For the evening crowd ... bit of a 🧵below for anyone who wants to a bit of an insight into today's Adoption West Conference in Bristol all about "Maintaining Relationships" - please do share onwards if you think others might be interested! :)
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
At the Adoption West Conference in Bristol today ... all about "Maintaining Relationships" #AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 10:23 PM
For the evening crowd ... bit of a 🧵below for anyone who wants to a bit of an insight into today's Adoption West Conference in Bristol all about "Maintaining Relationships" - please do share onwards if you think others might be interested! :)
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
Everyone now enjoying a short film featuring an adopted young person talking about her own experience of meeting up with her birth family … how much it has meant to her to see people that look like her, to have the links, to be all five (daughter, adoptive and birth parents) together :)
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Everyone now enjoying a short film featuring an adopted young person talking about her own experience of meeting up with her birth family … how much it has meant to her to see people that look like her, to have the links, to be all five (daughter, adoptive and birth parents) together :)
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
Anjali sharing how important it is that individual “meeting up times” are considered uniquely and facilitated / supported / arranged according to needs of those involved
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Anjali sharing how important it is that individual “meeting up times” are considered uniquely and facilitated / supported / arranged according to needs of those involved
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
Back from lunch at the Adoption West “Maintaining Relationships” conference:
Alison Lewis & Anjali Gupta now updating on current practice around contact (known as “meeting up time”) under the Adoption West remit.
#AWConf25
Alison Lewis & Anjali Gupta now updating on current practice around contact (known as “meeting up time”) under the Adoption West remit.
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Back from lunch at the Adoption West “Maintaining Relationships” conference:
Alison Lewis & Anjali Gupta now updating on current practice around contact (known as “meeting up time”) under the Adoption West remit.
#AWConf25
Alison Lewis & Anjali Gupta now updating on current practice around contact (known as “meeting up time”) under the Adoption West remit.
#AWConf25
Still at #AWConf25
Before lunch the brilliant Sara Taylor shares with everyone the wonders of the new #ItTakesAVillage … peer support from adopters for adopters all across the Adoption West space …
Before lunch the brilliant Sara Taylor shares with everyone the wonders of the new #ItTakesAVillage … peer support from adopters for adopters all across the Adoption West space …
February 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Still at #AWConf25
Before lunch the brilliant Sara Taylor shares with everyone the wonders of the new #ItTakesAVillage … peer support from adopters for adopters all across the Adoption West space …
Before lunch the brilliant Sara Taylor shares with everyone the wonders of the new #ItTakesAVillage … peer support from adopters for adopters all across the Adoption West space …
More views ...
- solo adopter sharing how it works for them ... how it was driven by her son, how her relationship with her child meant she wanted to work with him to support his wishes, how the contact is now for everyone involved and your sense of family evolves over time
#AWConf25
- solo adopter sharing how it works for them ... how it was driven by her son, how her relationship with her child meant she wanted to work with him to support his wishes, how the contact is now for everyone involved and your sense of family evolves over time
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 12:47 PM
More views ...
- solo adopter sharing how it works for them ... how it was driven by her son, how her relationship with her child meant she wanted to work with him to support his wishes, how the contact is now for everyone involved and your sense of family evolves over time
#AWConf25
- solo adopter sharing how it works for them ... how it was driven by her son, how her relationship with her child meant she wanted to work with him to support his wishes, how the contact is now for everyone involved and your sense of family evolves over time
#AWConf25
Following applause for Julie, now moving on to hearing from adoptive parents supporting contact (via an Adoption West film) ...
- first up a couple who are supporting contact with birth siblings - and the importance of recognising the benefits while acknowledging the risks
#AWConf25
- first up a couple who are supporting contact with birth siblings - and the importance of recognising the benefits while acknowledging the risks
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Following applause for Julie, now moving on to hearing from adoptive parents supporting contact (via an Adoption West film) ...
- first up a couple who are supporting contact with birth siblings - and the importance of recognising the benefits while acknowledging the risks
#AWConf25
- first up a couple who are supporting contact with birth siblings - and the importance of recognising the benefits while acknowledging the risks
#AWConf25
... and
- how AI may or will change and impact on development might or might not impact contact, risks for families and children etc
- impact on contact arrangements of rising/changing numbers of Special Guardianship, kinship families involving related families
#AWConf25
- how AI may or will change and impact on development might or might not impact contact, risks for families and children etc
- impact on contact arrangements of rising/changing numbers of Special Guardianship, kinship families involving related families
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 12:35 PM
... and
- how AI may or will change and impact on development might or might not impact contact, risks for families and children etc
- impact on contact arrangements of rising/changing numbers of Special Guardianship, kinship families involving related families
#AWConf25
- how AI may or will change and impact on development might or might not impact contact, risks for families and children etc
- impact on contact arrangements of rising/changing numbers of Special Guardianship, kinship families involving related families
#AWConf25
Questions and comments ...
- need for access to information for adoptive parents if they are to support their children with understanding their past, current and future life story and helping them prepare for contact - incl eg info on additional siblings, their birth parents lives etc
#AWConf25
- need for access to information for adoptive parents if they are to support their children with understanding their past, current and future life story and helping them prepare for contact - incl eg info on additional siblings, their birth parents lives etc
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Questions and comments ...
- need for access to information for adoptive parents if they are to support their children with understanding their past, current and future life story and helping them prepare for contact - incl eg info on additional siblings, their birth parents lives etc
#AWConf25
- need for access to information for adoptive parents if they are to support their children with understanding their past, current and future life story and helping them prepare for contact - incl eg info on additional siblings, their birth parents lives etc
#AWConf25
Julie: summary of findings about children's experiences of contact are very varied ... can benefit or feel disappointed, can change over time, can be planned and organised by adults or initiated through social media by different parties ... a very complex picture of experiences
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Julie: summary of findings about children's experiences of contact are very varied ... can benefit or feel disappointed, can change over time, can be planned and organised by adults or initiated through social media by different parties ... a very complex picture of experiences
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
Julie: findings from children's views on contact time ...
- hate contact centres, being observed, people tapping on computers and watching them ...
- everyday activites and outside spaces / normal spaces preferred
#AWConf25
- hate contact centres, being observed, people tapping on computers and watching them ...
- everyday activites and outside spaces / normal spaces preferred
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Julie: findings from children's views on contact time ...
- hate contact centres, being observed, people tapping on computers and watching them ...
- everyday activites and outside spaces / normal spaces preferred
#AWConf25
- hate contact centres, being observed, people tapping on computers and watching them ...
- everyday activites and outside spaces / normal spaces preferred
#AWConf25
Julie: in discussing contact research findings
- notable acknowledgement that very similar findings exist relating to research within Special Guardianship families ... with often very great additional complexity
- also reminder that all research has own recruitment parameters/populations
#AWConf25
- notable acknowledgement that very similar findings exist relating to research within Special Guardianship families ... with often very great additional complexity
- also reminder that all research has own recruitment parameters/populations
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Julie: in discussing contact research findings
- notable acknowledgement that very similar findings exist relating to research within Special Guardianship families ... with often very great additional complexity
- also reminder that all research has own recruitment parameters/populations
#AWConf25
- notable acknowledgement that very similar findings exist relating to research within Special Guardianship families ... with often very great additional complexity
- also reminder that all research has own recruitment parameters/populations
#AWConf25
Julie: talking about research revealing insights into adopted teenagers views on their experience of contact ... so many varied and complex views and experiences
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Julie: talking about research revealing insights into adopted teenagers views on their experience of contact ... so many varied and complex views and experiences
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
Julie: research evidence on outcomes;
- no association between type/quantity of contact on adoptee psychological adjustment - it is all about child's feeling around level/quality of contact
- communicative openness crucial ... but are adopters prepared for sharing complex stories
#AWConf25
- no association between type/quantity of contact on adoptee psychological adjustment - it is all about child's feeling around level/quality of contact
- communicative openness crucial ... but are adopters prepared for sharing complex stories
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Julie: research evidence on outcomes;
- no association between type/quantity of contact on adoptee psychological adjustment - it is all about child's feeling around level/quality of contact
- communicative openness crucial ... but are adopters prepared for sharing complex stories
#AWConf25
- no association between type/quantity of contact on adoptee psychological adjustment - it is all about child's feeling around level/quality of contact
- communicative openness crucial ... but are adopters prepared for sharing complex stories
#AWConf25
Julie:
- recent court cases and judgements have been pushing in the direction of contact being endorsed and even overseen/mandated by courts
- questions around implications for future adoption placement decisions, prospective adopter approval processes, fluidity of future contact plans
#AWConf25
- recent court cases and judgements have been pushing in the direction of contact being endorsed and even overseen/mandated by courts
- questions around implications for future adoption placement decisions, prospective adopter approval processes, fluidity of future contact plans
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Julie:
- recent court cases and judgements have been pushing in the direction of contact being endorsed and even overseen/mandated by courts
- questions around implications for future adoption placement decisions, prospective adopter approval processes, fluidity of future contact plans
#AWConf25
- recent court cases and judgements have been pushing in the direction of contact being endorsed and even overseen/mandated by courts
- questions around implications for future adoption placement decisions, prospective adopter approval processes, fluidity of future contact plans
#AWConf25
Julie: re PLWG
- As a result the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) was set up: findings supportive of (but not making compulsory) contact within adoption; that there should be a national protocol around access to records; one strategy across UK; more work around adoptions with consent
#AWConf25
- As a result the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) was set up: findings supportive of (but not making compulsory) contact within adoption; that there should be a national protocol around access to records; one strategy across UK; more work around adoptions with consent
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Julie: re PLWG
- As a result the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) was set up: findings supportive of (but not making compulsory) contact within adoption; that there should be a national protocol around access to records; one strategy across UK; more work around adoptions with consent
#AWConf25
- As a result the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) was set up: findings supportive of (but not making compulsory) contact within adoption; that there should be a national protocol around access to records; one strategy across UK; more work around adoptions with consent
#AWConf25
Julie: Contact in the courts ...
- until 2021 only 20 contact orders made every year
- Sir Andrew Macfarlane (President of the Family Division) has made two speeches - Mayflower Lecture & at the Potato Conference - contact needs to be developed within adoption
#AWConf25
- until 2021 only 20 contact orders made every year
- Sir Andrew Macfarlane (President of the Family Division) has made two speeches - Mayflower Lecture & at the Potato Conference - contact needs to be developed within adoption
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Julie: Contact in the courts ...
- until 2021 only 20 contact orders made every year
- Sir Andrew Macfarlane (President of the Family Division) has made two speeches - Mayflower Lecture & at the Potato Conference - contact needs to be developed within adoption
#AWConf25
- until 2021 only 20 contact orders made every year
- Sir Andrew Macfarlane (President of the Family Division) has made two speeches - Mayflower Lecture & at the Potato Conference - contact needs to be developed within adoption
#AWConf25
Julie: starting with some background, including a look at outcomes of applications for placement orders ... and that numbers of POs that are being refused in the courts going up ... and a bit about what courts have said about why they are refusing.
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Julie: starting with some background, including a look at outcomes of applications for placement orders ... and that numbers of POs that are being refused in the courts going up ... and a bit about what courts have said about why they are refusing.
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Back after coffee ...
And we all quietly listen to a birth parent on film ... thanks to her for sharing her experiences of face to face contact. So much food for thought for us all.
#AWConf25
And we all quietly listen to a birth parent on film ... thanks to her for sharing her experiences of face to face contact. So much food for thought for us all.
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Back after coffee ...
And we all quietly listen to a birth parent on film ... thanks to her for sharing her experiences of face to face contact. So much food for thought for us all.
#AWConf25
And we all quietly listen to a birth parent on film ... thanks to her for sharing her experiences of face to face contact. So much food for thought for us all.
#AWConf25
A few qns ... both practical & philosophical ...
- what about when some adopters are pro-contact but adopters siblings are not ...
- what research is available on how important identity support is for adopted children before contact is planned/enabled/supported...
- support based on needs
#AWConf25
- what about when some adopters are pro-contact but adopters siblings are not ...
- what research is available on how important identity support is for adopted children before contact is planned/enabled/supported...
- support based on needs
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM
A few qns ... both practical & philosophical ...
- what about when some adopters are pro-contact but adopters siblings are not ...
- what research is available on how important identity support is for adopted children before contact is planned/enabled/supported...
- support based on needs
#AWConf25
- what about when some adopters are pro-contact but adopters siblings are not ...
- what research is available on how important identity support is for adopted children before contact is planned/enabled/supported...
- support based on needs
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Ruth: age of children clearly has a massive impact on ease of contact, complexity of contact, harmful/helpful outcomes of contact etc
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Ruth: age of children clearly has a massive impact on ease of contact, complexity of contact, harmful/helpful outcomes of contact etc
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
Ruth: when considering maintaining relationships and what's involved need to distinguish between what is
HARMFUL vs DIFFICULT
Also look at what might be painful now ... will it be helpful in the future or harmful in the future?
#AWConf25
HARMFUL vs DIFFICULT
Also look at what might be painful now ... will it be helpful in the future or harmful in the future?
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Ruth: when considering maintaining relationships and what's involved need to distinguish between what is
HARMFUL vs DIFFICULT
Also look at what might be painful now ... will it be helpful in the future or harmful in the future?
#AWConf25
HARMFUL vs DIFFICULT
Also look at what might be painful now ... will it be helpful in the future or harmful in the future?
#AWConf25
Ruth: to make any of this happen need to centre what adopted children need ... and also need to consider when the right time to make and/or review a contact plan may be
#AWConf25
#AWConf25
February 5, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Ruth: to make any of this happen need to centre what adopted children need ... and also need to consider when the right time to make and/or review a contact plan may be
#AWConf25
#AWConf25