Adoption Counts Podcast

Accessing Adoption Support - Steve's story

Steve and his husband adopted two boys who are now in their early teens. Steve candidly shares the challenges they have faced as a family, what led them to accessing adoption support and their highs and lows along the journey. This longer episode gives an honest account into what being an adopter can really look like and how adoption support services have given their family a chance to thrive.

Adopting children with complex needs - Tom's story

Single adopter Tom has adopted two children with complex needs through Adoption Counts.  In this bitesize episode we hear from Tom as he talks about why it was important to him to offer children with additional needs - who often wait the longest to be adopted - the chance to have a loving, permanent home. He shares how life with his two boys is filled with fun, love and lots of typical sibling behaviour!

Eco-Adopters: Adopting for Environmentally Conscious Reasons with Dad, Jay

Jay and his wife Rachel were very aware of the climate crisis, how over-populated the world is and what the planet would look like for the next generation, and they  questioned if they wanted to bring a child into that.  But they also felt like we had something to give to children as well. They found out that there was a clear need for more adopters and so they thought that they could help. Jay joined our podcast to share how they came to adoption, the joys of adopting an older child and how adoption has been the most rewarding thing they've ever done.

Interracial adoption: John-Paul's journey

John-Paul was born to a white mother and Black father, then adopted as a young baby by a white family.  In this episode John-Paul delves into his experience of interracial adoption. He talks about the racism both he and his family faced, but how love and practical tools helped him to navigate his identity. John-Paul shares how he has re-connected with members of his birth family and how it's led him to re-understand his identity, and why his heritage is important for both him and his own children. At the time John-Paul was adopted so much less was understood about interracial adoption whereas now, Adoption Counts runs a specific Race Matters training module on this important topic. Listen to John-Paul share his story in this heart-warming episode from Adoption Counts.

Understanding the Adoption Process with Mum Heather and Social Worker Jen

The adoption process is something that all prospective adopters undertake, but at Adoption Counts we appreciate it can feel like a maze of emotions, paperwork and big decisions. In this episode we do a deep dive into what becoming an adopter really involves, from the initial decision to adopt, to the training, the assessment and challenges faced along the way. In this episode we are joined by adopter, Heather, who shares her experience of the process as a single adopter to now being a mum of two. She explains what it was like for her along with top tips about going through the process. Heather is joined by one of our recruitment and assessment social workers, Jen, who explores what the different stages in the process are, why they are important and what social workers are looking for. Whether you're considering adoption, already on the journey, or just curious, this episode will give you a candid and informative look into what it takes to make the life changing decision to adopt.