Preparation Groups for Prospective Adopters
Dates have been set for four sets of preparation groups throughout 2012 as follows:
Participants will be required to attend all five sessions.
A member of the Adoption team will contact all participants with a full program prior to the commencement of the groups.
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May 2012 Groups
Information day
1) - Wednesday 9th May 2012
Preparation days
2) - Monday 21st May (9.30 – 4.15)
3) - Tuesday 22nd May (9.30 – 4.15)
4) - Monday 28th May (9.30 – 4.15)
5) - Tuesday 29th May (9.30 – 4.15)
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September 2012 Groups
Information day
1) - Monday 3rd September 2012
Preparation days
2) - Tuesday 11th September (9.30 – 4.15)
3) - Wednesday 12th September (9.30 – 4.15)
4) - Monday 17th September (9.30 – 4.15)
5) - Tuesday 18th September (9.30 – 4.15)
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November/December 2012 Groups
Information day
1) - Monday 12th November 2012
Preparation days
2) - Monday 26th November (9.30 – 4.15)
3) - Tuesday 27th November (9.30 – 4.15)
4) - Monday 3rd December (9.30 – 4.15)
5) - Tuesday 4th ~December (9.30 – 4.15)
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Please click here for additional information
Information Day --- 18 February
Prep group – March 8th & 9th and 17th & 18th.
Comments and Compliments
Our adopters say:
Kate and Steven:
"Since the first day we contacted DFW until now (two and half years later after adopting our two little girls) we have received nothing but honesty, support and total professionalism. We feel that DFW is a small, caring and very supportive agency; all members of the team have helped and supported us, making us aware that they are always there at the end of the phone if extra support is needed. We have always felt at ease and comfortable with all the members of the team at DFW. My husband and I have always had total confidence in our social worker; her support, sensitivity and honesty throughout the process has helped us to move forward and become a complete and happy family. When problems have arisen, we have always found it easy to talk to her and resolve any issues. We would always recommend DFW to anybody looking to adopt as we feel they are definitely an “outstanding” adoption agency. We know we went with the “best” and have no regrets as DFW have helped to make our journey in adoption a great life experience!"
Julie:
"I was 29 years old when I first decided I wanted to adopt. Two years later, I’m now the proud mother of a lovely nine year old little boy, thanks to DFW Adoption.
After much research into many agencies, I chose DFW Adoption due to its warm, friendly atmosphere. The small number of staff were all genuinely good, caring people. Yes they wanted to place lots of children to good homes, but more than that, they wanted to help me become a mother – the ‘good home’ for the ‘right child’. I was also drawn to DFW Adoption’s open mindedness and equal opportunities. After all, I was a young, single, overweight woman who had never married, and I had no other children. I never thought in a million years anyone would actually say “Yes” and welcome me.
Throughout the whole process, I’ve always been treated with much respect, admiration and kindness. I was assigned a key worker, who has always supported me, encouraged me, reassured and reminded me that when things get tough, she was there and that I was only human.
Adopting is the most rewarding, wonderful thing I’ve ever done – but also the hardest! It makes all the difference knowing you can pick up the phone or drop in when you need to have a moan, ask advice, share the bad times and the good. I still like to keep in touch and will drop by with my next batch of 1000 photographs.
The staff at DFW Adoption care. They don’t send you packing once you have a child. They take an interest in how you are growing and developing as a family. They have followed me through my long, bumpy journey – they’ve been there throughout the tears and the laughter.
I’m a good mother – I have a beautiful child, who still causes me pain and heartache at times, but I know that someone will always be there to keep me going, offer advice, tell me I’m doing a fantastic job and, believe me, those few words mean a lot!"
Michael and Sarah:
"A number of years ago my wife and I considered adoption. We approached one of the North East council adoption agencies and made enquiries. We were informed that the council didn’t feel we would make good adoptive parents because we were of mixed race marriage and the council felt that to be an unstable basis for parenting. This meant that we never got further than the initial discussions.
Four years ago we decided to approach DFW Adoption who had no geographic restrictions on where in the UK they could look for children to place with adoptive parents.
We were very pleasantly surprised to find that DFW Adoption welcomed prospective adopters from mixed races. Moreover, as the adoption procedure progressed we were asked for our ideal choice in a child. Naturally we expressed a preference for a child who would represent our ethnic mixture, never imagining that we would be offered such an opportunity.
We had hardly passed the adoption panel when we were made aware of two children (brother and sister) with the same mixed race background we had asked about! We were delighted to adopt these two who were then aged three and eighteen months.
To say we are very grateful to DFW Adoption (and especially to our tireless social worker) is an understatement. Based on our first experiences we very nearly stayed childless. Now we are a happy family of four."
Ian and Julie
Our experience of adoption is a positive one due to the team at DFW adoption. It is hard to write down in a few sentences but here goes!
I remember phoning DFW a year before we decided to proceed and that we were just thinking about adoption. The reception staff were so helpful and friendly, and although I was advised a social worker would come out to speak to us if we wanted I did not feel under any pressure. At that time we decided we were not ready to adopt.
When we decided in the new year of 2009 that we would adopt – DFW were just the same as I remember when I first spoke to them – efficient, friendly and helpful. After the first phone call our social worker called us to arrange a visit shortly afterwards. Then the ball was rolling. Our police checks were done extremely quickly, our home study was completed in a couple of months and all the paper work was always done in good time to avoid any unnecessary delays. We both felt very confident that we had chosen the right agency for us.
Our social worker was fantastic – she made us comfortable to talk to her, arranged visits at good times for us both, and also I think the home study made us 150% sure that adoption was for us. People think that the home study is just for the agency but I soon realised that couples need this time during the assessment to discuss issues that could arise when you adopt a child and how you think you would manage.
From our initial visit on Pancake Day 2009, we were approved adopters in October 2009 and we were placed with our gorgeous boy on the 5th May 2010. 14 months is not along time to wait to have your dreams come true.
Our little man has been with us 5 months now and I can’t imagine life without him. He has changed our lives for the better in every respect. Everyday is a blessing and DFW has made this possible for us to become a family.
It is hard to put it in words - how can we ever thank the dedicated team at DFW enough - who treat their jobs as a true vocation and work to the highest standards to change real peoples lives. It’s impossible!
