Contact with the Past

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Maintaining Contact With The Foster Family And Others

Adoption does not mean the past does not exist or should be ignored. Adoption is about dealing with the effects of the negative past, embracing the positive past, and building a happy future together. This means helping the child maintain contact with those people from his or her past that he loves and cares about. Some adopted children appreciate the opportunity to call their former foster parents and old school chums when they wish, and to be able to visit them occasionally. This contact usually follows the predictable pattern consisting of more frequent contact in the early months of the placement.

In some cases, you and the social worker may determine that ongoing contact with certain biological relatives is healthy. These relationships should be continued. The amount and type of openness in any adoption should be based upon what is safe and what is best for the child. Your social worker and the child's former foster family will help you work this out.

~ Rita Laws, Ph.D.

Copyright © 2003 Rita Laws and Nancy Ashe. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Safety
• 3. Pre-Placement Visits
• 4. Medical Needs
• 5. Daily Routine Needs
• 6. Bonding & Attachment
• 7. International/Transracial Adoption
• 8. Maintaining Contact

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