Mentor support from an adoptive parent
Adopt South has a team of Adoptive Parent Mentors who volunteer their time to provide friendly, informal support to families both before and after an Adoption Order.
Our mentors share impartial advice and their own lived experiences, giving parents practical insights into everyday family life. They are here to answer questions based on their adoption journey and can also suggest ideas to help parents feel supported. We have a diverse group of Adoptive Parent Mentors who can talk about:
- Adopted siblings
- Adopting when you have birth children
- Children who have additional needs
- Tips for building strong attachments
- Education insights, transitions and signposting
- Opportunities to meet other families
- Looking after yourself and wellbeing
- Challenging times or tricky conversations
- Meeting birth parents
- Keeping in Touch
- Thinking about unknown future needs
During Stage 2, pre-order families will be paired with a mentor who is there to ‘check in’ and offer support, including the important stages of matching and placement. Some families may already have had an informal chat with a mentor earlier in Stage 1, giving them the opportunity to hear first-hand experiences.
Post-order families may be offered mentor support if our triage team feel this would be helpful, either on its own or alongside other support we may provide.
Sometimes, a friendly chat on the phone or in person can make all the difference. Our Adoptive Parent Mentors will genuinely listen and understand how you might be feeling. They can offer reassurance, encouragement and support when family life may be challenging or suggestions on how to connect with other family groups or social opportunities for your children.