Welcome

Welcome to the first in a series of Adoption Support Fund (ASF) e-newsletters. This newsletter is brought to you by Adoption UK and is designed to be a source of useful information about the Adoption Support Fund.

Over the next few months we will be bringing you news, views and information that should help make clear what is available through the fund. For those new to the ASF this link is a good starting point.

The Adoption Support Fund was launched by the Department for Education on 1 May 2015. £19 million was set aside to help those adopters whose children need therapeutic interventions and support.

This newsletter aims to help you understand your rights, what you can expect from your local authority and what the fund can pay for.

We would also like to ask you the occasional question about your experiences of the ASF and this month we would appreciate your answers to: How long has it taken you to get an assessment of your family's support needs? Simply click through and tick the box that is relevant to you. Thank you.

What's new?

News

• The Government has revealed details of the first 14 regional adoption agencies. Find out more here.
• The Colebrooke Centre for Evidence and Implementation has completed an analysis of the ASF prototype. Read more here.

Stats

So far (as of 2 November) 1,500 applications have been approved to receive funding through the ASF. Other statistics including those relating to the ages of children supported and the types of therapies funded can be found on the link below.

More figures relating to the Adoption Support Fund

Spotlight on innovation

The adoption team at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has made an innovative and forward-thinking application to the ASF for the creation of a therapeutic support group for children aged seven to 12.

The group launched in September with a therapeutic residential activity weekend away for the children and their parents. The trip received very positive feedback and the sessions will continue up to June next year.

One parent said of the experience: "It's great to find out you are not alone, that many of the issues you see mirrored in other children. I believe our son was truly able to be himself and relax for the first time."

Read more about the Southend support group

Your questions answered

Here we share some FAQs from adopters about the ASF
Q: We're about to adopt and our child has an obvious need. Can we apply for ASF assistance before the adoption order is in place?

Q: If my child was placed with me through a voluntary adoption agency, is my local authority responsible for assessing me for the Adoption Support Fund?

Q: Is it the placing local authority that is responsible for assessing our family's needs or the local authority where we live?

See all the answers here

What parents think of the Adoption Support Fund

Families have used the Adoption Support Fund to benefit from a range of therapies in a range of different ways. In this section of the newsletter we share parents' experiences of accessing the fund.

Adoptive parents Mike and Susan were able to receive Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy with the support of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to help with issues surrounding the behaviour of their daughter Anna.

Susan said: "Coming to therapy has taken a weight off my shoulders and helps make things easier at home. The Adoption Support Fund has been good for both Anna and us."

Read Susan's story