Adoption on Television - Links to all available past programs

[Lilka]

We need this I think - got information on various different threads about different tv programs but it's all scattered about.

So, Lilka's big list of adoption related documentaries and where to watch them!

1. Panorama: The Truth About Adoption
   

Filmed in Coventry, this documentary covers the search for an adoptive family for two sisters, decision making about the future of 3 children in care, and the story of a little boy whose foster parents want to adopt him but whose birth mother wants him back
Watch here - tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=895d85fb2ec51fe196c73e05b37d79f5

1. A Home For Maisie
   

In her 8 years of life, Maisie has lived in 10 different homes and been through 2 adoption disruptions. She has significant emotional and behavioural needs. Social services have placed her for adoption one final time, with a couple who have already adopted 8 older children, but if this doesn't work out, Maisie will spend the rest of her childhood in care. This documentary follows the family and Maisie as they go through therapy at Family Futures, an organisation with a 95% success rate at keeping families together
Watch - www.dailymotion.com/video/x154fol_a-home-for-maisie_people

1. Love is Not Enough
   

This moving 8 part series followed 4 families in the late 1990's, as they went through an intensive home study process and adopted their children (both domestic and international adoption). The filmmakers then followed up to see what life was like several years after adoption. Very moving and in depth, this is still relevant and worth watching 14 years after it first aired
Watch all episodes - vimeo.com/album/2529993

1. Protecting our Children
   

This 3 part series followed social workers as they worked with vulnerable families in their area, and made decisions about when to take children into care
Watch - www.dailymotion.com/video/x15pc3t_protecting-our-children-ep1_lifestyle

More to follow when I find the links

[Hels20]

Thanks for the heads up- now off to find on iplayer

[Devora]

I miss Lilka

[NanaNina]

What's happened to Lilka - is she ok?

[Devora]

Last time I talked with her, having a difficult time. But that was several months ago. I hope she's ok.

[NanaNina]

Me too. I don't go on the adoption threads very much after being pilloried for using the wrong terminology. I always read Lilka's threads - such a wise woman. Hope she's ok.

[Bubba1234]

Sorry I know this thread is a zombie thread but i came across it and watched protecting our children and after some Digging I found online that that guy Shaun died last year I would love to know how Marva is doing their story was so sad

[JazzAnnNonMouse]

How did he die? I would also love to know how marva is. I really rooted for her. The whole thing is so sad.
There was another couple that the woman's situation also made me v sad. I hope she left him and is happy.

[MintyLizzy9]

I watched all of these when I first started the adoption process and found them so so sad. Just started to re watch and I'm in bits, can't help but see my own DS in those little faces, not sure how many more I can watch this time round, it's just all so real now that I'm a mum

I sobbed when the little 3 yo boy in protecting our kids went to contact with his dad and dad just couldn't be bothered to even engage or chat with him when LO was so clearly trying. Dad clearly had a lot of his own issues and challenges to deal with. I hope LO finally got his forever family,, he was clearly making great progress in FC.

It would be interesting to hear how they are all doing now, hopefully some have managed to turn things around.

Marva, was so close to keeping it together my heart just sank for her at the end.

[Bubba1234]

I couldn't find info on how he passed unfortunately and there seems to be no trace of Marva on Facebook I would love to know how she is today have things improved for her in her life. It seems from what I could piece together they broke up,p very soon after filming and Shaun was very bitter towards her for whatever reason I could not find either.
Oh yes that episode with the three year old boy was heartbreaking that dad was a nasty piece of work he was just getting as many women pregnant as he could him and the partner weren't very likeable but with Shaun and Marva you caught glimpses of their personalities admist the chaos in parts and she was quite sweet and he had some talent hidden beneath everyone but they were so toxic together.

[Italiangreyhound]

I watched the whole series of four adopters again recently. Very moving.

[Bitchfromhell]

Just found this brilliant thread and am place marking it because actually, it's the most concise list of adoption documentary links that I've found on the internet.
Thanks be to mumsnet and the lovely posters who saved all of these links.

[crispandcheesesandwichplease]

Thank you for putting the work into doing that. It's much appreciated and I will do my best to make time to follow and watch the links.

[Allington]

Bump for jammydodger

[SpiderQueen]

Sorry to bump an old thread - Just wanted to update that the 1st episode of 15,000 kids and counting (Channel 4, 2014) is now on Youtube. Unfortunately it is just this first one and not the full series

[Hels20]

I think this is such a valuable thread that I am going to add two more programmes that I have come across - all on YouTube

Find me a Family - Episode 1 and Episode 2. This is from Northern Ireland and done in about 2014 or 2015.

The Truth About Adoption - Panorama - this was from 2012.

"You're not splitting up my family" - not about adoption but about 12 year old male twins - the maker of the programme found these two boys just as they were put on the Child Protection Register. She followed them for 4 months and then stopped filming. She then found them again 10 years later and catches up with their lives and whether their experience of being in care/foster homes/having an alcoholic dad affected them and ruined their lives. It won numerous awards at the time and is heart breaking. Makes you think. It was released in 2007.

[Proudtrout]

Just to say thanks all for these links, much appreciated.

I’m busy lurking here and hoping I’ll be in a position to post for support when I start the process.

Until then I’ll be doing my tv watching homework!

[catlover1987]

Thanks Hels20. Just watching 'you're not splitting up my family' at the moment. That Granny is awful!

[Hels20]

Cat - the Granny is awful. What a piece of work. If they had had more love - maybe things would have turned out differently. They were obviously v neglected from 9.

[MummyDoingHerBest]

Not TV, but 'The Adoption' podcast (17 episodes) is also worth listening to. Tells the story from beginning to end of how adoption works and interviews with all involved. Available on BBC website or iTunes etc.

[bostonkremekrazy]

Thanks Hels for the link to 'you're not splitting up my family'.
I watched almost predicting the outcome...how sad. Granny - well there are no words 😲. Dad needed rehab and counselling and what a shame he didnt work with ss to get that kind of help.
And the poor aunt/uncle. So sad for both those sisters (mums) - the video shown of them playing with all their boys 😢.
And the twins....what can i say? Even at 10 you could see the future unfolding for them. Prison. Could any intervention now stop that? What's in place for kids like that now? Before secure units etc etc....

Good program and loads of food for thought! (2 dc with 'challenging behaviour 😧)

[Hels20]

Boston - it was very depressing and somehow you knew the outcome. When the Dad was saying he didn’t want Mark and he was a piece of shit - you could see that despite all his bravado, he was really hurting. Emotionally neglected. Made me think about the possible challenges ahead with my DC who have tricky behaviour. But I must remember to always show love. Must remember.

[MagpieSong]

Sorry to raise this thread from the dead, but I thought it might be good to keep the links in the same place. I came across 'Child in Mind', a documentary that focuses on the birth mothers and a charity who engages with them to help them come to terms with the loss of their children and the struggles they've had. I thought it was a really good insight into the birth parent's difficulties and how that engagement helps them to overcome such huge difficulties.

I know it is directly about their children, but I think it can be so helpful knowing some of the thought processes and experiences birth parents go through - and when working out your own life story, it can help to form a picture of how they might have felt and why you (as an adopted child) couldn't grow up in your birth family.

Anyway, apologies again for raising this thread, but hope this can be helpful to someone.

[Weatherforducks]

Thanks @MagpieSong, just watched it, definitely worth a look as well. It is a view from the perspective which is not often explored through film. I thought the programme was done sensitively, came from a different angle and really did offer food for thought.

[Weatherforducks]

Especially the thoughts on letterbox.