Supporting adoption journeys with trusted resources
I recently attended an adoption exchange day in London. For colleagues and me, it was an opportunity to run a bookstall so the prospective adopters and social workers in attendance could access our resources. It is always a privilege to attend these events and talk to adopters about what information they need to help them learn about children needing adoption and how to parent them.
The biggest-selling book that day was The adopter’s handbook. This practical guide, revised earlier this year for its seventh edition, clearly remains a key resource for many people who are thinking about adoption, or going through assessment and preparation. As a compendium of knowledge about “everything adoption”, it is a vital companion from first approaching an agency into the early years of having a new child in the family.
Along with the longstanding CoramBAAF bestsellers Adopting a child, and Related by adoption, we know that thousands of adopters find these guides to be key sources of advice. Adopting a Child is often the first book members of the public find when they are first thinking about adopting, while Related by adoption is the perfect guide to give to adoptive relatives-to-be, to explain what adoption may mean for a family and how family members can help provide future support. We know that family support is often key to successful adoptions, and it is fascinating to see innovations continue in this area, as our new practice guide, Family network meetings in adoption, makes clear.
Adoption numbers have fallen over the last decade, but recruitment efforts to find more adopters are now being stepped up to address a current shortfall in available adoptive parents for waiting children. For agencies that may soon see an influx of enquirers, we can provide copies of our mini-catalogue, Read about adoption!, a ready-made reading list ideal for information evenings and preparation groups.
It was heart-warming to talk to prospective adopters and their hard-working social workers at the exchange day, and great to see the role that CoramBAAF resources have in the process. We hope they can encourage more people to come forwards to adopt in future.
Jo Francis, Publications Manager, CoramBAAF.