Adoption 201

Workshop Information: Round 2

Session ONE

The first session is an exploration of the legislation that pertains to adoption in South Africa, and how children become adoptable. We look at the different circumstances that lead to adoption and hear real stories of children who were placed for adoption.

Individual motivations and expectations of adoption and adoptive parenting are explored in terms of how this impacts on the child’s well-being and identity development. This leads to a discussion on what it means to be adoptee-centred.

We look at the Adoption Triad and how to be prepared for the ‘hard work’ of adoptive parenting.

Session TWO

The second session will be an in-depth look at the trauma of adoption and how children experience grief and loss due to this trauma. We discuss attachment strategies and interventions to facilitate secure attachment, as well as how the environment in-utero impacts on attachment and development post-relinquishment.

We talk about therapeutic interventions and what to expect over the child’s journey of infancy, childhood, adolescence and into adulthood.

Session two also includes a segment from our REAL STORIES Series. This segment is real interviews with adult transracial adoptees who speak openly about their lived experiences of being adopted outside of their race and culture of origin. Elevating the voices of adoptees is essential for the continual learning and evolution of adoption practices and education, as well as hearing their stories in order to better prepare potential adopters for their adoption journey.

More than that, adoptee stories help us to understand how adoptees experience the world through the lens of their adoption story. Validating their stories, and ensuring that they are seen and heard keeps them at the pinnacle of the adoption triad as the most deserving of our understanding and consideration.

Session THREE

Session three hones in on the importance of race and culture in adoption.

During this segment we explore race and culture in adoption and why it’s an essential part of identity. Through a facilitated dialogue we look at our own racial biases, attitudes and ideas and our understanding of culture and its value in raising children through adoption.

This workshop also seeks to bring understanding of racial trauma and the effects of this on the identity formation of adopted people.

We wrap up this session with a discussion about how to build a solid community around your family, where to seek support and the importance of continual education and willingness to do the hard work.

Session FOUR

We host a virtual segment covering the following topics in detail in order to allow prospective adoptive parents to have all the information at hand before making decisions on their adoption parameters:

1. Older child adoption (12+ months)
2. How to deal with a lack of information
3. Considering special needs adoption (the spectrum)
4. An experiential piece on intergenerational trauma