Abstract
This article looks at the support adoptive families need in the crucial first stages of placement and the health visitor's role in the process. As an adopter, I share my experiences, including suffering with post-adoption depression syndrome, and the challenges faced by families who have adopted a child. An online survey was developed to find out adopters' experiences of the health visiting service. The results showed that the Universal health visiting service was not appropriate for the needs of the family at the time. The article concludes with a discussion of attachment and therapeutic parenting styles and recommendations as to how the health visitor can offer early intervention and help to adoptive families.