Adopting a child can be rewarding as well as challenging at times. South Gloucestershire Adoption Service knows that most people have the capacity to be parents and there is no blueprint for the 'perfect parent'. We are certainly not looking for Superman or Wonderwoman – they don't exist! Adopters all have their own experiences and qualities and like other parents, you will learn a lot 'on the job'.
We are interested in your skills, experience and what you have to offer the children in our care. You will bring your own experiences of childhood, of family relationships, coping with teenage years, leaving home and adult relationships. Understanding what your experiences have been and what you have learned from them helps us to understand what you will bring to adoptive parenthood.
We also recognise that adoptions are most likely to be successful when they are well supported and support is available throughout the adoption process.
I want to find out about step-parent adoption
If you are a step-family and have children from a previous relationship you may be thinking about how you and your partner can both become the children's legal parents.
I would like to adopt a child from another country
There are many different reasons why a family might consider adopting a child from a specific country. Maybe you have relatives there and wish to adopt a child from your extended family or you may have seen publicity about children in a particular country who appear abandoned and orphaned. Whatever your reasons, you will need to be aware of what intercountry adoption entails.
I was adopted and want to trace my birth records and relatives
Many people who were adopted as children decide to trace their records and birth families. This is a natural curiosity and South Gloucestershire can support you in doing this.
I am pregnant and want my child to be adopted
If you have just found out you are unexpectedly pregnant, you may be feeling very confused about the future and the decisions you have to make. You may be considering whether you are able to look after the baby yourself, perhaps with the help of a partner or family, terminating your pregnancy or having your child adopted.
You can download an information pack entitled 'Thinking about Adoption' from the 'Read more' section of this page.