Training and workshops
In England, adoptive parents have pre approval training, required as part of the preparation to be approved as adoptive parents. Your Adoption Agency will also help you access to a range of post approval training, classes and workshops to help navigate the challenges of parenting adopted children.
These training courses and workshops are likely to be available:
Therapeutic parenting skills training
All adoption agencies will provide opportunities for adoptive parents to access parenting skills training and courses to help them understand the early trauma adopted children have often experienced so they can support their children as they grow and develop.
The type of training and courses provided differ across the country and each adoption agency will provide a list of workshops and seminars available. Courses may be funded by regional adoption agencies through the Adoption Support Fund with a specialist provider commissioned to run the course.
The courses range from support to help with younger children right through to support for teenagers. They are designed to provide a helpful perspective about different strategies and ideas including;
- sharing an understanding of attachment theory
- the impact of early trauma and separation
- the developing brain
- the impact separation and loss can have on children and young people growing up
Being in a group with other adopters with shared experiences can be very helpful.
Education workshops
Getting the right educational setting for your child/ren and the right support for them is important. Adoption agencies may provide workshops on different topics that can help you navigate the school provision in your area and what key things to consider when choosing a primary or secondary school. They may also provide workshops on how to access support if your child has special educational needs. More information on education support can be found by clicking here.
Life story workshops
These are designed to support parents to feel more confident in talking to their child/ren about their life story and why they are adopted. This helps parents think about how to start conversations about adoption with their child and provides useful ideas around stories, games and other practical resources that can help. It also provides a forum for parents to talk about their concerns and challenges.
Therapeutic play workshops
Many adoption agencies will provide workshops or courses aimed to help adoptive parents understand how therapeutic play can build trust and enhance a child’s attachment, self-esteem and playfulness using the techniques within daily routines. This is often referred to as a ‘Theraplay’ taster session. It takes place in a relaxed and fun setting and introduces the concept of therapeutic play to help build continual attachment between adopters and their child.
Child to parent violence workshops
Child to parent violence is a serious issue for some families, which is often misunderstood or overlooked. Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) is an approach that helps parents learn how to deal with these violent behaviours in their children. These workshops and more in depth courses can help adoptive parents become familiar with the principles of NVR and learn how to build ‘new authority’ in the family and re-connections with their child.
