Caring for children is demanding and adoptive children present additional challenges. All adoptive children have been separated from their birth parent, extended family and in the case of intercountry adoptions, their country of origin and culture.
The pre-adoptive education seminars that you attended at the start of the application process focussed on some of the issues about the formation of attachment and it may be useful to reflect on these issues prior to the child’s arrival.
Assistance available to help to prepare for the child’s arrival
A Social Worker will have been allocated to you and can provide information about services in the community that offer support and assistance with parenting. All parents find the early years of parenting demanding and appreciate the opportunity to have a chat with someone who has specialist knowledge about parenting issues at different times throughout a child’s life.
Visits by the Social Worker and the report to the Family Court
After the child has been placed with you the Social Worker will visit you each month for at least the first six months. A report is submitted to the Family Court about how the placement is going and is used to assist the Court in the granting of an Adoption Order. The visits are an important support and will occur even if the Adoption Order has been made by the overseas country.
The Social Worker needs to feel confident that you are managing well and if things become difficult you are willing to seek out advice and support in your parenting. It is healthy to acknowledge when you are stressed and to seek support as this is in the long term interests of your child.