36 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite #503, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1A1www.adoption.on.ca

36 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite #503, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1A1www.adoption.on.ca

ChangingThe ScriptC

TSRelationship is the key

A Re�ective Consultation and Support Program for Adoptive Parents A program of the Adoption Council of Ontario Supported by: The Circle for Children Foundation

©

Formed in 1987 by representatives of the adoption community, the Adoption Council of Ontario (ACO) represents and supports all aspects of adoption. We work towards a community where all children and youth have a committed family to grow up and grow old in.

The ACO, a registered charitable organization, is a leader in adoption recruitment and support; youth, parent and peer support programming; as well as training of mental health professionals. ACO has the capacity to work collaboratively with key partners, most essentially youth with lived experience, to build this program.

“This group was LIFE CHANGING! I wish that every adoptive family could be a part of a group. We cannot imagine our family’s life without the support offered by this group.”

INTRODUCTION

“The kids come to us with bags we have not packed!” As a program, Changing the Script© enables adoptive and permanency planning parents to develop insight into their therapeutic work with their children; problem–solve together; and share in mutual support.

The “Changing the Script©” program has been designed to support parents by providing clinical input that will help them understand their children’s behaviour better, and emotional support–through the peer group of other adoptive and permanency planning parents.

Dr. Claudia Clipsham, who developed the program writes, “Children who have been betrayed by adults will be wary of their new parents–why shouldn’t they be? They will test them over and over again. When parents surprise their children by not reacting in the way the children expect them to–when in fact they don’t con�rm the children’s worst fears–they are showing the children that there is another way, other scripts that will serve them better.”

The program, Changing the Script–Relationship is the Key©, brings together adoptive parents as well as trauma informed, adoption–competent therapists, for a period of 10–weeks. Parents gain a better understanding of the experiences, needs, strengths and belief systems that foster children typically bring to their new families.

On the basis of insights gained in the group, parents are supported in developing strategies that will help them respond more e�ectively to their children’s behaviour while simultaneously strengthening and enhancing their children’s sense of well–being, security and trust.

Changing the Script© improves the parent–child relationship by in�uencing variables of stress, re�ection and isolation

Length and Duration of the Program Changing the Script:Relationship is the Key© is a structured, 10–week therapeutic program with a two–hour session per week.

FORMAT OF THE PROGRAM

Introductory Session In the �rst part of the program, facilitators provide group members with an introduction to the concept of scripts, the ways in which the scripts their children have developed inform their behaviours, how they can use their relationship with their children to support the acquisition of healthy scripts and bring about change in those that are not. Facilitators also discuss how parents’ own scripts in�uence their responses to their children.

Subsequent Sessions (Parent Presentations) Each family tells their story; every session is dedicated to one family’s adoption story. This provides an opportunity for the group as a whole to learn from the presenter’s experience as well as share ideas about strategies they have found helpful in similar situations. Parents use the Preliminary Form to guide their presentation to the group.

• Parents re�ect on their interactions with their children and clarify for themselves what the children are attempting to communicate

• Parents also re�ect on the feelings that are triggered within themselves in response to the children’s behaviour

• Parents draw on support of a peer group brought together by a shared commitment to helping the children in their care and whose bonds are gorged by similar experiences

Individualized Feedback (Letter to Presenter) At the session immediately following each individual presentation, facilitators provide individualized feedback regarding the participant’s presentation in the form of a letter. This helps parents to think critically beyond the length of the program.

While the group process ends with the last session, participants are still able to connect with ACO programs including clinical supports, consultations and referrals o�ered by the PASS Program.

Thanks to the generous funding from the Circle for Children Foundation, this o�ering is available at no cost to participants.

Changing the Script is an ongoing group o�ering. For more information: PASS@adoptontario.ca or 1–877–Adopt20

. PASS

Permanency & Adoption Support Services

INTRODUCTION

“The kids come to us with bags we have not packed!” As a program, Changing the Script© enables adoptive and permanency planning parents to develop insight into their therapeutic work with their children; problem–solve together; and share in mutual support.

The “Changing the Script©” program has been designed to support parents by providing clinical input that will help them understand their children’s behaviour better, and emotional support–through the peer group of other adoptive and permanency planning parents.

Dr. Claudia Clipsham, who developed the program writes, “Children who have been betrayed by adults will be wary of their new parents–why shouldn’t they be? They will test them over and over again. When parents surprise their children by not reacting in the way the children expect them to–when in fact they don’t con�rm the children’s worst fears–they are showing the children that there is another way, other scripts that will serve them better.”

The program, Changing the Script–Relationship is the Key©, brings together adoptive parents as well as trauma informed, adoption–competent therapists, for a period of 10–weeks. Parents gain a better understanding of the experiences, needs, strengths and belief systems that foster children typically bring to their new families.

On the basis of insights gained in the group, parents are supported in developing strategies that will help them respond more e�ectively to their children’s behaviour while simultaneously strengthening and enhancing their children’s sense of well–being, security and trust.

Changing the Script© improves the parent–child relationship by in�uencing variables of stress, re�ection and isolation

Length and Duration of the Program Changing the Script:Relationship is the Key© is a structured, 10–week therapeutic program with a two–hour session per week.

FORMAT OF THE PROGRAM

Introductory Session In the �rst part of the program, facilitators provide group members with an introduction to the concept of scripts, the ways in which the scripts their children have developed inform their behaviours, how they can use their relationship with their children to support the acquisition of healthy scripts and bring about change in those that are not. Facilitators also discuss how parents’ own scripts in�uence their responses to their children.

Subsequent Sessions (Parent Presentations) Each family tells their story; every session is dedicated to one family’s adoption story. This provides an opportunity for the group as a whole to learn from the presenter’s experience as well as share ideas about strategies they have found helpful in similar situations. Parents use the Preliminary Form to guide their presentation to the group.

• Parents re�ect on their interactions with their children and clarify for themselves what the children are attempting to communicate

• Parents also re�ect on the feelings that are triggered within themselves in response to the children’s behaviour

• Parents draw on support of a peer group brought together by a shared commitment to helping the children in their care and whose bonds are gorged by similar experiences

Individualized Feedback (Letter to Presenter) At the session immediately following each individual presentation, facilitators provide individualized feedback regarding the participant’s presentation in the form of a letter. This helps parents to think critically beyond the length of the program.

While the group process ends with the last session, participants are still able to connect with ACO programs including clinical supports, consultations and referrals o�ered by the PASS Program.

Thanks to the generous funding from the Circle for Children Foundation, this o�ering is available at no cost to participants.

Changing the Script is an ongoing group o�ering. For more information: PASS@adoptontario.ca or 1–877–Adopt20

. PASS

Permanency & Adoption Support Services

36 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite #503, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1A1www.adoption.on.ca

36 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite #503, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1A1www.adoption.on.ca

ChangingThe ScriptC

TS

Relationship is the keyA Re�ective Consultation and Support Program for Adoptive Parents A program of the Adoption Council of Ontario Supported by: The Circle for Children Foundation

©

Formed in 1987 by representatives of the adoption community, the Adoption Council of Ontario (ACO) represents and supports all aspects of adoption. We work towards a community where all children and youth have a committed family to grow up and grow old in.

The ACO, a registered charitable organization, is a leader in adoption recruitment and support; youth, parent and peer support programming; as well as training of mental health professionals. ACO has the capacity to work collaboratively with key partners, most essentially youth with lived experience, to build this program.

“This group was LIFE CHANGING! I wish that every adoptive family could be a part of a group. We cannot imagine our family’s life without the support offered by this group.”