Foster and Adoptive Parenting

CWTI logo with photo of man, woman and two kids

Session 3

Unit Three: Ecosystems
Family Ecomap

Part II:

Ecosystem Changes:

Now imagine how your Family Ecosystem will change with the addition of a new family member.

Some systems, like health care or school, may require dealing with multiple subsystems. Or, your relationships with some systems may become more involved—for example, your foster child may require special education services, so you may be attending Pupil Evaluation Team (PET) meetings and needing to be a strong advocate to address your child’s special needs. You may be involved in Family Team Meetings to assist in the development of a family plan for the safety and permanency of your child.

Ecosystems Changes Activity:

Now, revise your own ecosystem diagram(s) to show impact of fostering or adoption.
Use a different color to draw arrows to indicate that certain systems become more or less involved with family (shows direction either closer to or further away).
Show new systems that become important by simply drawing over old systems.
Cross out a circle to show no further contact.
Be sure to use contrasting color marker to show all changes.
Share your drawings with the trainers.

Click here to see how changes may look on the sample Famiy Ecosystem caused by demands of fostering or adoption.