This presentation covers an overview of adoption in South Africa for mental health and other professionals working in, or hoping to work in, the adoption community. The presentation discusses the landscape of adoption in the South African context, including social and racial dynamics influencing whether adoption is taken up as a placement option, as well as relevant the legislative & ethical framework. Features of adoption competent therapy are identified, and a developmental perspective of the adoptive family life cycle and presenting concerns in therapy are discussed.
By the end of the presentation participants will:
Recognise the importance of two of the features of adoption competent therapy, namely using an ecological approach to understand adoptive families and emphasising strengths-based interventions;
Have an understanding of how the unique South African context impacts on the need for adoption, the practice of adoption and the experiences of adoptive families in South Africa; and
Have an overview of, and some examples of tasks and challenges that cause adoptive families to present for therapy at different stages of the adoptive family lifecycle
* Presentations are independent of any advertiser and are created without sponsorship influence.
Working with Impilo: The Experience of Assessing Parents for Adoption