CYP Now - Adopted children should remain close to birth families, study suggests

Adoption law should be overhauled to ensure children can retain close contact with their birth families, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has said following the findings of an academic study.

A review into the role of social workers in adoptions, commissioned by BASW, criticised the current practice of denying children close contact with their birth families.

The review, carried out by academics at the University of Huddersfield and Royal Holloway University of London, said that severing ties with birth families can have a detrimental effect on children's emotional wellbeing and can lead to identity issues.

"Adopted children denied contact can experience serious identity issues and when they are free to seek out their birth families at age 18, adoptive parents can be ill-prepared for the emotional consequences," states the review.

On the back of the findings BASW is calling for a rethink of adoption law to consider a more open approach to contact between children and birth families.

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