatever the medical condition of their child.
Mencap
Mencap work with people with a learning disability, and their families and carers. We can provide information and advice on a range of learning disability issues.
Family Fund
Family Fund champion an inclusive society where families with severely disabled or seriously ill children have choices and the opportunity to enjoy ordinary life. The Family Fund helps families of disabled and seriously ill children under the age of 16.
Council for Disabled Children
The Council provides a national forum for the discussion, development and dissemination of a wide range of policy and practice issues relating to service provision and support for children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs.
Whizz-Kids
Whizz-Kidz was set up in 1990 to address the growing demand for customised mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and tricycles for disabled children. Since then the charity has funded over 3,800 young disabled people. The charity Headquarters is in London and has 35 staff. They also have a unique network of 10 Mobility Therapists (occupational and physiotherapists) located across the UK. The charity provides a broad range of mobility equipment that is not available through the National Health Service, including powered, manual and sports wheelchairs, specially adapted tricycles, bicycles, buggies, and walking aids. They also work to raise awareness of the importance of independent mobility and the issues that affect disabled children and their families.
Eric
Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence. This website is for young people aged 13-17 in the British Isles who experience bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation or soiling.
Adoption Links
Adoption UK
Adoption UK is the only national self-help group run by and for adoptive parents and foster carers, offering support before, during and after adoption.
Department for Education & Skills (DfES) Adoption pages
The purpose of the site is to keep visitors up-to-date with developments in adoption, bring together the Department's printed material on adoption and to provide links to Web sites associated with adoption.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Information pages on Adoption Leave and Adoption Pay.
The Post Adoption Centre
The Post Adoption Centre provides independent advice, counselling and support to anyone affected by or dealing with the challenges and opportunities of adoption.
After Adoption Yorkshire
An independant agency providing a range of adoption services. Fees are charged. They provide information and advice, counselling, literature and training. Offer a support service for non-consenting birth parents in Sheffield.
NORCAP (National Organisation for Counselling Adoptees and Parents)
Established in 1982 NORCAP was formed to help adults affected by adoption and to reduce distress and anxiety.
Adoption and Children's Act 2002
This act is intended to substantially reduce the number of children in care. The government hopes the act, which gives unmarried and same sex couples the right to adopt, will lead to a 40% increase in the number of looked after children who are adopted.
General Register Office - Adoptions Page
Information from the General Register Office on Adoption and accessing birth records.
For more information on Fostering or Adopting through Sheffield City Council please contact us on 0114 273 5075 or through our online contacts form.
Downloads
The Direct.gov guide for birth parents on changes to Adoption Law for parents of the child. (336 KB)
The Direct.gov guide to changes in Adoption law for birth relatives of the child. (332 KB)
The direct.gov guide to services for adopted adults regarding tracing birth relatives. (364 KB)
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