FAB Parents offers a road map and resources for adoptive and foster parents and the professionals who touch their lives.
Want honest answers to tough questions?
Want realistic solutions?
Deep understanding is the key to successful and rewarding parenting. FAB Parents offers a robust, proven framework which allows you to have a more fulfilling parenting experience and honours the child's life experiences.
This website, the articles, training, tools, concepts, ideas, philosophy and mentoring are what Helen Oakwater wished she'd had during all the different stages of her adoption journey; from pre-placement assessment through to her kids leaving home.
Even though it is primarily for foster and adoptive parents whose children experienced maltreatment and neglect in infancy: the content will be useful for anyone who touches the life of a traumatised child; including Teachers, Social Workers, Health Visitors, Decision Makers, Medics, Family Members, The Media, Judges and adults who experienced abuse, neglect or maltreatment during their own childhood.
You want and need to know that the material on this website is credible, effective and based on sound theory, research and practice. You should know the qualifications and track record of contributors. These are listed for the individual contributors. (Unless otherwise stated it is Helen Oakwater).
Understanding is the key. By exploring this website you will:
Written in an accessible conversational style incorporating theory, anecdotes, diagrams, models, neuroscience and case studies, Helen maps out the connection between trauma, child development, empathy, grief, contact, trust, truth-telling and parenting styles.
Want to adopt, foster, be a special guardian or simply parent your own child who has experienced neglect, abuse, maltreatment, trauma or domestic violence?
How to prepare yourself and continue to grow for decades. Develop skills, understanding and tools for transformation for yourself and the child. You’ll have Helen beside you offering theories, models, route maps and tool kits whilst being an honest mentor and kick ass friend.
A holistic methodology for understanding and parenting adopted and fostered children.
new learning + adaptive behaviour = understanding + satisfaction
If you are frustrated or bewildered by your child’s behaviour; these resources will help you by providing new tools and ways of thinking. This is what I wish I’d had 25 years ago before my (adopted) children arrived from the Care System.
We believe that:
“Normal”
“Traumatised”
“Prevention”
"This is what I wished I’d had during every stage of my 30 year parenting journey."
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