Parents of teenagers and young adults (Wales)

Adoptive parents in Wales are slightly more positive about the support available to adopted teens and young adults than elsewhere in the UK, but confidence in these services are still at a very low level. 30% of 13-18-year-olds had informal direct contact with a birth relative during 2025, but only 29% of parents say they feel well prepared for the possibility of unplanned direct contact during the teen years. Among 16-25-year-olds, the rate of young people not in education, employment or training remains considerably higher than the national rates, and 57% of parents feel their child is not getting the support they need from statutory services. 

 

 Statement

UK-Wide 

Wales 

I feel well prepared as a parent for the possibility of direct contact during the teen years. 

27% 

29% 

I feel confident that appropriate support is available from adoption support services for teens and young adults and their families. 

19% 

24% 

I feel confident that other statutory services (e.g. mental health, housing, education) have a good understanding of the needs of adopted young people. 

11% 

16% 

My young adult child is getting the support they need from statutory services. 

28% 

43% 

My young adult child is in education, employment or training. 

69% 

67% 

  

What is going well? 

“If you have a good support worker it is so helpful. They have responded as swiftly as possible to the fast-paced social media informal contact with birth family.”  

“Twelve years in and I am impressed with the level of support still available. I still receive regular invitations to events and offers of training and support.” 

“What works well is support networks of other parents who have been there before you.” 

“NVR [Non-Violent Resistance training] was a total game changer for us and saved our family.” 

 

What could be improved? 

“We have many professionals involved but nobody is holding individual services accountable. There should be a team around the child and family approach.” 

“When our daughter turned 18, we felt we just went over a cliff. Our wonderful post adoption social worker, who had supported us through some very dark times . . . informed us that she was not going to be permitted to continue to give us this support now that our daughter was an adult. Support should be available as long as adoptees and their families need it, and certainly into their 20s.” 

“We need better training for schools and colleges so that adopted children are properly supported.” 

 

30% 

of adopted 13-18-year-olds had direct contact with a birth relative during 2025 – more than half was unplanned and/or unsolicited. 

29% 

of adoptive parents say they feel well prepared for the possibility of unplanned direct contact during the teen years. 

50% 

of adopted 16-25-year-olds accessed or attempted to access NHS mental health services during 2025. 

67% 

of adoptive parents feel optimistic about their young adult child’s future. 

 

 

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