Recommended Family Forum: Developing Your Support System (Before You Need It)

“Help! I Need Somebody!”: Developing Your Support System (Before You Need It)

“It takes a village.” “No man is an island.” “You can’t go it alone.” We’ve all heard these sayings, and if you’re a foster or adoptive parent, chances are, you’ve had at least one opportunity to test them out. Hopefully no one gets into fostering or adopting thinking they can do everything alone, with no supports and no one to turn to when things get tough. But what happens when your village – those people who have stood by you through thick and thin, the ones you know have your back – shows up with the best of intentions but doesn’t really understand what’s needed? What if your village is small and mighty, but 1,000 miles away?

The type of support that adoptive parents need is different, and sometimes it can be a challenge to find the right one at the right time. Before the adoption is final, yes, you’ll have support from DCS and your child’s providers. And that’s great – but it’s not enough to sustain your family, especially after the case is closed. From the synagogue down the street to the grandmotherly neighbor next door to an online community, there are lots of people who can walk beside you on your adoption journey. Be sure to join us for some positive and practical tools and ideas for building your own network.