Adopted and fostered children are significantly more likely to have neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism or ADHD, as discussed in our recent article in the Adoption and Fostering journal. However, these conditions often go undiagnosed, especially when young people have experienced early life trauma or disrupted attachments. Without a clear diagnosis, families can struggle to access the right support.
This free online event is designed to help adoptive parents, foster carers, and professionals better understand these challenges and what can be done to help.
What the Talk Will Cover
Led by Drs Matt Woolgar & Tom Cawthorne, who are leading experts in the mental health of adopted and fostered young people, the session will explore:
How can we diagnose autism and ADHD in adopted or fostered young people, including those with attachment difficulties or early life trauma?
Why are the rates of neurodevelopmental conditions higher in adopted and fostered children than in the general population?
How can families access specialist neurodevelopmental assessment?
How can we adapt interventions for young people with neurodevelopmental differences?
Plus, there will be time to answer any questions that you may have throughout the session.
Who This Event is For
This session is ideal for:
Adoptive parents and foster carers
Special guardians and kinship carers
Social workers, educators, and mental health professionals
Anyone supporting adopted or fostered young people who may have unmet neurodevelopmental needs
Why It Matters
Understanding neurodevelopmental conditions in adopted and fostered children can be life-changing. With the right knowledge, families and professionals can access earlier diagnoses, tailor interventions, and offer children the consistent, evidence-based support they need to thrive.
There will also be time throughout the session for you to ask questions and share reflections.
About the Speakers
Dr Matt Woolgar is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the National Adoption & Fostering Clinic, based at the Maudsley Hospital, London. He is also an academic at King’s College London, focusing on attachment, parenting, and developmental psychopathology. Matt has a particular interest in the assessment and treatment of complex presentations in adopted children or children from the care system, especially with regard to disentangling the effects of biological and neurodevelopmental factors from attachment, trauma, and behavioural issues.
Dr Tom Cawthorne was the Senior Clinical Psychologist in the National Adoption & Fostering Clinic and is currently undertaking a research fellowship focused on improving mental health care for adopted and fostered young people. He has a specialist interest in supporting children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental differences, including autism and ADHD. Tom brings extensive experience in conducting neurodevelopmental assessments to inform diagnosis and in delivering tailored psychological interventions for the co-occurring mental health challenges often faced by this group. This includes supporting young people with neurodevelopmental conditions who have experienced significant trauma and attachment disruptions.