Ecomaps /Family Trees

[topcat2014]

So, we have to do Ecomaps in the workbook.

What do you put on, and who or what do you leave out?

I am genuinely confused by this, but then, I am finding like so much of adoption prep I just don't tend to think in the required way..

I want to do well with this, but the voice in my head is hating this as much as I remember geography homework being.

Thanks in advance,

[topcat2014]

And, with family trees - do you start with grandparents at the top and work down?

Our workbook is written like someone's A level coursework and is not clear

[GirlsWhoWearGlasses]

On the family tree - start with yourself/selves at the bottom in the middle and work up and out. Good luck!

[GirlsWhoWearGlasses]

On the ecomaps, we started with ourselves in a bubble in the middle then drew different categories - friends, family etc around us. We put the individual people in the appropriate section, each with a bubble and a line connecting their bubble to ours. You could always colour code by section if you're feeling adventurous.

[topcat2014]

So is it one family tree, with myself and DW together at the foot of the page then?

I am having flashbacks to school homework on sunday nights :)

[topcat2014]

I like your description of ecomaps - make a bit more sense now.

[GirlsWhoWearGlasses]

We did a single family tree, you're a family after all.

If you think of the ecomap as really just a pretty list of everyone in your support network it makes things feel easier.

[topcat2014]

Thanks, - just like that difficult essay, it is getting a bit easier now we have started. We had the end of stage 1 meeting the other week, and hadn't realised we needed to do the workbook by then - so it feels a bit of a rush..

[JustHappy3]

On our eco map we added E, P or EP to each petson to show whether they give emotional support, practical support or both. It'snot really a test but to get you thinking about eg who's going to pick you up on the hard days and who'll do some babysitting.
On the family tree side it was not until i saw really quite complicated ones on the PAR that i understood why social workers need it drawn out.

[howmanyusernames]

Our SW wrote ours for us (we spoke, he wrote!), and he did two separate ones and just went as far as Grandparents. He didn't include cousins, just Aunts/Uncles.

[topcat2014]

@howmanyusernames

Interesting. We didn't meet our SW between the home visit and end of S1 meeting, where we were expected to have done the workbooks..

All feels a bit chaotic and back to front, if you see what I mean.

They are nearly done now, but won't win any prizes for presentation

[Italiangreyhound]

Did what GirlsWhoWearGlasses did.

Agree with JustHappy3 put Emotional and Practical support. Because although some will be able to provide both, most people might be better at one and it shows a wider network of people which could include friends from far afield who can provide emotional support by phone.

[UnderTheNameOfSanders]

Don't forget on the eco map to put doctors & SW.

Also we put AUK message boards (but this was before they 'improved' them and made them useless).

Think to yourself who you would turn to if:

• you were ill and you needed a prescription picking up
• you think child has chicken pox and want to check
• you've had a rubbish day
• child is crying for FC and you can't soothe them
• you need a night to yourself

I think the main thing is to show you can build support networks and you are willing to ask for help. (The fact that the whole network might change once you are actually placed is immaterial.)

[topcat2014]

@under, thanks. The whole thing feels a bit back to front arse about face like doing the homework before the lectures. But then adoption is led by us, apparently. I am just reading, reading, reading..

[UnderTheNameOfSanders]

like doing the homework before the lectures

Irrelevant I know, but there is something called 'flipped learning'. It works quite well with my DC and maths. I introduce them to a topic before they do it in class, and then they are more receptive to learning it at school because it isn't 'new' and therefore 'hard'.

[topcat2014]

^ - Thanks