SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is celebrating National Adoption Week with an animation featuring the story of an adopted family who has been helped by the charity’s post adoption support service…

SSAFA runs a registered adoption agency, set up specifically to support anyone who is currently serving in the Armed Forces, or have left in the last three years, to create a family through adoption. The service has approved 406 military couples and individuals since 1964 and offers lifelong support to its adoptive families.

The animation features the story of a family who adopted through SSAFA and demonstrates the times that they’ve needed to call on SSAFA for help. In most cases, the children adopted through the charity have had a complicated start in life. These issues can manifest into difficult behaviour as they grow up including getting in trouble at school, becoming isolated, poor self-esteem and emotional difficulties.

In the animation, SSAFA’s Post Adoption Support Worker visits and advises the family on how best to deal with these types of situations. They can be a listening ear and offer help but also signpost to additional services such as life story work or offering training to schools about the issues adopted children face.

SSAFA’s post adoption support service provides a lifeline to families who have adopted through SSAFA who hit a bump in the road. The Post Adoption Support Social Worker is funded by a grant from BBC Children in Need. We supported 46 families, which equates to 89 children with post adoption support last year.

Post adoption support is the responsibility of the Local Authority, however if this service falls short SSAFA will offer support and advocate on behalf of children and their families to ensure they receive the help they need.

There is also an option of attending post adoption support events which run twice a year and brings together adopters from across the country. The annual activity weekend and training day offer the parents and children an opportunity to meet and share experiences with their peers.

From over 50 years of experience, SSAFA has been finding forever homes for children through its adoption service. SSAFA understands the complications that families can face as their child grows and matures and is there to support families when they need an extra helping hand.

Military families are incredibly resilient and offer a safe and stable environment for children to grow and enjoy a healthy, constant family life. Growing up on a military base offers a ready-made community of like-minded families who look out for one another and hold regular events and activities for children.

All serving parents are offered up to 12 months adoption leave, can re-house families into larger family accommodation following approval and many military families are able to have a home-based parent.