Conversation & discussion on contemporary Adoption & Fostering
Episodes
Saturday May 27, 2023
Saturday May 27, 2023
Hello and welcome to the A and F podcast, in this Episode we speak to Mike Hancock the National Strategic Lead for PAC UK (Starting at 17:25). We discuss the recently released "Big Consult" drawing on adoptees and birth families experiences and you can read that here.
Of course there's a little banter beforehand and we unpack what we've been up to.
Also, if you've not had chance to complete the short anonymous questionnaire relating to birth family contact we'd appreciate you completing it here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Wednesday May 24, 2023
Wednesday May 24, 2023
In this midweek podcast we're delighted to speak to Dr Nikki Rutter. Nikki has written a raft of research into #CPV and we invited her onto the pod to chat about her latest research into how mothers are perceived when seeking support in relation to challenging and violent behaviour in children. You can read it here.
It's a great chat and Nikki shares how she got drawn into this area of research and we unpick what is a complex issue
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Saturday May 20, 2023
Saturday May 20, 2023
Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
In this episode we cross the Atlantic to speak to Brady, he shares his personal experience of adoption as a 13 year old and how that informed his understanding adoption. With his wife Andrea, Brady then went on to adopt internationally as well as through the US foster care system and has subsequently set up a charity Rods Heroes that seeks to find families for children with Down syndrome who aren’t with their parents. Brady is open and honest in relation to his beliefs and motivation and very comfortable to engage in discussion there are many strands to this story and hope you enjoy it.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Wednesday May 17, 2023
Wednesday May 17, 2023
Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast.
Allegations can be catastrophic for any family and in this episode I speak to adoptive parent Emily, she shares her families experience of an allegation investigation and the impact on them.
It’s a difficult story to listen to but it’s not uncommon for adoptive families to find themselves caught up in complex processes with police and local authorities safeguarding teams. As such it’s an important topic that Emily shines a light onto.
Here are the links that can offer advice and support
Emily is also happy to speak to anyone in terms of their experience or for advice and support you can email her here oneinfourfa@yahoo.com
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Saturday May 13, 2023
Saturday May 13, 2023
In this Episode of the A&F podcast we speak to Dr Vicky Baker about her research listening to children and young people who display violence and aggression towards their caregivers. It's a fascinating chat and she raises issues that many families will recognise and we consider intentionality, reactionary and complex histories in children who display this behaviour. It's a great conversation and Dr Vicky is happy to be contacted by email here and you can read the research here.
We also highlight some info requested in the Adopter Reference Group in relation to contact between adopters and birth family and we've popped some questions onto a short Google form here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
In this webcast we speak to adopter, social worker and adult adoptee Feona Wells about the recent report Adoption Crisis The Jarring Reality of Adoption that she complied. It has been shared widely and lay’s out over 30 families’ experiences of adoption and the challenges that led up to and were part of disruption. It’s an emotive issue and the report raises serious concerns in terms of the system’s response to the adversity that many find themselves in.
There's a little swearing and we're aware that this is an emotive issue so go easy on yourselves.
You can read the report here.
You can contact Fiona on fionawells.patch@gmail.com
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Saturday May 06, 2023
Saturday May 06, 2023
Hello and welcome to conversations from the A and F podcast. In this episode we speak to formed foster carer Niki, she shares her formative experience in foster care and how this informed her decision to become a carer. Niki is honest about the experience of being a carer and reflects on some of the challenges in that role and systemic failings that ultimately led to her resigning her registration. If you’re an adoptive parent her views on the process of introductions will certainly be of interest.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast, in this episode we speak for the first time to the new CEO of Adoption UK Emily Frith. Emily has been in post since late 2022 and we took time to catch up with her in relation to her plans, vision and hopes for AUK given the changing political and policy landscape. As always there's a little banter as well and we ask questions across a range of issues that impacts is relevant to the community at the moment.
On another note, if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Saturday Apr 22, 2023
Saturday Apr 22, 2023
Without doubt taking children with additional needs and complex histories on holiday is a minefield of challenges and we thought we'd come up with some insight and share a few stories.
We come up, in a surprising moment of organisation and planning, with our top ten tips for travel and cover a few other issues in terms of some of the difficulties that families can face.
To be clear, at the end of our chat there is another 'Vomit Story' and it's bleak, so you were warned!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Wednesday Apr 19, 2023
Wednesday Apr 19, 2023
In a short episode Scott chats to Jeff Noble from the Canadian FASD Success Podcast. Jeff is in the Ayr, Scotland to share to experience and insight to FASD and Scott collared him for a quick natter. Jeff shares his perspectives on a range of issues, including swearing, and it's a fun conversation that means we'll definitely be getting him back for a full podcast.
Jeff has a dynamic podcast that you can listen to here
Al, being a total slacker chose not to edit the swears out!
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here