Establishing a family tree and Ecomap
At the commencement of the assessment process, the assessor will ask couples to complete a family tree and an Ecomap. These resources will assist your assessor to understand how your personal history impacts on your ability to adopt a child from overseas.
It is generally accepted that people's life experiences play a part in the parent they will become. Some of these experiences may assist an adoptive parent to understand the similarities and differences between themselves and their adopted child. Other experiences may make no difference, or make it more difficult to understand a child's cultural differences.
Completing your Family Tree
Family trees have been used extensively in preparing couples for assessment. The use of symbols allows complex information to be easily understood.
The following symbols are used in preparing the family tree:
Select the image to view a larger version of this diagram.
The following is an example of a completed family tree:
Select the image to view a larger version of this diagram.
When you discuss your family tree with your assessor, some of the following issues may be addressed:
- What is your knowledge of and feelings about alive and deceased family members.
- What are your family roles and family mythology?
- What expectations have been handed down to you and where have these come from?
- Where do you fit into your family?
- What specific things could you say about your family heritage that your adopted child will transition into?
- Do you have any special people, friends or role models in the family?
- What does the family tree say about your strengths and weaknesses?
- What does the family tree say about the transitions and changes you have encountered and how you coped with these?
- What does the family tree say about your preparation to adopt a child from an overseas country?
Completing your Ecomap
The Ecomap provides a picture of a family in their own social environment. It identifies each individual, group or organisation with which the family has a significant relationship or connection with.
The Ecomap includes all significant activities that family members are involved with, such as work, school, family gatherings, social groups, friends, church, health treatments and recreation.
The different aspects of the family's social environment are shown by rectangles, and the nature of each relationship is indicated by the type of joining line. The lines represent strength of relationships - the thicker the line, the stronger or closer the relationship. Dotted lines represent distant or casual relationships.
The Ecomap is prepared by drawing the immediate family household and then each individual, group or organisation with which the family has a connection with. The community should be defined in a general way so that individuals or groups not within the immediate geographical neighbourhood can be included if they are significant to the family.
The following is an example of a completed Ecomap:
Select the image to view a larger version of this diagram.
When you discuss your Ecomap with your assessor, some of the following issues might be addressed:
- Who are the key individuals, groups and organisations in your life?
- What are the strengths of these connections?
- Which relationships are established and which relationships are transient?
- Which relationships would change with the arrival of your adopted child?
- What relationships would be given up?
- Last updated
- 19 October 2007