Diagrama Foundation is set to tackle adoption after baby loss in a seminar next month at the Routes to Parenthood Show in Maidstone.

Ruth Kirkpatrick is a qualified social worker, adoptive parent and adviser on Diagrama’s adoption and fostering panel. She will be sharing her thoughts on the journey from baby loss to adoption, drawing on both personal and professional experience.

Ruth says: “Around one in four pregnant women lose a baby every year in the UK. Grief is lifelong. It is natural to consider adoption as a cure for infertility. But it is a very different route to parenthood. It's about finding parents for the most vulnerable children - children who are placed for adoption have experienced their own losses. Adoptive parents must be resilient enough to help children manage their own grief. But if you can find the strength to consider adoption, the rewards are extraordinary.”

Ruth’s informal seminar aims to cover the following points:

• When is the right time to adopt after baby loss?
• Considering adoption for the right reasons
• How to cope when we’re reminded of our loss
• The positive impact of adoption after baby loss
• Messages of hope from adopters.

Ruth’s talk will be followed by a question and answer session where visitors will have the chance to draw on her expertise in the field and her first hand experience.

Diagrama Foundation’s adoption and fostering agency focuses on finding safe and loving homes for the most vulnerable children in care. These children are often deemed ‘harder to place’ - this may be because of their age, disability, minority ethnic heritage or because they are part of a sibling group. The agency was recently rated GOOD by Ofsted.

More information on the Routes to Parenthood show is available at http://www.routestoparenthood.co.uk/

If you would like to speak to a member of our adoption team call 0208 668 2181 or email adoption@diagrama.org today.