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by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
12 In The News
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by Debbie Riley, M.S.
16 Spiritually Connected
by Kim Combes
17 What Do You Think?
by Bob Lewis
25 Foster Parent Perspective
by Don Davis
26 Advocating for Kids
by Barbara Tremitiere, Ph.D.
40 Medical Matters
by Lisa Albers, M.D., M.P.H.
53 Coming Through the Wry
by Ratna Pappert
54 Post-Adoption Services -
What's Working, What's Not!
by Cynthia Peck
30 The Foster Caregiver Crisis
in America
by Marilyn Harrison
31 Myths and Maltreatment
by Marian Ruth Turner
34 Vulnerable Kids, Vulnerable Families
by Linda Loudermill
8 Thank You Mrs. MacIntyre
by Ashley M. Robertson
10 Lessons From The
“Best Interests” Trenches
by Gay Courter
13 From Fostering to Adoption-Is it For You
from adoption.about.com/library
18 The Importance of Bonding
by Jim and Peter Kenny, ACT, Inc.
20 Going and Growing
by Dee Paddock
22 Advocacy 101
by Pamela Darr Wright and
Peter W.D. Wright
37 The Warrior Parent
by Linda Grillo
38 Openness for Children
by Bruce M. Rappaport, Ph.D.
43 It All Begins With Listening
by Mark Reiman
44 Laughter, Attachment and Adopting Older Kids
by Pat O'Brien
48 Tami's Village
by Linda Williams
50 Therapy: Making an
Informed Choice
by Naomi H. Reid
52 A Foster Child's Plea
by Cynthia Blatchford
55 Recommendations for
Foster Care Reform
Click here to order Fostering Families Today
Post-Adoption Services –
What's working, What's not!
Fostering Families TODAY would like to take a hard look at the nature of and need for post-adoption services to families.
Please contact the Editor by or by e-mail,
storyeditor@ netcarrier.com or by snail mail at:
38 Colby Ct.,
Belvidere, NJ 07823.
Your input is invaluable!
Many adoptive families, especially those children with a history of institutionalization care or multiple foster care placements, may need continuing supportive services after finalization and for special times later on. According to Vera I. Fahlberg, M.D., author of A Child's Journey Through Placement, children and parents alike come to adoption with some added risk factors when compared with children joining their permanent family at the time of birth.
Child risk factors include:
• survival behaviors which originated when they lived in dysfunctional families and a dysfunctional system
• individual vulnerabilities
• previous traumatic events
• unresolved separations or losses
Parent risk factors may include:
• lack of empowerment and entitlement
• “echoes” from their past
• unrecognized or unresolved losses
• unrealistic expectations for child or self
Child welfare agencies are increasingly aware of the need to support families after the ink is dry on an adoption decree. A typical public agency service plan looks like the one below:
Focus of Services
During the first year, post-adoption services may focus on:
• supportive contact
• re-addressing questions regarding the child's past
• assessing attachment inhibitors.
Times When Services May Be Needed
At crucial points in time, post-adoption services may be needed:
• at the time of birth or adoption of a sibling
• when beginning school
• if the adoptive family is contacted by the birth family
• at puberty
• at the time of behavioral difficulties
• at the death of family members.
Additional Post-Adoption Services
Additional post-adoption services may include:
• continuing Life Book at the age appropriate level
• birth family visiting
• search for birth parents after age eighteen (18).
Department Post-Adoption Services
Post-adoption services offered by the Department include:
• subsidized adoption
• subsidized adoption services after finalization
• non-identifying and identifying information (search)
• medical information registry for minor children
• information on adoptive parent support
• voluntary groups services
• post-adoption services through the Permanency Placement Services Program
• interstate TITLE IV-E Medicaid services.
Many adoptive families, especially those children with a history of institutionalization care or multiple foster care placements, may need continuing supportive services after finalization and for special times later on. According to Vera I. Fahlberg, M.D., author of A Child's Journey Through Placement, children and parents alike come to adoption with some added risk factors when compared with children joining their permanent family at the time of birth.
Child risk factors include:
• survival behaviors which originated when they lived in dysfunctional families and a dysfunctional system
• individual vulnerabilities
• previous traumatic events
• unresolved separations or losses
Parent risk factors may include:
• lack of empowerment and entitlement
• “echoes” from their past
• unrecognized or unresolved losses
• unrealistic expectations for child or self
Child welfare agencies are increasingly aware of the need to support families after the ink is dry on an adoption decree. A typical public agency service plan looks like the one below:
As adoptive parents, how realistic, useful-and accessible-are the services outlined above? Do they represent an acceptable standard or is there more that needs to be a part of a basic public agency plan (ie, respite care, provisions for therapy, etc.). Your feedback in the form of comments and stories will help us explore this issue for readers in an upcoming feature story for FFT.
As agency professionals, what is your experience regarding how often adoptive parents seek services from the placement agency and what type of help they most often request? What is your agency doing right to help families? Let us know! There are many professionals addressing the needs of adoptive families in unique-and sometimes highly individual-ways. Here is a chance to stand up and shine!
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