The POTATO group
Parents Of Traumatised Adopted Teens Organisation. parentingadoptedteens@gmail.com
Bloggy McBlogface
Ahoy there! Its TUESDAY and every week we are going to publish a blog piece on our website. So all aboard the Bloggy McBlogface.
Frankly I can’t wait to hear from our members how they have been getting on with their TATs (traumatised adopted teens) and celebrating their steps forward, and commiserating them when things have gone belly up.
This week we are sharing the epic of traveling overseas with a TAT. Part One is here. Our writer has called it “Bamboo Scaffolding“.
Reflecting on Christmas
Its a chilly grey afternoon in early January and we have finished off the Quality Street and the last piece of shortbread. The relatives have gone home, you are back at work, kids back at school and college and everyones on a healthy living kick! But before we move on from the festive memories of 2017 completely, here are some reflections of POTATO in the last few weeks.
Many families are missing having their adoptee at home, and over Christmas the sense that we have to be together and having a great idealic family time is all around you. Tough for many. Those with their adoptees at home it is a time of managing expectations around presents, relatives and appropriate thank yous.
Several adoptive parents who have their adoptee in prison, in “supported living” (which often leaves a frightening chasm of need that we try to fill from a distance), section 20 voluntary care provision and families that simply cannot manage to be together as the pressure of Christmas is too much.
Hm. Well its not all miserable!
One great big lovely cyber hug doesnt always deliver the support required and so a few years ago we began a SECRET SANTA. This year, we have enjoyed the most successful time with over 60 members taking part from all over the UK. The committee and members are hugely grateful for the hard work of our Kindness Gifts organiser and to all who joined in.
“I was overwhelmed to receive my secret santa present, it is the only gift I get for me each year. Thank you for organising it.”
“It was happiness in a box and I grinned from ear to ear thinking of the soak I would enjoy with smellies just for me.”
“An amazing set of little things for me to enjoy, thank you secret santa.”
In addition to sending gifts to eachother, several members sent cards, letters, magazines and small gifts to TATs (traumatised adopted teens) in prison over Christmas. POTATO really does have some exceptionally kind and practically caring members.
Are you a parent to a traumatised adopted young person and want to join in with POTATO group? We have a secret Facebook group where the majority of our support happens and we do have various meet ups through the UK at different times. It will cost you £10 a year and a simple registration form plus a check that you are known to a member or can be checked out as we only allow genuine adoptive parents. Just email parentingadoptedteens@gmail.com and our administration team will help you through.
AGM and Conference 2017
Oh yes our dear friends, it is nearly time for our annual weekend of socialising, fun, meeting and learning. This year we are heading to Birmingham on the weekend beginning Friday 10th November 2017 until Sunday 12th November 2017.
There are plans in place for meeting up socially, an AGM and conference with space for you to attend the AdoptionUK conference if you wish, or going shopping, having some R&R in between.
Our AGM and conference is from 10am-1pm on Sunday the 12th.
We have nominations for the committee (including new roles) forms to complete by noon on Saturday 11th November, together with details of roles and responsibilities and the current holders of these positions within the committee.
If you would like to come to any of our social events and/or AGM & conference and you are a Member of our group you would be most welcome.
Please email: parentingadoptedteens@gmail.com to request further details or clarification.
Cancelled LAC review.
Ever wondered how it feels to be on the receiving end of Social Care’s cancellations?
Our group is made up of functional families to traumatised and therefore dysfunctional young people. Several of these young people can’t manage family life so go into the LAC system often under section 20 where the parents hold full parental rights. Sadly, many social workers forget this part and don’t ask parental consent or share information adequately let alone having a genuine planning discussion with families. This drives a further wedge between parents and young person and harms all parties.
One member of POTATO group explains how tough it is, how unfair and what damage it causes to have a tick box approach.
Dear Children’s Services,
When you cancel a LAC review, to you it is just a cancelled meeting.
To us it is watching our hope of resolving current issues for our family disappear out of the door, again.
To you it is an unexpected bonus of a free diary slot.
For us it means a day’s pay lost for no good reason.
For you it might mean more time to gather papers and read reports.
For us it means longer to worry about and live with situations without resolutions or plans and a longer period of sleepless nights.
When our IRO (independent reviewing officer) changes, again, to you it is a tick in a box that we have an IRO.
For us it means going back to the beginning of our story, again.
We know that you have your challenges too but please take time to think about our side of the story, after all it is supposed to be a family centred service, with families at its centre.
LBC Interview, POTATO members
We have had a very busy week here in POTATO land, with interviews, pieces on TV, radio and social media.
This interview was with two members of our group (using alias to protect their family identities.) Generally talking about some of the challenges many adoptive families face and the desperate need for relevant, robust support.
The lack of full disclosure from the local authority also features as does the love, warmth and sheer bloody minded fight to get what our traumatised adoptees need.
Please take the 25 minutes or so and listen.
Today is TV & Media day!
Founder member and chair of POTATO is to appear on the Victoria Derbyshire BBC2 programme.
Together with fellow experienced adoptive parents we explain that;
- We love our traumatised adoptees but sometimes it is too hard for them to manage in a family. Love isn’t enough on it’s own.
- Our families and adopted young people need specialist ongoing support.
- Adoptive parents need to be treated kindly by the services. In POTATO group we are kind.
Also, radio 5 are revisiting their file on 4 survey with one of our members speaking as a guest.
If you are an adoptive parents and would like to join our group:
- email our friendly administration support team parentingadoptedteens@gmail.com
- please complete the membership form
- do pay the annual donation (currently £10) via paypal or BACS. Or £1 a month. Or donate a supplementary amount to support the work of POTATO group.
- Ask for a visit if you are unknown to group members.
- Enjoy a friendly visit and if desired join our hidden Facebook support group.
- further visits and socials, AGM and annual conference.
You can donate using PayPal
(We comply fully with Data Protection and any information will remain confidential unless there is a serious risk of harm)
Or it is easier and cheaper to donate directly to the POTATO account.
Here’s a message from our treasurer;
I would like to take the opportunity to remind there is an annual membership donation of £10 which could now be sorted by standing order or if you wish to be generous by a £1 a month direct debit.
The account details are :-
Santander
Sort code 09-01-28
Account number 90254012
Account name: The Potato Group
Children’s Society initiative
Our Chairperson has been in touch with the Childrens Society and because we have a lot of common ground we felt you all might like to get on board with their letter to your MP initiative.
An opportunity to get issues heard
Hi all,
Our latest Good Childhood report found that teenagers are coming under pressure in all areas of their lives. From parental illness to emotional neglect, living in a household struggling with bills to being afraid in their neighbourhood, the serious problems they’re facing are having a damaging impact on their well-being.
Faced with so many complex problems, it is vital young people get the help they need. But cuts to local services mean they often can’t access support until they have already hit crisis point, such as when they have run away from home or are dealing with drug or alcohol abuse.
Will you ask your MP to meet us to find out how they can take action to improve these young people’s lives?
Under pressure
Party conferences held later this month are an opportunity for us to get issues affecting young people heard by people in a position to change things. We will be at Conservative and Labour Party Conferences and we’d like to meet with as many MPs as possible.
Invite your MP to meet us to find out how they can help make sure support is available for young people dealing with serious problems.
Thank you,
Nicole Fassihi
Campaigns team
Last minute NVR course
We have been told that the PAC in London have some spaces for their NVR course starting on 18th of September.
PAC have some places on this 8 week Group for Adoptive Parents. It starts on September 18th!
CHILD TO PARENT VIOLENCE (CPV) PROJECT
Non Violent Resistance – NVR
8 Week Group Sessions
Here are the screen shot details.
Researching adopted young people
Social Outcomes and Early Life Experiences:
Thoughts and Behaviour in Adolescence
Researchers from the University of Manchester would like to invite you and your adolescent to participate in a new extension of the Social Outcomes and Early Life Experiences (SOCIAL) study.
Children who have been adopted have frequently experienced a change in their primary caregiver i.e. they have moved to a new home and a new family. Sometimes, they may also have had negative experiences in their very early life.
• We would like adopted children who are aged 11 to 16 years old and their families to take part in this research.
• Your child does not need to have experienced maltreatment or adversity to take part
• Your child does not need to be having social difficulties at the moment to take part
We are inviting all families who took part in the SOCiAL study to take part.
We are also inviting families who have not yet participated in the SOCiAL study to take part in the assessments detailed. For further information click this link
Section 20, please help the investigation.
The family rights group would like to hear from those involved in Section 20.
There's a significant group of Adoptive parents who have one or more young people who are unable to manage in a family.
Often, they end up in the position of asking for respite or a long term placement under a voluntary agreement with the local authority called section 20.
Here is a quote explaining who they would like contributions from:
We would like a range of individuals and organisations who have experience of, or have been affected by the use of, section 20 arrangements to contribute to the Knowledge Inquiry.
We would like to hear from:
• Children and young people;
• Parents;
• Kinship carers (also known as family & friends carers);
• Social workers and social work managers as well as other practitioners such as family support workers, contact workers and advocates;
• Foster carers;
• Lawyers; and
• Voluntary sector organisations, policy makers and academics.
Here is the link with instructions to follow
