FIRST STEPS ADOPTION COURSE PREVIEW
You’re viewing the first module in this course section. This course section has 9 parts. Register for free to read it within the full First Steps course, save your progress, use quizzes and continue through the remaining modules.
CHALLENGES AND TRANSITIONS TO NEW SITUATIONS
For a child who has already experienced disruption, change and uncertainty throughout their young lives, even the positive outcomes brought about by adoption, can prove challenging. This module looks at some of the more common events where everyone can work together to make these transitions easier, most especially for the child, but also for the wider family and supporting network. Each child, each family and each situation will be different but there is always support from professionals, family and other adopters.
Modules in this course section
- ADOPTION: 1.1 Placement — 10 mins
- ADOPTION: 1.2 How the Child May Be Feeling — 5 mins
- ADOPTION: 1.3 Helping to Overcome Worries — 8 mins
- ADOPTION: 1.4 Case Study: Rihanna aged 4 — 10 mins
- ADOPTION: 2.1 Moving School & Education — 7 mins
- ADOPTION: 2.2 How Early Trauma Affects Brain Development — 4 mins
- ADOPTION: 2.3 Understanding School Experiences for Adopted Children — 8 mins
- ADOPTION: 3. Case study Chloe & Gerard — 15 mins
- ADOPTION: Next Steps... — 3 mins
Preview this first module, then register free to continue through the full section.
ADOPTION: 1.1 Placement
Listen to an adoption specialist, Beth Neil and adoptive parent, Deb talk about dealing with key transitions including placement and moving to secondary school with an adopted child.
Key Transitions
What is placement?
Placement is the stage when a child moves to live with their prospective adoptive family. For many children, this follows a period of careful planning and preparation to help them feel as safe, supported and understood as possible. Some children may join their family through an early permanence arrangement, such as fostering for adoption, where they are placed with carers at an earlier stage in their journey to provide greater stability and continuity of care.
Before a child moves in, there is usually a programme of introductions. These introductions are designed around the individual needs of the child and can vary in length and pace. Younger children may adapt more quickly, while older children, sibling groups, or children who have experienced significant loss, separation, trauma, or uncertainty may need more time to build trust and familiarity with their new family. Practical preparations may also be needed, for example, adapting the home for a child with a disability or ensuring there is appropriate space for brothers and sisters to remain together.
Placement day is a significant milestone for everyone involved, but especially for the child. While it is often a joyful occasion, it can also bring feelings of sadness, anxiety, confusion, excitement, and uncertainty. Children may be adjusting not only to a new home and family, but also to the loss of familiar people, places, and routines. Understanding behaviour through a trauma-informed and attachment-focused lens can help adoptive parents respond with patience, empathy, and reassurance during this important transition.
Following placement, support continues from the adoption agency and wider professional network. During this period, prospective adopters care for the child on a day-to-day basis while important legal processes continue. It is a time for relationships to develop, trust to grow, and family life to become established. There is no expectation for families to rush this process. Every child and family is different, and everyone needs time to adjust.
Once the child has lived with their prospective adopters for the required period and all parties feel ready, an application can be made to the court for an Adoption Order. When the Adoption Order is granted, the adoptive parents become the child's legal parents and take on full parental responsibility. This is often a deeply meaningful moment, providing lifelong security and belonging for the child. Many families choose to mark the occasion in a way that is meaningful to them, whether through a family celebration, a special day out, or a naming or adoption celebration ceremony.
The journey to adoption does not end with the Adoption Order. Children continue to benefit from loving, open conversations about their history, identity, birth family, and life story as they grow and develop. Ongoing support, understanding, and connection help children build a strong sense of who they are and where they belong.