Training for Adoption South East adopters Adoption UK is running a range of training courses for adopters and prospective adopters registered with Adoption South East. There are also training sessions for professionals. ALL COURSES ARE HELD ONLINE Our training helps adopters develop their knowledge and skills at all stages of the adoption journey. For professionals, training helps you to understand the needs of adopted children and adoptive families and to develop your knowledge and understanding of the unique needs of families who have come together through adoption. All training programmes are delivered by highly- skilled, professional trainers who all have lived experience of parenting adopted children. They understand the challenges and rewards of parenting an adopted child. If you are unable to register for a course, this may be because it has reached capacity and bookings have closed. Please either book onto the next available session, if available, or e-mail [email protected] to be put on a waiting list and title your e-mail ASE waiting - course title. Book Any Of The Courses Here TRAINING FOR FAMILIES JUNE 2024 Keeping In Touch: Supporting Your Adopted Child To Maintain Links With Their Birth Family During this training course, you will examine the experience of contact from the perspective of the child, the birth family and adoptive parents. You will have the opportunity to: Consider the purpose, benefits and difficulties associated with contact. Explore how contact can be used to assist with the child’s identity formation. Appreciate how contact can be supported and improved. Consider contact in the context of tracing and reunion. Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). There is also a pre- meet with the trainer where you will be able to share any challenges you are currently facing in relation to contact. This meeting will enable to trainer to create breakout groups that are beneficial and meaningful to all participants. You will be allocated a time slot for the pre- meet once you have registered for the course. 3rd June 2024 09:30- 13:30 1st July 2024 09:30- 11:30 (Follow Up Session) JULY 2024 What You Need To Know About Primary Schools Adoptive parents often tell us that they are sometimes unsure what to look for when choosing a school. In consultation and discussion with experienced adoptive parents and educators, Adoption UK has developed training that will support and guide parents to identify a setting that will best meet the needs of their adopted child. Run by experienced teachers and education mentors, this course will give practical tips and advice for not only choosing a school but for developing and maintaining a positive working relationship with school staff to support your child(ren) to reach their full potential. 5th July 2024 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You Need To Know About Nursery Schools Choosing a nursery or pre- school setting for your adopted child can be a daunting experience. Come and join Annaleigh & Lucy (both highly experienced teachers and education mentors) for this session where they will give you lots of tips and suggestions to help you identify the most appropriate setting for your child(ren). Both trainers are also experienced adoptive parents and will be able to help you to consider the questions you may want to ask staff, what to look out for when you are viewing settings and how to work cooperatively and productively with staff to ensure that your child has the best possible chance of reaching their full potential. 9th July 18:30- 21:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You Need To Know About Secondary School & Transition To Secondary School Transition to secondary school can be very challenging for some adopted children. Adolescence can raise additional pressures for adopted young people, who may be starting to ask more questions about their past, at a time when they also want to fit in with peers and seek independence from their family. Adoptive parents often tell us that they are sometimes unsure what to look for when choosing a school. In consultation and discussion with experienced adoptive parents and educators, Adoption UK has developed training that will support and guide parents to identify a setting that will best meet the needs of their adopted child. Run by experienced teachers and education mentors, this course will give practical tips and advice for not only choosing a school but for developing and maintaining a positive working relationship with school staff to support your child(ren) to reach their full potential. It will also support you to advocate for your child during the crucial primary to secondary transition phase. 12th July 10:00- 13:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FASD Support & Networking Group Are you a parent or carer of someone who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol? Do you want to know more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? Come along and meet other parents and carers to share knowledge and ideas and to create a support network with others who may be experiencing similar challenges to your family. This group is facilitated by Annaleigh- an experienced adopter who has lived experience of parenting a child with FASD. Your child does NOT have to have had a diagnosis of FASD for you to attend this support group. 15th July 2024 20:00- 22:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SEPTEMBER 2024 Trauma Informed Parenting Support Group This is a support group for all those who have attended any of the following courses (see below) and would like a safe, warm and supportive space to share the joys and challenges of parenting an adoptive child. Facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent, these sessions will enable to you talk with (and learn from) your fellow adoptive parents. To attend this support group, you must have already completed one of the following training courses: NVR, Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions, Managing Anger & Defiance Peer Learning Programme, Trauma Informed Parenting: Practical Solutions, Trauma Informed Parenting Peer Learning Programme, CPV Peer Learning Programme, CPV: Secondary Age or CPV: Primary Age 9th September 19:30 -21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You Need To Know About Primary Schools Adoptive parents often tell us that they are sometimes unsure what to look for when choosing a school. In consultation and discussion with experienced adoptive parents and educators, Adoption UK has developed training that will support and guide parents to identify a setting that will best meet the needs of their adopted child. Run by experienced teachers and education mentors, this course will give practical tips and advice for not only choosing a school but for developing and maintaining a positive working relationship with school staff to support your child(ren) to reach their full potential. 10th September 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Non- Violent Resistance NVR is an approach, which has been specifically developed for responding effectively to aggressive, violent, self-destructive and controlling behaviour in children, adolescents and young adults. In Non- Violent Resistance, parents or carers learn to acquire a position of strength, not giving in to unreasonable or harmful demands by the child, protecting themselves from aggression and violence, yet avoiding the unnecessary, unhelpful and painful battles of the past. “Raising parental presence” becomes the alternative to trying to control an uncontrollable and often out of control child. Feeling empowered and stronger, parents can then use ‘reconciliation work’ to develop a stronger focus on the young person’s needs, and show that they continue to love and care about their child. You may have made the same attempts to improve things over and over again. You will often find yourself in a situation that is utterly predictable – e.g. when you are trying to reason with your child, part of you already knows that this will merely lead to a heated argument, with smashed objects in the house, shouting, and maybe even physical violence. Perhaps you have become locked in a repetitive, unhelpful pattern. Using NVR, you will carefully develop ‘strategies’ to respond to the controlling behaviour that, at first, may appear counterintuitive, but that are very different from the reactions you have shown before. However, this is not “behaviour management” – these are strategies for helping you for making peace in the family and changing relationships. This 8- week course course sits within a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 10th September- 5th November (No session 29th October) Places on this course will be allocated through ASE following the submission of an expression of interest form. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Getting Ready For Placement This training course will enhance your knowledge of developmental trauma and attachment and examine the importance of making positive connections with a hurt child. Your trainer- an experienced adoptive parent- will provide information on practical ways to prepare for family life, identify ways of helping a child move into a new family and parenting strategies which build attachments while respecting the child’s past and maintaining safe and developmentally appropriate boundaries. The course also focusses on the importance of self- care and creating a strong support network. This course is only suitable for approved and waiting adopters. 11th September 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thinking About 2 Or More? This course helps you to explore and consider adopting siblings and how you can be supported to meet the needs of more than one child. This half-day session focusses on key issues to consider for siblings within the context of adoption and highlights strategies for managing anticipated challenges. It will also explore the joys of parenting siblings. Delivered by Nicola- a highly experienced trainer and adoptive mother of a sibling group of three- this session will provide a realistic look at parenting two or more adopted children. This course is suitable for Stage 1 and Stage 2 adopters. 12th September 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keeping In Touch - the basics This course is an introduction to maintaining contact with your child's birth family. You will have the opportunity to examine the experience of contact from the perspective of the child, the birth family and adoptive parents. Aims: Consider the purpose, benefits and difficulties associated with contact. Explore how contact can be used to assist with the child’s identity formation. Appreciate how contact can be supported and improved. Consider contact in the context of tracing and reunion. All approved and waiting ASE adopters are strongly encouraged to attend this course as part of their learning and development in preparation for their child(ren) being placed. This course is also open to parents who have already had their children placed. 13th September 09:30-12:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Adolescent Learning & Networking Group This support group provides participants with opportunities to connect, socialise and support each other. This group is facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent. The aim of this group is for adoptive families to have access to a welcoming and supportive peer support network with other parents who are parenting their children through the (sometimes) turbulent teenage years. 16th September 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Secondary Trauma, Compassion Fatigue & Self- Care This course is run by a psychologist from Adoption UK's Psychology & Therapeutic Hub team. Secondary trauma, also known as ‘compassion fatigue’, can lead to an erosion in a parent's/carer's ability to feel empathy. When parenting children and young people with complex trauma histories, adoptive parents can begin to experience a lack of empathy for their child. This is often seen as ‘burnout’, when in fact the person may be experiencing ‘compassion fatigue’ or ‘secondary trauma’ as a result of parenting in such conditions over a long time period (usually years). Even the most experienced parents can be at risk. This course will help you place your needs at the core of your parenting. It will help participants recognise the signs of secondary trauma and to recognise the impact it can have upon their own emotional wellbeing and mental health in an emotionally safe space. 17th September 09:30-12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Managing Anger & Defiance Peer Learning Programme This is a peer- learning training programme for parents and carers focussing on managing challenging behaviour and supporting parents to develop practical strategies to use in the home. This course aims to support parents in developing their role as therapeutic parents, working to avoid re- triggering their child’s trauma. It also supports parents to develop strategies relating to engagement, reciprocity and de- escalation. The course enables participants to have space to develop their knowledge and understanding as well as having time and space to learn from their peers. This 8- week training session sits within a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence: Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 18th September - 20th November (no sessions 30th October & 6th November) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You Need To Know About Secondary School & Transition To Secondary School Transition to secondary school can be very challenging for some adopted children. Adolescence can raise additional pressures for adopted young people, who may be starting to ask more questions about their past, at a time when they also want to fit in with peers and seek independence from their family. Adoptive parents often tell us that they are sometimes unsure what to look for when choosing a school. In consultation and discussion with experienced adoptive parents and educators, Adoption UK has developed training that will support and guide parents to identify a setting that will best meet the needs of their adopted child. Run by experienced teachers and education mentors, this course will give practical tips and advice for not only choosing a school but for developing and maintaining a positive working relationship with school staff to support your child(ren) to reach their full potential. It will also support you to advocate for your child during the crucial primary to secondary transition phase. 19th September 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Trauma Informed Parenting: Peer Learning Programme This course will explore the different kinds of trauma Previously Looked After Children may have experienced and the impact this has on their brain development and consequently their behaviour. The course supports parents to develop their knowledge and understanding of parenting strategies that can be used for children who have experienced developmental trauma and detail specific ways in which they can support their children, their partner and/or extended family. The course also explores the impact of caring for challenging children on the wellbeing and mental health of parents. Course participants have the opportunity to learn from and create a support network with their peers in a supportive and relaxed environment. This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 23rd September- 18th November (no session 28th October) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Supporting Adopted Adolescents This course aims to support parents through the (often) turbulent teenage years. The course covers: Understanding the emotional and practical impact of adolescence Identifying issues teens face and practical strategies to support them during this often challenging time Dealing with parental compassion fatigue and self-care You will also have the opportunity to discuss the individual challenges you may be facing with your peers. Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 25th September 09:30- 13:00 Follow Up Session 6th October 09:30- 11:30 _________________________________________________________________________________ FASD Support & Networking Group Are you a parent or carer of someone who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol? Do you want to know more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? Come along and meet other parents and carers to share knowledge and ideas and to create a support network with others who may be experiencing similar challenges to your family. This group is facilitated by Annaleigh- an experienced adopter who has lived experience of parenting a child with FASD. Your child does NOT have to have had a diagnosis of FASD for you to attend this support group. 26th September 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ OCTOBER 2024 Talking About Adoption: Secondary Age Course The purpose of this course is to help you gain insights and resources that will help you to talk about your child(ren)’s adoption with them in an age-appropriate and responsive manner. By the end of the session you will have: Examined the importance of talking with and explaining to our children about their adoption Identified age-appropriate explanations linked to a child’s developmental age Practised telling and explaining in a variety of situations Shared ideas and identified resources to support our telling and explaining about adoption Developed your understanding of how a child’s development of a positive sense of identity can be supported by parents through life story work. 2nd October 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Child On Parent Violence (CPV) Peer Learning Programme Training for families that struggle with violence in the home. Child on Parent violence is an area which is increasingly recognised as a major factor in the breakdown of adoption and foster care placements. This peer learning group is specifically designed to help you and your family develop strategies for families to de-escalate child on parent violence (CPV). You will cover the following areas during this course: Greater understanding of child on parent violence Development of practical strategies in the home Meeting the needs of the child Meeting needs of parents Managing anxiety and stress Building support structures This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 3rd October- 28th November (No session 31st October) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Practical Trauma Informed Parenting Strategies This course will help to support parents whose children's capacity to emotionally connect has been compromised. The course will provide an introduction to the following areas: blocked trust, fearing intersubjective connection, the role of shame, hidden Vs expressed attachment needs In addition, course participants will learn about: attachment theory, understanding attachment in context , the impact of trauma and neglect and adaptive behaviours. Course participants will leave with lots of practical examples of how they can support their child(ren). Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 4th October 09:30- 15:00 8th November 09:30- 11:30 (Follow Up Session) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Managing Anger and Defiance: Practical Solutions This training course allows participants to focus on practical strategies to use in the home. This training addresses re-parenting the child in the context of parenting ‘attitude’ and allowing parents to see their role as therapeutic parents, working to avoid re-triggering their child’s trauma and encourage engagement and reciprocity. The course will look at strategies from the perspective of an understanding of anger, both the child’s and the parent’s anger, and its origin in fear. This course is the first in a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 18th October 09:30- 13:00 15th November 09:30- 11.30 (Follow Up Session) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ NOVEMBER 2024 Getting Ready For Placement This training course will enhance your knowledge of developmental trauma and attachment and examine the importance of making positive connections with a hurt child. Your trainer- an experienced adoptive parent- will provide information on practical ways to prepare for family life, identify ways of helping a child move into a new family and parenting strategies which build attachments while respecting the child’s past and maintaining safe and developmentally appropriate boundaries. The course also focusses on the importance of self- care and creating a strong support network. This course is only suitable for approved and waiting adopters. 9th November 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Trauma Informed Parenting Support Group This is a support group for all those who have attended any of the following courses (see below) and would like a safe, warm and supportive space to share the joys and challenges of parenting an adoptive child. Facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent, these sessions will enable to you talk with (and learn from) your fellow adoptive parents. To attend this support group, you must have already completed one of the following training courses: NVR, Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions, Managing Anger & Defiance Peer Learning Programme, Trauma Informed Parenting: Practical Solutions, Trauma Informed Parenting Peer Learning Programme, CPV Peer Learning Programme, CPV: Secondary Age or CPV: Primary Age 12th November 19:30 -21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Adolescent Learning & Networking Group This support group provides participants with opportunities to connect, socialise and support each other. This group is facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent. The aim of this group is for adoptive families to have access to a welcoming and supportive peer support network with other parents who are parenting their children through the (sometimes) turbulent teenage years. 18th November 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thinking About 2 Or More? This course helps you to explore and consider adopting siblings and how you can be supported to meet the needs of more than one child. This half-day session focusses on key issues to consider for siblings within the context of adoption and highlights strategies for managing anticipated challenges. It will also explore the joys of parenting siblings. Delivered by Nicola- a highly experienced trainer and adoptive mother of a sibling group of three- this session will provide a realistic look at parenting two or more adopted children. This course is suitable for Stage 1 and Stage 2 adopters. 22nd November 14:00- 17:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FASD Support & Networking Group Are you a parent or carer of someone who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol? Do you want to know more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? Come along and meet other parents and carers to share knowledge and ideas and to create a support network with others who may be experiencing similar challenges to your family. This group is facilitated by Annaleigh- an experienced adopter who has lived experience of parenting a child with FASD. Your child does NOT have to have had a diagnosis of FASD for you to attend this support group. 25th November 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You Need To Know About Nursery Schools Choosing a nursery or pre- school setting for your adopted child can be a daunting experience. Come and join Annaleigh & Lucy (both highly experienced teachers and education mentors) for this session where they will give you lots of tips and suggestions to help you identify the most appropriate setting for your child(ren). Both trainers are also experienced adoptive parents and will be able to help you to consider the questions you may want to ask staff, what to look out for when you are viewing settings and how to work cooperatively and productively with staff to ensure that your child has the best possible chance of reaching their full potential. 26th November 18:30- 21:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DECEMBER 2024 Keeping In Touch - the basics This course is an introduction to maintaining contact with your child's birth family. You will have the opportunity to examine the experience of contact from the perspective of the child, the birth family and adoptive parents. Aims: Consider the purpose, benefits and difficulties associated with contact. Explore how contact can be used to assist with the child’s identity formation. Appreciate how contact can be supported and improved. Consider contact in the context of tracing and reunion. All approved and waiting ASE adopters are strongly encouraged to attend this course as part of their learning and development in preparation for their child(ren) being placed. This course is also open to parents who have already had their children placed. 7th December 09:30- 12:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Talking About Adoption: Primary Age Course The purpose of this course is to help you gain insights and resources that will help you to talk about your child(ren)’s adoption with them in an age-appropriate and responsive manner. By the end of the session you will have: Examined the importance of talking with and explaining to our children about their adoption Identified age-appropriate explanations linked to a child’s developmental age Practised telling and explaining in a variety of situations Shared ideas and identified resources to support our telling and explaining about adoption Developed your understanding of how a child’s development of a positive sense of identity can be supported by parents through life story work. 9th December 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ JANUARY 2025 Non- Violent Resistance NVR is an approach, which has been specifically developed for responding effectively to aggressive, violent, self-destructive and controlling behaviour in children, adolescents and young adults. In Non- Violent Resistance, parents or carers learn to acquire a position of strength, not giving in to unreasonable or harmful demands by the child, protecting themselves from aggression and violence, yet avoiding the unnecessary, unhelpful and painful battles of the past. “Raising parental presence” becomes the alternative to trying to control an uncontrollable and often out of control child. Feeling empowered and stronger, parents can then use ‘reconciliation work’ to develop a stronger focus on the young person’s needs, and show that they continue to love and care about their child. You may have made the same attempts to improve things over and over again. You will often find yourself in a situation that is utterly predictable – e.g. when you are trying to reason with your child, part of you already knows that this will merely lead to a heated argument, with smashed objects in the house, shouting, and maybe even physical violence. Perhaps you have become locked in a repetitive, unhelpful pattern. Using NVR, you will carefully develop ‘strategies’ to respond to the controlling behaviour that, at first, may appear counterintuitive, but that are very different from the reactions you have shown before. However, this is not “behaviour management” – these are strategies for helping you for making peace in the family and changing relationships. This 8- week course course sits within a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 9th January- 6th March (No session 27th February) Places on this course will be allocated through ASE following the submission of an expression of interest form. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Getting Ready For Placement This training course will enhance your knowledge of developmental trauma and attachment and examine the importance of making positive connections with a hurt child. Your trainer- an experienced adoptive parent- will provide information on practical ways to prepare for family life, identify ways of helping a child move into a new family and parenting strategies which build attachments while respecting the child’s past and maintaining safe and developmentally appropriate boundaries. The course also focusses on the importance of self- care and creating a strong support network. This course is only suitable for approved and waiting adopters. 10th January 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FASD Support & Networking Group Are you a parent or carer of someone who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol? Do you want to know more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? Come along and meet other parents and carers to share knowledge and ideas and to create a support network with others who may be experiencing similar challenges to your family. This group is facilitated by Annaleigh- an experienced adopter who has lived experience of parenting a child with FASD. Your child does NOT have to have had a diagnosis of FASD for you to attend this support group. 14th January 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Adolescent Learning & Networking Group This support group provides participants with opportunities to connect, socialise and support each other. This group is facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent. The aim of this group is for adoptive families to have access to a welcoming and supportive peer support network with other parents who are parenting their children through the (sometimes) turbulent teenage years. 15th January 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Trauma Informed Parenting Support Group This is a support group for all those who have attended any of the following courses (see below) and would like a safe, warm and supportive space to share the joys and challenges of parenting an adoptive child. Facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent, these sessions will enable to you talk with (and learn from) your fellow adoptive parents. To attend this support group, you must have already completed one of the following training courses: NVR, Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions, Managing Anger & Defiance Peer Learning Programme, Trauma Informed Parenting: Practical Solutions, Trauma Informed Parenting Peer Learning Programme, CPV Peer Learning Programme, CPV: Secondary Age or CPV: Primary Age 21st January 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How Does Your Child Experience The World? An Introduction To Sensory Integration This one-day workshop will enhance the participants knowledge of developmental trauma and attachment and enable you to: Recognise the effect of trauma on development. Define Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Understand the symptoms and effects of SPD and be able to distinguish these from trauma-triggered behaviours. Explore the different available therapies to help our children cope with SPD. 23rd January 09:30- 14:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thinking About 2 Or More? This course helps you to explore and consider adopting siblings and how you can be supported to meet the needs of more than one child. This half-day session focusses on key issues to consider for siblings within the context of adoption and highlights strategies for managing anticipated challenges. It will also explore the joys of parenting siblings. Delivered by Nicola- a highly experienced trainer and adoptive mother of a sibling group of three- this session will provide a realistic look at parenting two or more adopted children. This course is suitable for Stage 1 and Stage 2 adopters. 24th January 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Child On Parent Violence: Primary Age Children This course is an introduction to Child On Parent Violence. As a participant of this course, you will be supported to: - develop a greater understanding of child on parent violence - to develop practical strategies you will be able to use in your home - to understand how best to meet the needs of your child - to understand how best to meet your own needs - think about how you can create strong support networks This training session sits within a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence: Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 28th January 09:30- 15:00 (Follow Up Session 5th March 09:30- 11:30) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FEBRUARY 2025 Keeping In Touch: The Later Years During this training course, you will examine the experience of contact from the perspective of the child, the birth family and adoptive parents. You will have the opportunity to: Consider the purpose, benefits and difficulties associated with contact. Explore how contact can be used to assist with the child’s identity formation. Appreciate how contact can be supported and improved. Consider contact in the context of tracing and reunion. Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). There is also a pre- meet with the trainer where you will be able to share any challenges you are currently facing in relation to contact. This meeting will enable to trainer to create breakout groups that are beneficial and meaningful to all participants. You will be allocated a time slot for the pre- meet once you have registered for the course. 1st February 09:30- 15:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Talking About Adoption: Primary Age Children The purpose of this course is to help you gain insights and resources that will help you to talk about your child(ren)’s adoption with them in an age-appropriate and responsive manner. By the end of the training session you will have: Examined the importance of talking with and explaining to our children about their adoption. Identified age-appropriate explanations linked to a child’s developmental age. Practised telling and explaining in a variety of situations. Shared ideas and identified resources to support our telling and explaining about adoption. Developed your understanding of how a child’s development of a positive sense of identity can be supported by parents through life story work. Explored resources and developed practical, age-appropriate ways for carrying out life story work. 3rd February 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Children Who Struggle At School- Primary Age Children This one- day course examines some of the possible causes of behavioural challenges and school-related difficulties. It will help you to consider how behavioural difficulties impact on relationships, teaching and learning in the classroom. The course will also help you to understand how your own experiences of education may affect the way in which you support your child. Working with an experienced trainer, you will be supported to develop effective strategies to work alongside your child's setting so that they are well supported in school. 7th February 09:30- 13:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Managing Anger and Defiance: Practical Solutions This training course allows participants to focus on practical strategies to use in the home. This training addresses re-parenting the child in the context of parenting ‘attitude’ and allowing parents to see their role as therapeutic parents, working to avoid re-triggering their child’s trauma and encourage engagement and reciprocity. The course will look at strategies from the perspective of an understanding of anger, both the child’s and the parent’s anger, and its origin in fear. This course is the first in a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 14th February 09:30- 13:00 (Follow Up Session 4th April 09:30- 11:30) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MARCH 2025 Supporting Adopted Adolescents This course aims to support parents through the (often) turbulent teenage years. The course covers: Understanding the emotional and practical impact of adolescence Identifying issues teens face and practical strategies to support them during this often challenging time Dealing with parental compassion fatigue and self-care You will also have the opportunity to discuss the individual challenges you may be facing with your peers. Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 4th March 09:30- 13:00 (Follow Up Session 2nd April 09:30- 11:30) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Getting Ready For Placement This training course will enhance your knowledge of developmental trauma and attachment and examine the importance of making positive connections with a hurt child. Your trainer- an experienced adoptive parent- will provide information on practical ways to prepare for family life, identify ways of helping a child move into a new family and parenting strategies which build attachments while respecting the child’s past and maintaining safe and developmentally appropriate boundaries. The course also focusses on the importance of self- care and creating a strong support network. This course is only suitable for approved and waiting adopters. 4th March 14:00- 17:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FASD Support & Networking Group Are you a parent or carer of someone who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol? Do you want to know more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? Come along and meet other parents and carers to share knowledge and ideas and to create a support network with others who may be experiencing similar challenges to your family. This group is facilitated by Annaleigh- an experienced adopter who has lived experience of parenting a child with FASD. Your child does NOT have to have had a diagnosis of FASD for you to attend this support group. 5th March 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keeping In Touch - the basics This course is an introduction to maintaining contact with your child's birth family. You will have the opportunity to examine the experience of contact from the perspective of the child, the birth family and adoptive parents. Aims: Consider the purpose, benefits and difficulties associated with contact. Explore how contact can be used to assist with the child’s identity formation. Appreciate how contact can be supported and improved. Consider contact in the context of tracing and reunion. All approved and waiting ASE adopters are strongly encouraged to attend this course as part of their learning and development in preparation for their child(ren) being placed. This course is also open to parents who have already had their children placed. 8th March 09:30- 12:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Adolescent Learning & Networking Group This support group provides participants with opportunities to connect, socialise and support each other. This group is facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent. The aim of this group is for adoptive families to have access to a welcoming and supportive peer support network with other parents who are parenting their children through the (sometimes) turbulent teenage years. 10th March 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thinking About 2 Or More? This course helps you to explore and consider adopting siblings and how you can be supported to meet the needs of more than one child. This half-day session focusses on key issues to consider for siblings within the context of adoption and highlights strategies for managing anticipated challenges. It will also explore the joys of parenting siblings. Delivered by Nicola- a highly experienced trainer and adoptive mother of a sibling group of three- this session will provide a realistic look at parenting two or more adopted children. This course is suitable for Stage 1 and Stage 2 adopters. 11th March 16:00- 19:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Trauma Informed Parenting Support Group This is a support group for all those who have attended any of the following courses (see below) and would like a safe, warm and supportive space to share the joys and challenges of parenting an adoptive child. Facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent, these sessions will enable to you talk with (and learn from) your fellow adoptive parents. To attend this support group, you must have already completed one of the following training courses: NVR, Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions, Managing Anger & Defiance Peer Learning Programme, Trauma Informed Parenting: Practical Solutions, Trauma Informed Parenting Peer Learning Programme, CPV Peer Learning Programme, CPV: Secondary Age or CPV: Primary Age 12th March 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Trauma Informed Parenting: Peer Learning Programme This course will explore the different kinds of trauma Previously Looked After Children may have experienced and the impact this has on their brain development and consequently their behaviour. The course supports parents to develop their knowledge and understanding of parenting strategies that can be used for children who have experienced developmental trauma and detail specific ways in which they can support their children, their partner and/or extended family. The course also explores the impact of caring for challenging children on the wellbeing and mental health of parents. Course participants have the opportunity to learn from and create a support network with their peers in a supportive and relaxed environment. This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 13th March- 15th May (No session 17th April & 24th April) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Children Who Struggle At School- Secondary Age Children This half-day course examines some of the possible causes of behavioural challenges and school-related difficulties. It will help you to consider how behavioural difficulties impact on relationships, teaching and learning in the classroom. The course will also help you to understand how your own experiences of education may affect the way in which you support your child. Working with an experienced trainer, you will be supported to develop effective strategies to work alongside your child's setting so that they are well supported in school. 15th March 09:30- 13:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Managing Anger & Defiance Peer Learning Programme This is a peer- learning training programme for parents and carers focussing on managing challenging behaviour and supporting parents to develop practical strategies to use in the home. This course aims to support parents in developing their role as therapeutic parents, working to avoid re- triggering their child’s trauma. It also supports parents to develop strategies relating to engagement, reciprocity and de- escalation. The course enables participants to have space to develop their knowledge and understanding as well as having time and space to learn from their peers. This 8- week training session sits within a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence: Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 17th March- 2nd June (No session 14th April, 21st April, 5th May & 26th May) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Secondary Trauma, Compassion Fatigue & Self- Care This course is run by a psychologist from Adoption UK's Psychology & Therapeutic Hub team. Secondary trauma, also known as ‘compassion fatigue’, can lead to an erosion in a parent's/carer's ability to feel empathy. When parenting children and young people with complex trauma histories, adoptive parents can begin to experience a lack of empathy for their child. This is often seen as ‘burnout’, when in fact the person may be experiencing ‘compassion fatigue’ or ‘secondary trauma’ as a result of parenting in such conditions over a long time period (usually years). Even the most experienced parents can be at risk. This course will help you place your needs at the core of your parenting. It will help participants recognise the signs of secondary trauma and to recognise the impact it can have upon their own emotional wellbeing and mental health in an emotionally safe space. 19th March 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Practical Trauma Informed Parenting Strategies This course will help to support parents whose children's capacity to emotionally connect has been compromised. The course will provide an introduction to the following areas: blocked trust, fearing intersubjective connection, the role of shame, hidden Vs expressed attachment needs In addition, course participants will learn about: attachment theory, understanding attachment in context , the impact of trauma and neglect and adaptive behaviours. Course participants will leave with lots of practical examples of how they can support their child(ren). Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 21st March 09:30- 15:30 (Follow Up Session 2nd May 09:30- 11:30) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You Need To Know About Primary Schools Adoptive parents often tell us that they are sometimes unsure what to look for when choosing a school. In consultation and discussion with experienced adoptive parents and educators, Adoption UK has developed training that will support and guide parents to identify a setting that will best meet the needs of their adopted child. Run by experienced teachers and education mentors, this course will give practical tips and advice for not only choosing a school but for developing and maintaining a positive working relationship with school staff to support your child(ren) to reach their full potential. 28th March 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APRIL 2025 Siblings Peer Learning Programme This is a peer- learning training programme for parents and carers focussing on supporting siblings within their family. This training will help you to develop practical strategies to use in your home. This course aims to support parents in developing their role as therapeutic parents, working to avoid re-triggering their child’s trauma. It also supports parents to develop strategies relating to engagement and reciprocity. Delivered by Nic, a highly experienced adoptive parent (of a sibling group of three) and trainer, this course enables parents to develop their knowledge and understanding as well as providing plenty of time and space to learn from their peers. This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 1st April- 10th June (No session 15th April, 22nd April & 27th May) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Child On Parent Violence: Secondary Age Children This course is an introduction to Child On Parent Violence. As a participant of this course, you will be supported to: - develop a greater understanding of child on parent violence - to develop practical strategies you will be able to use in your home - to understand how best to meet the needs of your child - to understand how best to meet your own needs - think about how you can create strong support networks This training session sits within a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence: Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 3rd April 09:30- 15:30 (Follow Up Session 6th May 09:30- 11:30) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FASD Support & Networking Group Are you a parent or carer of someone who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol? Do you want to know more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? Come along and meet other parents and carers to share knowledge and ideas and to create a support network with others who may be experiencing similar challenges to your family. This group is facilitated by Annaleigh- an experienced adopter who has lived experience of parenting a child with FASD. Your child does NOT have to have had a diagnosis of FASD for you to attend this support group. 30th April 09:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MAY 2025 Non- Violent Resistance NVR is an approach, which has been specifically developed for responding effectively to aggressive, violent, self-destructive and controlling behaviour in children, adolescents and young adults. In Non- Violent Resistance, parents or carers learn to acquire a position of strength, not giving in to unreasonable or harmful demands by the child, protecting themselves from aggression and violence, yet avoiding the unnecessary, unhelpful and painful battles of the past. “Raising parental presence” becomes the alternative to trying to control an uncontrollable and often out of control child. Feeling empowered and stronger, parents can then use ‘reconciliation work’ to develop a stronger focus on the young person’s needs, and show that they continue to love and care about their child. You may have made the same attempts to improve things over and over again. You will often find yourself in a situation that is utterly predictable – e.g. when you are trying to reason with your child, part of you already knows that this will merely lead to a heated argument, with smashed objects in the house, shouting, and maybe even physical violence. Perhaps you have become locked in a repetitive, unhelpful pattern. Using NVR, you will carefully develop ‘strategies’ to respond to the controlling behaviour that, at first, may appear counterintuitive, but that are very different from the reactions you have shown before. However, this is not “behaviour management” – these are strategies for helping you for making peace in the family and changing relationships. This 8- week course course sits within a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] This course is 8 weeks long and participants are asked to commit to attending all 8 sessions. All sessions run 19:30- 21:00 7th May- 2nd July (No session 28th May) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thinking About 2 Or More? This course helps you to explore and consider adopting siblings and how you can be supported to meet the needs of more than one child. This half-day session focusses on key issues to consider for siblings within the context of adoption and highlights strategies for managing anticipated challenges. It will also explore the joys of parenting siblings. Delivered by Nicola- a highly experienced trainer and adoptive mother of a sibling group of three- this session will provide a realistic look at parenting two or more adopted children. This course is suitable for Stage 1 and Stage 2 adopters. 9th May 09:00- 12:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Adolescent Learning & Networking Group This support group provides participants with opportunities to connect, socialise and support each other. This group is facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent. The aim of this group is for adoptive families to have access to a welcoming and supportive peer support network with other parents who are parenting their children through the (sometimes) turbulent teenage years. 12th May 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Getting Ready For Placement This training course will enhance your knowledge of developmental trauma and attachment and examine the importance of making positive connections with a hurt child. Your trainer- an experienced adoptive parent- will provide information on practical ways to prepare for family life, identify ways of helping a child move into a new family and parenting strategies which build attachments while respecting the child’s past and maintaining safe and developmentally appropriate boundaries. The course also focusses on the importance of self- care and creating a strong support network. This course is only suitable for approved and waiting adopters. 19th May 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Trauma Informed Parenting Support Group This is a support group for all those who have attended any of the following courses (see below) and would like a safe, warm and supportive space to share the joys and challenges of parenting an adoptive child. Facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent, these sessions will enable to you talk with (and learn from) your fellow adoptive parents. To attend this support group, you must have already completed one of the following training courses: NVR, Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions, Managing Anger & Defiance Peer Learning Programme, Trauma Informed Parenting: Practical Solutions, Trauma Informed Parenting Peer Learning Programme, CPV Peer Learning Programme, CPV: Secondary Age or CPV: Primary Age 22nd May 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ JUNE 2025 Keeping In Touch: The Later Years During this training course, you will examine the experience of contact from the perspective of the child, the birth family and adoptive parents. You will have the opportunity to: Consider the purpose, benefits and difficulties associated with contact. Explore how contact can be used to assist with the child’s identity formation. Appreciate how contact can be supported and improved. Consider contact in the context of tracing and reunion. Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). There is also a pre- meet with the trainer where you will be able to share any challenges you are currently facing in relation to contact. This meeting will enable to trainer to create breakout groups that are beneficial and meaningful to all participants. You will be allocated a time slot for the pre- meet once you have registered for the course. 6th June 09:30- 15:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Talking About Adoption: Secondary Age Children The purpose of this course is to help you gain insights and resources that will help you to talk about your child(ren)’s adoption with them in an age-appropriate and responsive manner. By the end of the training session you will have: Examined the importance of talking with and explaining to our children about their adoption. Identified age-appropriate explanations linked to a child’s developmental age. Practised telling and explaining in a variety of situations. Shared ideas and identified resources to support our telling and explaining about adoption. Developed your understanding of how a child’s development of a positive sense of identity can be supported by parents through life story work. Explored resources and developed practical, age-appropriate ways for carrying out life story work. 9th June 09:30- 15:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You Need To Know About Nursery Schools Choosing a nursery or pre- school setting for your adopted child can be a daunting experience. Come and join Annaleigh & Lucy (both highly experienced teachers and education mentors) for this session where they will give you lots of tips and suggestions to help you identify the most appropriate setting for your child(ren). Both trainers are also experienced adoptive parents and will be able to help you to consider the questions you may want to ask staff, what to look out for when you are viewing settings and how to work cooperatively and productively with staff to ensure that your child has the best possible chance of reaching their full potential. 17th June 18:30- 21:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How Does Your Child Experience The World? An Introduction To Sensory Integration This one-day workshop will enhance the participants knowledge of developmental trauma and attachment and enable you to: Recognise the effect of trauma on development. Define Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Understand the symptoms and effects of SPD and be able to distinguish these from trauma-triggered behaviours. Explore the different available therapies to help our children cope with SPD. 26th June 09:30- 14:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ JULY 2025 Managing Anger and Defiance: Practical Solutions This training course allows participants to focus on practical strategies to use in the home. This training addresses re-parenting the child in the context of parenting ‘attitude’ and allowing parents to see their role as therapeutic parents, working to avoid re-triggering their child’s trauma and encourage engagement and reciprocity. The course will look at strategies from the perspective of an understanding of anger, both the child’s and the parent’s anger, and its origin in fear. This course is the first in a series of courses offered by Adoption UK in partnership with Adoption South East that supports parents and carers to deal with aggressive and/or violent behaviour in the home. The courses are designed to work as building blocks and should be completed in the following order: Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions Managing Anger & Defiance: Peer Learning Programme Child On Parent Violence Above & Beyond Child On Parent Violence Peer Learning Programme Non- Violent Resistance You do not need to attend all courses (you can start at any point) and can select the course(s) that best meet the needs of your family. If you are unsure about which course best meets your needs, please email [email protected] Please note, there is a follow up session for this course to give you the space to reflect and talk to your peers about the impact of this training and to think about any next steps that may be beneficial for you and your child(ren). 4th July 09:30- 13:00 (Follow Up Session 18th July 09:30- 11:30) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FASD Support & Networking Group Are you a parent or carer of someone who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol? Do you want to know more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? Come along and meet other parents and carers to share knowledge and ideas and to create a support network with others who may be experiencing similar challenges to your family. This group is facilitated by Annaleigh- an experienced adopter who has lived experience of parenting a child with FASD. Your child does NOT have to have had a diagnosis of FASD for you to attend this support group. 7th July 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Trauma Informed Parenting Support Group This is a support group for all those who have attended any of the following courses (see below) and would like a safe, warm and supportive space to share the joys and challenges of parenting an adoptive child. Facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent, these sessions will enable to you talk with (and learn from) your fellow adoptive parents. To attend this support group, you must have already completed one of the following training courses: NVR, Managing Anger & Defiance: Practical Solutions, Managing Anger & Defiance Peer Learning Programme, Trauma Informed Parenting: Practical Solutions, Trauma Informed Parenting Peer Learning Programme, CPV Peer Learning Programme, CPV: Secondary Age or CPV: Primary Age 10th July 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thinking About 2 Or More? This course helps you to explore and consider adopting siblings and how you can be supported to meet the needs of more than one child. This half-day session focusses on key issues to consider for siblings within the context of adoption and highlights strategies for managing anticipated challenges. It will also explore the joys of parenting siblings. Delivered by Nicola- a highly experienced trainer and adoptive mother of a sibling group of three- this session will provide a realistic look at parenting two or more adopted children. This course is suitable for Stage 1 and Stage 2 adopters. 11th July 09:30- 12:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Adolescent Learning & Networking Group This support group provides participants with opportunities to connect, socialise and support each other. This group is facilitated by a highly experienced trainer and adoptive parent. The aim of this group is for adoptive families to have access to a welcoming and supportive peer support network with other parents who are parenting their children through the (sometimes) turbulent teenage years. 14th July 19:30- 21:30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Getting Ready For Placement This training course will enhance your knowledge of developmental trauma and attachment and examine the importance of making positive connections with a hurt child. Your trainer- an experienced adoptive parent- will provide information on practical ways to prepare for family life, identify ways of helping a child move into a new family and parenting strategies which build attachments while respecting the child’s past and maintaining safe and developmentally appropriate boundaries. The course also focusses on the importance of self- care and creating a strong support network. This course is only suitable for approved and waiting adopters. 23rd July 17:00- 20:00 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keeping In Touch - the basics This course is an introduction to maintaining contact with your child's birth family. You will have the opportunity to examine the experience of contact from the perspective of the child, the birth family and adoptive parents. Aims: Consider the purpose, benefits and difficulties associated with contact. Explore how contact can be used to assist with the child’s identity formation. Appreciate how contact can be supported and improved. Consider contact in the context of tracing and reunion. All approved and waiting ASE adopters are strongly encouraged to attend this course as part of their learning and development in preparation for their child(ren) being placed. This course is also open to parents who have already had their children placed. 24th July 18:00- 20:30 To register for any of the courses listed, please click on the Book Courses link at the top or bottom of this page. TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS Adoption: What Do Professionals Need To Know? This session will be an introduction to the world of adoption, focusing on the realities of adoptive life with a focus on learning from the families themselves. With a discussion- based approach and centralising the voice of the child and the family, the session is both instructive and interesting. Aims: Provide an insight into adoption for professionals for whom adoption is not their specialism. To offer a reflective space to consider the specifics of practice when families have experience adoption, separation, trauma and loss. An opportunity to develop cultural competence: gain knowledge & understanding of the cultural context of adoptive families’ lives, to improve care. This training is running on the following dates: 1st October 2024 10:00- 12:00 31st January 2025 10:00- 12:00 21st May 2025 10:00- 12:00 Training For Community Leaders & Extracurricular Leaders: Supporting Adopted Children Adoption South East has commissioned this training, in partnership with Adoption UK, to support professionals and voluntary sector club leaders who contribute to the lives of adoptive families through providing extra curricular activities. This session will be an introduction to the world of adoption, focusing on the realities of adoptive life with a focus on learning from the families themselves. With a discussion- based approach and centralising the voice of the child and the family, we hope that everyone will find this an instructive and interesting session. Aims: Provide an insight into adoption for adults working with children in either a paid or voluntary capacity To offer a reflective space to consider the specifics of impactful practice when children have experienced adoption, separation, trauma and loss An opportunity to develop and gain knowledge & understanding of the realities of working with adopted children and supporting them to engage positively with extracurricular activities leading to improved engagement. This training is running on the following dates: 19th November 2024 19:00- 21:00 22nd January 2025 19:00- 21:00 9th June 2025 19:00- 21:00 Book A Place On A Course Here Please email [email protected] for further details. Back to Top Manage Cookie Preferences