The Department for Education has funded Adoptionplus to carry out an evaluation of the Nurturing Attachments group programme developed by Kim Golding.
A Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of the Nurturing Attachments Group Work Programme across four geographical sites provides evidence that the Nurturing Attachments Group is an effective intervention for supporting adoptive parents. These results were presented at Woburn Abbey on 29th September 2016.
Parents are left with increased understanding, a new perception of their children, parenting skills which they will continue to develop and increased hope for the future. For some parents this can represent a turning point in their adoption journey.
It is anticipated that if these gains can be sustained the children will increase in security over time, although the support needs of these families should not be underestimated. A six-month group experience is a good start to providing the support and understanding parents need to parent these children in a way which will help them to heal from their trauma.
It is likely, however, that they will also need ongoing support alongside therapeutic help for the children during their adoption journey.
Kim suggests that the Nurturing Attachments Group is just the beginning of providing the help and support needed if adopted children are to grow up feeling more secure and with their potential fulfilled.
“it’s really opened my eyes to a different way of being, um, a different way of doing things, but also a different way of being with people…it’s been really life changing for me that course…on every sort of level I’d say, you know with my adopted child, with my biological child, with my relationships”
Adoptive parent, qualitative evaluation
The study can be accessed on the Adoptionplus website or directly downloaded as a PDF.
Kim is due to present these results at the 2016 International DDP Conference, 10th-11th October, in Glasgow, Scotland.