Adopters for Adoption

Description

Adopters for Adoption (AfA) is a voluntary adoption agency set up in April 2014 to have a positive impact on the way people are supported to become adoptive parents and help transform the adoption process, reducing delay for both children and adopters. It was created after Core Assets – The Children’s Services Group was awarded a grant by the Department for Education to set up one of three new voluntary adoption agencies as part of the government driven adoption reform agenda.

Adopters for Adoption seek to provide a transformational service, delivering a positive and rewarding experience for the prospective adopter and children. Our agency’s vision and service is informed by real life adopters who play an important part in the running of the agency.

We’re committed to increasing the numbers of adopters for children who are waiting in particular those who are harder to place and often wait the longest, including children over four, sibling groups and children with disabilities. Many people who have thought about adopting are put off by the process, the length of time it takes and misinformation about who can and can’t adopt. We’re committed to making the experience positive for prospective adopters and dispelling the myths that surround adoption and lack of awareness amongst potential adopters of their eligibility to adopt.

Our staff are experienced adoption social workers who draw down on the latest research and best practice.  They help and guide adopters from the outset of their journey and provide lifelong support to help increase adoption rates and achieve successful outcomes for both children and those looking to adopt. In our first year, we have successfully approved a diverse range of adopters and placed a number of children with new families.

Specialism

As part of the Core Assets group, we combine over 20 years’ experience of achieving exceptional outcome for children and families via fostering and children services. Our agency has local offices throughout England and is designed and set up to work with adopters regardless of where you live. Our advisory group is made up of members who have been adopted and also adopters whose children range in age from 2 to 32 years old which means we have first-hand knowledge of adoption and informs how we are run.

Adoption Support

We offer therapeutic support and counselling to support the child and adoptive family in what can sometimes be a difficult period of adjustment.

We can deliver comprehensive therapeutic support – before and after the adoption order – to ensure adopters, children and families are supported every step of the way. Our therapeutic service is already ensuring the ongoing stability of a number of adoptive families across England. We have therapists trained in Dynamic Developmental Psychotherapy®, Theraplay®, Dramatherapy, Art Therapy and Family Therapy who are available currently to work with Adoptive Families. All of our therapists are qualified, registered and either accredited or working towards accreditation. All therapists receive their own clinical supervision.

We’re currently working with Authorities across the country to advise and support in regionalising adoption services. We also provide consultations and assessments to assist with evaluating the needs of the adopter and child/ren for post-adoption support and look at how best to maximise the recently announced adoption support fund. This means that  adopters with complex and challenging children can be more easily identified and supported. Our extensive experience means we know how to work with these adoptive families to offer them the best therapeutic services available.

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