Perceptions of Occupational Therapy’s Role in Pre- and Post- Adoptive Services

At The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, we’re not only serving families—we’re also helping shape the next generation of medical providers who will continue this important work. This month, we had the privilege of hosting Anya Barg, an occupational therapy doctoral student from Huntington University, who traveled all the way from Indiana to observe Occupational Therapy’s Role in Pre- and Post-Adoptive Services with our team. (Pictured with Amy Elmore, Occupational Therapist)

We loved having Anya in our clinic and were inspired by her passion for adoption-competent, trauma-informed care. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

Amy and Anya in the Shannon Waltchack Therapy Gym

“I learned so many lessons from shadowing the Adoption and Foster Care Clinic for two days. I would say that the biggest lesson that I took away is that it takes an adoption competent, trauma-informed interdisciplinary team to best support adoptive families as they navigate the complexities and challenges that might arise in their journey. A team approach provides a more holistic perspective on the needs of the child and family. A team approach also allows for greater understanding of the root cause of issues that might take place. I enjoyed getting to follow each professional throughout the day and see a glimpse of their scope of practice as well as how the team came together in meetings to shed light on different pieces of the puzzle. The advice they provided to families was practical and useful. I wish that more clinics like this existed, as I think many families would benefit from these resources and this interdisciplinary team approach. This experience was an awesome opportunity for me to witness the work and the heart of the Adoption and Foster Care Clinic in Alabama. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to visit and learn from you!

We are so grateful for students like Anya who are eager to learn and carry forward the mission of supporting adoptive and foster families. It’s our honor to help equip future providers with the skills and knowledge needed to make a lasting impact.