Support for adoptive parents

The Adoption & Special Guardianship Support (ASGS) Team provides a confidential support service to families with adopted children anywhere in the county. It is also available to families living in Kent who adopted children from outside the county, provided it is three years since the placement of the child. If less than three years families need to approach the agency who placed the child.

The ASGS team works with others - in health, education, housing, benefits system, etc - to develop a range of services for adoptive families. These include support groups, counselling, advice and information as required. They can also help to secure access to therapeutic services for families if necessary. The team's core purpose is to ensure the needs of adoptive families are met and that adoptions are successful.

ASGS offers:

• Contacts - putting you in touch with other adopters
• Support groups - a group in your local area that meets regularly
• Workshops - set up to provide information and help, for example in coping with school, understanding difficult behaviour, and identity issues
• Social events - different fun events held during the year to include the whole family
• Newsletter and event notification - regularly mailed to keep you informed.

Sometimes this is not enough and so ASGS can also offer extra help and support.

The ASGS office is open Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm (excluding bank holidays). ASGS has an answerphone service that operates 24 hours a day, with calls returned promptly. And the ASGS Helpline runs from 10:00am - 2:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.