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Adoptive families

The adoption journey can be long and full of hopes and dreams and hurdles.

The experience of too many families is that the system hasn’t fully prepared them for the possibility  that their  loved one might  have FASD and once that diagnosis is made (if it is made)  they have  an  uphill struggle to get in place the support their child deserves.  Things are changing but not necessarily fast enough for families who are struggling at the moment.

Thinking about adopting a child with FASD or suspected FASD?

One of the key questions we get asked on our hotline is about adopting a child with FASD. Martin Butcher – who was himself adopted as a child, has written about this question. (Martin is married to National FASD’s chief executive Sandy Butcher, this  is  from their blog, FASD: Learning With Hope.)

Insight from Martin butcher, An adoptee and adoptive dad

Adoption is an important part of our family story. I was adopted in the UK back in the 1960s. We adopted our son with FASD more than a decade ago.

If we had known our son has FASD, would it have made a difference?

One study showed that in Peterborough as many as 75% of the children available for adoption were exposed to alcohol in the womb. Should those kids, many of whom may have FASD, remain in the care system, denied the stability and life chances a loving family can bring them? Of course not.

Raising a child with FASD isn’t something to be undertaken lightly, but neither is it something to be avoided. Kids with the condition need a family’s love just like any other child. We didn’t know our son had FASD when we adopted him, he wasn’t diagnosed for another 8 years. But we did know he had major issues, including developmental delays. He was 16 months old and completely silent when he came to us. He also wasn’t walking – although he very quickly did. We knew there was something. We just didn’t know what. Before we adopted, when we asked the authorities what the something might be their reaction was to offer to find us another child. We said no instantly. We had already fallen in love with our little man, and shopping for the perfect baby wasn’t on the agenda. (Incidentally if you think any child is perfect then adoption may not be for you, at least not until you know a lot more about kids).

So what do we advise? Read a lot. Learn about FASD. Read about the problems your child is likely to have. How school will be difficult. How bedtimes will be really hard. How your child might go from a zero to sixty meltdown in a few seconds – things will fly, people will get hit. Toys and windows may be broken. Friendships will be hard, and the gap with peers will grow as your kid grows. The challenges will not go away.  Marriages and other relationships will be strained.  Some days may be long, very long.  Some of the effects may not be knowable for years.

Don’t go into this wearing rose tinted glasses. Don’t avoid reality. Understand this is lifelong brain damage.

But if after doing all of your research, you feel you are ready, do go into it. Know there are things you can do as a parent to increase this child’s chances for a happy, fulfilling, and successful life. Factor in that your child will bring a huge amount of love into your lives. That their smile will brighten the darkest day. That their achievements will warm your heart and make you proud, especially because they will have worked harder than any kid you know to get there. That they will amaze you with everything they can do. That they will make your family complete and teach you some of the most important life lessons we can learn.

Take your decision carefully. An adoption is a lifetime decision. A child traumatised by early life events, simultaneously living with FASD, would be irreparably damaged by a disrupted adoption. Social workers and others need to be much better informed about FASD, in order to better inform potential adopters. The services and support offered to those adopters need to be much better tailored to children with FASD and the needs of adoptive parents.  Information and concerns should be shared by all the officials, not smoothed over or tucked away.  No adopter should be blind-sided about this most important decision.

But, all this considered, go along and find out about adoption. See if it will work for you. If the answer is yes, don’t turn a child away just because they have FASD. They need you in their life, and you need them. Your life will be the richer for them.

FASD and Trauma – Parenting Tips for Carers

Initiated and written by two Hertfordshire foster carers, Sue and Tony Sharp, this guide helps all who are parenting at the intersection of FASD and trauma. This is co-produced by National FASD and the East Hertfordshire and Area FASD Support Network.

After adoption: what help can we get? (NHS)

This has details about financial support, adoption support from your local  authority, education and adopted children and other sources  of post-adoption support

Adoption UK

provides support, community and advocacy for all those parenting or supporting children who cannot live with their birth parents. Their FASD Hub Scotland has resources specific to FASD.

The Combined Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Childhood Trauma

findings from a four-year research project at the University of Salford, by Alan Price, PhD.

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