This unique six-day programme for adopters and long term foster carers provides a fresh approach to parenting hurt children, helping to minimise family distress, placement disruption and breakdown.
Parents will develop their understanding and expertise in dealing with issues of attachment and the ongoing effects of early trauma. They explore their own expectations and share new and creative parenting strategies.
US trauma and attachment expert Dan Hughes says: This programme is not only something that would have a very positive impact on parents, but also should be helpful to professionals working with these families. It is very well thought out and developed. It covers so many important issues, in such depth and from so many angles.
"It was the best course I've ever been on! Excellent and most enjoyable. Very comprehensive."
"I'm amazed at how excellent the modules were. The openness and availability of the trainers along with their personalities helped everything to flow. The course is well constructed using all forms of learning from experiential to theory, to reach us all.
"Good friends, good laugh, good advice and HOPE."
Module 1 Expectations, Realities and Loss
The expectations of everyone involved in the adoption process, the reality of living with a hurt child and the issue of loss for parents and children.
Module 2 Attachment
How healthy and unhealthy attachments develop, the legacy of dysfunctional attachment and how this affects daily life for adoptive and foster families.
Module 3 Claiming and Belonging
How parents can enhance the special relationship with their child and help them develop a sense of belonging.
Module 4 Trauma and Adaptive Behaviour
Developing an understanding of the ongoing effects of trauma and how the child's behaviour is a survival mechanism.
Module 5 Rewiring
Creating parenting strategies to help the child achieve better relationships.
Module 6 The Last Piece of Cake
Managing anger and the importance of self-care for parents. This allows parents to reflect on the issues covered by the course and think about what they need in the future.
This programme has been developed and is delivered by adopters for adopters and has had outstanding success with more than 150 programmes being sold. It has been purchased by local authorities throughout the UK, often as part of a rolling programme of support for families after adoption. Each programme is delivered to a maximum of 14 participants.
