Letterbox Contact Information

Many of our adopted children have sisters and brothers living with a different adoptive or foster families. We have listened to adoptive children and they have told us of their distress at losing contact with their siblings. It is important that adopted children can continue to keep a relationship with their siblings where appropriate.

Ways to keep in touch include:

• Writing letters with their news
• Carefully arranged visits, where appropriate
• Adoptive parents also need to provide an annual newsletter for the agreed person from their adopted child’s birth family

What is letterbox contact?

Letterbox contact is a formal arrangement for birth parents, relatives and the adoptive parents to share information about the child(ren) when and if appropriate. This is a confidential and agreed process made through the court process. Letterbox contact letters are sent via the Birmingham Adoption Service and not directly to the birth parents, relatives and the adoptive parents.

Addresses and telephone numbers are not shared between birth parents and the adoptive parents. Letters are checked by the letterbox administrators to ensure they are suitable and that the content complies with the agreed arrangement for each child. 

Letterbox contact is made between the adults on behalf of the child(ren). The child(ren) can contribute, for example by including a drawing, hand print or by writing something when they are older, but only if they want to. The letters should be shared with the child(ren) when they are old enough to understand and when appropriate.

Letterbox contact help and support

• The Letterbox Administrators and Post Adoption Team can offer help, advice and support with letter writing
• If you struggle with reading or writing please don’t let this stop you from keeping in contact. Just let us know and we can offer help
• See our tips of writing letters and sample letters for adoptive parent(s) and birth family as well as our family guide to letterbox contact
• Advice, mediation, negotiation and counselling service related to post adoption contact is also available

Contact us

• Telephone: 0121 303 1010

Email letterbox administration