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Helping Adoptive Families Adjust Through Children's Developmental Stages
Adoption is a lifelong process. Issues related to adoption can surface at different stages in an adopted child's life. Holidays and birthdays are challenging times for all members of the adoption triad. Professionals can find resources in this section about the developmental tasks related to adoption in each stage of a child's growth.
The Adopted Child's Changing View: Adoption and Development
The Center for Adoption Support and Education
Presents a timeline of how awareness and understanding of adoption changes as a child progresses through the typical stages of development.
Adoption and Adolescence (PDF - 109 KB)
The Center for Adoption Support and Education (2002)
Discusses the two major tasks of personal growth for teens: identity formation and separation, and the stresses and complexities adoption adds.
Adoptive Families Magazine
Provides resources for adoptive families on adjustment after adoption. The "Raising Adopted Children'" column has many resources to share with families.
Children's Understanding of Adoption: Adopted and Non-adopted Children
The Center for Adoption Support and Education
Compares an adopted and nonadopted child's understanding of adoption over time.
A Child's Developmental Understanding of Open Adoption
Dorner
Adoption Week e-magazine, 2009
Discusses the benefits of open adoption for the development of adopted children. It describes how children who experience openness in adoption may be better able to understand their adoption in infancy, the preschool years, the school years, and during adolescence.
Forming a Sense of Self: Multiple Choices for Adoptees (PDF - 87 KB)
Eggleston (2001)
Describes the extra complications that most adopted adolescents face as they develop their identities and senses of self.
Information Packet: Adolescent Identity and the Impact on Adoptive Parents (PDF - 149 KB)
National Resource Center for Foster Care and Permanency Planning (2003)
Includes a list of organizations that provide information about adoption advocacy and public policy, practice tips for parents of teens who are struggling with adoption issues, and more.
Post-Adoption Services: Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Children Adopted From Foster Care (PDF - 150 KB)
North American Council on Adoptable Children (2007)
Outlines the mental health needs of children adopted from foster care, the needs of their adoptive families, barriers to receiving mental health services, and some effective postadoption service programs.
Providing Background Information to Adoptive Parents | |
Series Title: | Bulletins for Professionals |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 495KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
Year Published: | 2012 - 9 pages |
Outlines child welfare professionals' legal responsibility to provide background information to adoptive families about their prospective child or youth. The bulletin outlines the benefits of disclosure to the child, the adoptive family, and the adoption agency. It addresses the information that should be provided, helping families understand the information, international adoption where little or no information is available, wrongful adoption, and additional resources. |
What's Inside an Adopted Adolescent? Helping Teens Resolve Five Crucial Issues
Schooler & Atwood (2008)
In The Whole Life Adoption Book: Realistic Advice for Building a Healthy Adoptive Family
View Abstract
Explores the unique challenges facing adopted adolescents, signs that indicate a teen is struggling with an issue, and parental strategies for helping teens overcome challenges (including issues of loss, identity, control, abandonment, permanency, and gratitude).
WISE UP Powerbook
Center for Adoption Support and Education (2008)
View Abstract
Designed for adopted children, this workbook presents the W.I.S.E. Up technique for responding to questions or comments about adoption. The strategy outlines four different options for responding to adoption queries: Walk away or Ignore what is said or heard; say it's private and don't answer; Share something about the adoption story; and Educate others about adoption in general. The Center for Adoption Support and Education also provides train the trainer workshops on how to use the WISE-UP model with families.
Adoption: Parenting after adoption - Adoption and developmental stages
Adoption: Retaining families
Adoption: Talking about adoption
Adoption: Adoption and school
Adoption: Adoption preservation services
Adoption: Preplacement adoption casework practice: Working with sibling groups
Adoption: Siblings and adoption from foster care
Adoption: Siblings and intercountry adoption
Mental health: Common mental health issues for children, youth, and families involved in child welfare
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
Adoption: Search and reunion - Lifelong impact of adoption