Support Groups and Training

ADOPTION SUPPORT FUND (ASF) FUNDED TRAINING

Foundations for Attachment

Written by Kim S. Golding, Foundations for Attachment is a programme to help adopters to nurture attachments with their child. It is designed specifically for those caring for children whose capacity to emotionally connect has been compromised because of attachment problems, trauma, and loss or separation. Informed by attachment theory and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), it consists of the following core modules:

  • Parenting challenges - blocked trust/Hiding & miscuing attachment needs/ Fear of closeness.

  • Shame- parenting children living in shame

  • Building connections- therapeutic parenting/PACE

  • Supporting behaviours- the challenges of traditional parenting strategies, helping to regulate through PACE, connection with correction

  • Understanding our own attachment history and the impact on our relationships

  • Self-care and blocked care- how to look after ourselves and what happens if we don't.

For further details about this training available from Adopt North East please email AdoptNorthEast@adoptne.org.uk or call us on 0191 643 5000.

Therapeutic Playgroup

Therapeutic Play Group is a group for adoptive parents and their children, facilitated by two experienced Adopt North East workers. An important part of our work is supporting you when therapeutically parenting your child. In this group we use playful and fun activities which enhance a parent’s relationship with their child.

The group lasts for one hour. The first 30 minutes is structured activities and the last 30 minutes is unstructured and a chance to talk to each other.

Our approach is based on PACE and Theraplay® principles.

There are usually up to six parents and six children in the group

For further details about this training available from Adopt North East please email AdoptNorthEast@adoptne.org.uk or call us on 0191 643 5000.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Early Permanence Support Group (virtual)

 Adopt North East are committed to offering Early Permanence Placements for children, and to do this successfully our Early Permanence Carers need to feel supported and prepared. The EP support group runs on a 6 weekly basis 8-9pm on a Wednesday, via Teams. Reminders will be sent out one week before these sessions.

 The group welcomes individuals who have an interest in Early Permanence (including individuals before and after approval who are awaiting an EP match), as well as current EP carers and those who have been EP carers previously. 

 Caring for a child under Early Permanence is a unique experience with many rewards, and some challenges. The Early Permanence Support Group aims to offer people an additional space where they can come and share their journey, experiences or worries with other people who have either expanded their family through Early Permanence, or those who hope to do so in the future!

For further details about the EPP support group please email AdoptNorthEast@adoptne.org.uk or call us on 0191 643 5000

Stay and play

Adopt North East runs a fortnightly, free to use baby and toddler (pre-school) group for adoptive parents. This group provides an excellent informal support for adopters to meet with other adoptive parents and share experiences and offer support to one another, facilitated by a member of Adopt North East.

For further details about Stay & Play please speak to your Adoption social worker

Young persons group

Adopt North East run a fortnightly young people’s group for those age 11 to 18. The group offers a space for adopted young people to get together, socialise and have some fun. The group also supports young people to contribute towards service development of Adopt North East and have an active voice in all that Adopt North East does.

For further details about our Young persons group please email postadoptionsupport@adoptne.org.uk

ADOPTERS’ DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS

As you are aware the journey to becoming adopters requires ongoing learning and development.  To build upon your preparation training and self-directed learning, we will be offering a programme of four development sessions which will aim to cover areas beneficial once a child/ren joins your family.  

In addition to the topic, the sessions will allow you to:

  • Continue to prepare yourself to be an adoptive parent through ongoing training

  • Meet other adopters.

  • Develop your support network with other adopters. 

  • Get to hear about the children we are currently family finding for.

  • Strengthen your profile as a prospective adopter.

Meetings are held monthly at our training venue at the Linskill Centre from 6pm – 8.00pm.  You are welcome to attend topics more than once if you wish.  

The 4 topics are: 

Theraplay and Family Connections

This session will cover two areas:
Theraplay -to help you develop your theraplay skills and learn new techniques. 
What Is family connections and what support do they offer.  

Click here to book.

FASD and PAS

This session will cover two areas:
What Is FASD and how to support your child.
What to expect from Post Adoption Support. 

Beyond placement day

This will feature experienced adopters talking about their adoption journey from placement day onwards.   

Maintaining relationships

This will feature experienced adopters talking about their experiences of maintaining relationships with birth family and foster carers.
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