Community Eco Map

[MrsBW]

Hi

We've been asked to draw one of above up as part of our home study. I believe the focus is less on traditional 'support network' and more on facilities in our local community that will help us as we raise children.

We have so far:

Schools
Doctors
Dentists
Soft Play and Playgroups
Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres
Other Leisure Facilities (Gym that do junior things, ten pin, cinema etc)
Local Sports teams
Libraries
Museums and Galleries
Parks
Animals (wildlife parks, petting zoos etc)
Friends (i.e. our friends that have children a similar age to those we wish to adopt)
Social Services
Emergency Services

Can anyone add anything to the list at all please?

I think your list is very comprehensive to be honest. My dd is 2 1/2 and my ds is 12 and I can't think of any other service we needed.

The most important one I think is that you have friends with similar aged children, both for your sanity and for someone to bounce things off when you have your children.

Best of luck to you.

Much more comprehensive than anything we put together - definitely seems like you have thought of everything :)

Thank you both very much! :)

Hope this isn't too late.
Don't forget online support - e.g. Mumsnet Adoption section or AUK.

We separated our eco map into different areas:

• 'experts' - eg doctors, SW etc

• people to give tangible practical support (e.g. friends / neighbours who you could turn to, eg to get shopping / prescription, people to meet up with, etc)

• people to give emotional support / advice (e.g. friends at the other end of a phone, friends with children, message boards etc) (may be different for you and your partner)

• local resources such as toddler groups

Sounds like your list is very good.