Perspectives from adoption agencies and adoptive parents.

The report was commissioned by the Welsh Government in order to understand current service provision in Wales so that the development of adoption support services within the new National Adoption Service, which is being launched in November 2014, can respond to identified needs.

The team of researchers at Cardiff University, lead by Dr Heather Ottaway, discovered that there are currently no dedicated adoption support teams in Wales which focus solely on providing support to all those directly affected by adoption.

Adoption support is therefore seen in many ways as the 'poor relation'. However, without access to good support services, adoption agencies are concerned that potential adopters for children in Wales will not come forward.

Cardiff University Adoption Support Services May 2014 Final.pdf