Banca de DEFESA: ILANNA PINHEIRO DA COSTA MEDEIROS

Parental Guidance Training for Parents in the Post-Adoption Process. 

adoption; parenthood; parent education; training.

The construction of parenthood is neither linear nor based on a single perspective. Adoption represents one possible pathway to the exercise of parenthood, presenting both specific characteristics and similarities in relation to biological parenting. This dissertation aimed to implement the Post-Adoption Parenting Orientation Training for Adoptive Parents (TOPA). To achieve this objective, three interrelated studies were conducted.The first study consisted of an integrative review of national and international literature on post-adoption parenting training programs, whose findings supported the development of TOPA. The second study detailed the construction process of the training program, addressing a frequent gap in academic literature, which often presents intervention protocols without thoroughly describing their development. The third study reported the application of TOPA, describing participant recruitment, the intervention process, and the analysis of its effects.Regarding the results, Study I indicated that post-adoption programs do exist; however, they present limited thematic scope, particularly concerning the trauma related to adoption disruption and the need for practical support in everyday parenting challenges. Study II presented the structure of the training program, consisting of six sessions of approximately 90 minutes, including psychoeducational activities, group dynamics, role plays, and pre- and post-intervention assessment instruments. The program is intended for adoptive parents of children up to six years of age and can be implemented in face-to-face, online, or hybrid formats. Study III demonstrated that TOPA constitutes a support strategy for adoptive families, contributing to the strengthening of parental bonds.The findings highlight the need for continuous guidance and support actions in the post-adoption period, aiming to prevent relational disruptions and to promote comprehensive child protection.