Library of Articles - Adoption - Foster Care
Previous issues of features and columns about adoption and foster care.
Look for Your Favorite Articles by Topic: Recent Features Native Americans and Adoption Understanding events that preceded the Indian Child Welfare Act won't make the Act easier to follow, but may help those seeking to adopt, adoption professionals, and searching adoptees be more patient while legalities are observed.
Chat Transcript: Having Biological & Adopted Children Whether you add adopted children to your family before or after having biological children, questions about the arrival of a new sibling, sibling interaction, and family dynamics arise. Susan Watson, C.S.W., of Spence-Chapin, answered questions about birth order, keeping things "fair," a mix of heritages, and we had a surprise visit from an adult adoptee who shared her experience growing up in a family with biological children. Read the transcript.
November: National Adoption Awareness Month November is National Adoption Awareness Month and we've got information, ideas, and tools to help you and your family and/or organization get involved. You can do something as simple as suggesting adoption book purchases or displays to local bookstores and libraries, or as elaborate as planning a major event with full press coverage.
Observing Country Laws in International Adoption When you choose to adopt internationally, you are not only forming your own family with the addition of a beloved child who brings a unique and separate culture and history, but you are also making a promise to that country to raise that child with (among other things) solid values.
Chat Transcript: The Importance of Names for Adoptees Rose Aquavia, of Spence-Chapin, answers questions from parents about changing their children's name, keeping the birth name, and the significance of names to a child's culture and identity.
"Adoption University" - Lesson Plans for Schools As adoption awareness grows across all generations, teachers are often called upon to provide more than just sensitivity in the classroom. Lesson plans are available to add depth to school curricula.
Where Do We Fit? An adult adoptee asks a question that's certainly in the thoughts of many adopted persons, and offers advice to birth and adoptive parents who may be tempted to expect their adult adopted children to take sides.
Adult Adoption The adoption of one adult by another, as with all adoption law, is covered by state statute. Learn more about adult adoption and find specific legal references.
Opinion: WSJ's Al Hunt Strikes Out On 'Safe Haven' Laws In the wake of veteran journalist Al Hunt's article in the
Wall Street Journal criticizing safe haven laws, Safe Haven supporter Bill Pierce takes on Hunt, segments of the press, the Governor of Hawaii, and the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute - and quotes from Dr. Laura, no less.
Adopting? Ask the Hard Questions Adopting parents often rely on agencies and adoption professionals to tell them everything, but information can be left out. Check out these resources to help you know what to ask and who to ask. Don't be afraid of the hard questions! The answers will help you be a better parent.
Review: "Bonding Through Touch: Infant Massage for Adoptive Families" This video, produced by Three Hearts, LLC, teaches parents how to massage their infants and children with a loving touch. Massage promotes attachment and bonding by reinforcing gentle, close, loving contact between parents, siblings, and the new child.
The Pieces of Adoption Come Together Whether an adoption was designated "special needs" or not, many of us are parenting children with emotional, behavioral, and other issues that leave us scrambling to find answers. The three books that make up the
"Adoption Piece by Piece" trilogy are exceptional resources for parents and professionals dealing with challenging needs and, singly or together, for every adoptive family. our Editor's review.
Chat Transcript: Transition from Orphanage to Home Child development specialist Rita Taddonio answered questions to help parents ease their children's transition from the orphanage setting to home. We talked about sleep and sleeping arrangements; food, chewing, and eating patterns; bottle-feeding, and ways to get more information about your child's health and patterns before you come home.
Child & Family Services Reviews This round of federal government reviews of states' compliance with standards in 14 major areas of child and family services is well underway with 33 of 52 reviews published. So how are we doing?
Adoption Travelers' Factsheets So you're planning to adopt halfway around the world? Congratulations! Here's what you need to know in order to make the trip a lot less complicated... how to reach the embassies (U.S. and Canadian), how to stay in touch by phone and on the Internet, what the language is - and what it looks like, baby names... and much more.
One Part of the Triad - An Adoptive Parent's Perspective There's a lot of information about post-adoption feelings of adoptees and birth parents when adoptions don't create happy families, but what about the feelings of adoptive parents? One parent shares her story so others can benefit.
Pre-Adoption Parenting Classes - Are they Necessary? Those adopting through the U.S. foster care system are required to take pre-adoption parenting classes, but many private agencies and attorneys don't require them. More and more classes are being offered, but do prospective adoptive parents really need to learn how to parent?
Transition from Orphanage to Home You have been preparing for this moment for months - perhaps years, but for your child, the move from an institutional setting to family life is confusing, and will be very different from life in an orphanage. Practical suggestions for parents and a Q&A session with child development expert Rita Taddonio of Spence-Chapin.
Divorce After Adoption: Practical Tips for Parents While American divorce rates are considered quite high, evidence suggests that couples who adopt have a lower divorce rate... but, of course, it does occur. Practical step-by-step suggestions and reminders for those going through a divorce.
Summertime Hair Care Tips Swimming, beach, fun ... chlorine, sea salt, sun - and what they do to your African-American or biracial child's hair can be a beauty disaster! So grab some club soda (that's right, club soda) and check out our tips to help your kids look their summertime best.
When Is It Baby-Selling? Adoption has its share of questions about ethical practices, but one of the most hotly debated concerns the role of money: how much, what it's used for, to whom it's paid. For some, it all comes down to the question of baby-selling.
Surrogacy: How Does it Work? Those considering adoption often look at alternative methods of forming families, including surrogacy - and in some cases, adoption may be the final step that brings a child into the family.
The Ohio Putative Father Registry - the What? When paralegal Erik Smith learns about the putative father registry in a Probate Law class, he decides to register. Good idea, right? After all, it's to everyone's advantage to make sure fathers are notified properly before an adoption moves forward. However, as Erik found out, it's easier said than done.
What to do When Your Adoption is Failing: AFTER The final part of "A Parent's Guide to Adoption Disruption & Dissolution" addresses the aftermath of a failed adoption: what happens to your child, grieving, adopting again, and wrongful adoption.
10 Steps to Realizing Your Adoption Goals - Every Time! Thinking about adopting isn't going to get it done. A successful journey to adoption requires setting and staying focused on reachable goals, and adoption professional Mardie Caldwell has ten steps to help you get there.
What to do When Your Adoption is Failing: DURING Part 2 of "A Parent's Guide to Disruption & Dissolution" walks through what is actually involved in the disruption or dissolution process for domestic and international adoptions.
A Story of Synchronicities When I moved to a small town in Illinois, it seemed as though my role in a series of adoption-related coincidences had been taken straight out of
The Twilight Zone. Do you believe in coincidences?
What To Do When Your Adoption is Failing: BEFORE Part 1 of "A Parent's Guide to Adoption Disruption & Dissolution" answers parents' first questions to help determine if their adoption can be saved.
What To Do When Your Adoption is Failing: INTRODUCTION "A Parent's Guide to Adoption Disruption & Dissolution" is a non-judgmental, plain language source of information for parents who find themselves facing the possible failure of an adoption.
Positive Steps for Families in Crisis (and Those Heading That Way) Facing impending crisis can leave families feeling helpless, often seeing only the negatives. There are forward-looking steps you can take to minimize or prevent crisis, or handle it when it does happen.
Shame Shame over events surrounding relinquishment or involuntary loss of parental rights can be paralyzing, preventing not only reunion and honesty within families, but also personal peace. Read one woman's story and her suggestions for others.
Traditions: Welcoming New Babies For birthparents who have placed a child in an open adoption, having a subsequent baby that will be kept in the family can be joyous, confusing, or difficult for the placed child. Educator Brenda Romanchik offers great suggestions.
Think Healthy When Trying to Adopt! Eating healthy can keep your stress levels down and save money at the same time - both important considerations for adopting parents. Adoption professional Mardie Caldwell has the details.
Book Review: "Gay Dads: A Celebration of Fatherhood" In addition to word-and-photo portraits of gay dads - singles and couples - and their children by adoption, surrogacy, and co-parenting, David Strah's new book includes family-building resources for gay men and introduces new research on gay fathers. Encouraging reading for gay men and their families, interesting reading for all.
Post-Adoption Services & Support In our life-long adoption experience, it's not unusual to turn to others for periodic or on-going help. Education, counseling, respite care, online and real-life support groups, and magazines and newsletters are some of the many resources available.
Getting Started with International Adoption Sigal Shapira, director of international adoptions with Spence-Chapin, suggests questions to ask ourselves as we approach international adoption, and answered questions about selecting a country program, age restrictions, adoptions by gays, and refusing a referral.
A Few Words on Words in Adoption Adoption educator Brenda Romanchik suggests ways to resolve some of the language differences that exist in adoption.
Preparing for the Arrival of Your Child Adoptive parents welcome children of all different ages into their homes and families. Here's what you need to know to prepare, by age: safety, pre-placement visits, medical needs, daily routine needs, bonding & attachment, and more.
Adoption-Friendly Language or Honest Adoption Language Adoption language is a sensitive topic, and Sandra Falconer Pace of the Canadian Council of Natural Mothers explores two separate movements - both targeted toward respect: 'positive' or 'friendly' language and 'honest' language.
Narrations: Telling It Like It Is A new adoption newsletter has gone to press, and this time, the voices are the children's. Read about
Narrations and encourage your children to contribute.
"Out of the Fog" - Mothers' Voices Independent filmmaker Suzie Kidnap brings a video document to the Web, presenting the faces, voices, and words of articulate women with strong opinions about adoption practices, choices, sealed records, and language.
Caring for Your African American or Biracial Child's Hair Ethnic hair care expert Mahisha Dellinger offers practical help for parents, from care basics - like combing and shampooing - to product recommendations.
Book Review: "Like Family" If you read only one or two books a year, make this one of them! Paula McLain's remarkable book about growing up in the foster care system with her two sisters during the 70s and 80s should be in every library.
Expert Chat: Early Intervention Child Development Specialist Rita Taddonio answered questions about Early Intervention, what it is, how it works, and what parents can do when their children are over the age of 3 (when EI no longer applies).
Adoption Subsidy: Negotiating & Renegotiating Your Child's Contract Dr. Rita Laws has helped hundreds of families negotiate subsidies, and she answers our most frequently asked questions, including who qualifies, how and when to negotiate (and renegotiate) a contract, and where to find important resources.
Cautions in Infant Adoptions New adoptive parents are a wonderful source of information - encouragements as well as cautions - for those approaching adoption for the first time. A post from our forum is filled with good advice, and reflects the changes taking place in adoption practice today.
Ric Seaberg Sings Adoption One of the cuts on singer/songwriter Ric Seaberg's new CD is about adoption. Meet the artist, and listen to
You Are My Folks.
Expert Chat: Considering "Special Needs" Infant Adoption Merryl Klein, CSW, of Spence-Chapin, answered questions about how special needs infant placements are handled through their agency, types of needs, program costs, openness, and procedures.
Debate over "Safe Haven" Study Hits the Fan The Donaldson Adoption Institute's critical report of popular and emotionally-charged "safe haven" laws has brought out the most vocal and highly-visible spokespeople on both sides of the issue. Did we really think they'd stay silent?
Celebrate the Green St. Patrick's Day is the perfect time to take a look at Irish adoption, and search resources. Here's what you need to know about adoption and the Emerald Isle.
The Issue: Pre-Birth Relinquishment As Colorado considers an amendment to its adoption law to "accelerate" and "expedite" the relinquishment process, the debate heats up over whether relinquishment should be allowed before the child is born.
A Positive Project Hope: An Adoption Journal This wonderful journal is packed with information about costs, travel, procedures, and experiences as a camp-to-adopt program helps form a new family through adoption from Russia.
Group's Phony Charge: Bush is Anti-Family Bill Pierce takes issue with pro-choice group TomPaine.com's attack on the Bush Administration for withdrawing a regulation that had never been used by any state to provide family leave benefits for birth or adoption.
Want to Adopt? Watch Your Weight! International adoption can be full of surprises. Marital status, age, sexual orientation, and even weight can be factors in whether or not certain countries will accept your application.
Presidential Connections A look at adoption and kinship care connections in several U.S. presidential families.
Ukraine Adoptions Under Fire Reports that child trafficking charges have been made against members of the Ukraine Adoption Center have raised questions about the future of the program. Here's what adopting and adoptive parents need to know. Includes a sample Annual Report for those who have adopted from Ukraine.
Interstate Adoption The Internet has brought together geographically distant children and families, and a resulting increase in interstate adoptions. Learn about the two agreements between states that affect these adoptions: ICPC and ICAMA.
The Inner World of the Adopted Child Child psychologist Dr. Christopher Alexander offers insight into the needs and concerns of adopted children, including family interaction, child development, and anger.
Expert Chat: Openness and Adoption Expert Toni Williams of Spence-Chapin chatted with parents about the basics of open adoption, making contact with birthfathers, and how an agency works with expectant parents.
Adoption and Taxes: Filing Your 2002 Return The Adoption Tax Credit holds changes for 2002 for both domestic and international adoptions. Here's what adopting and adoptive parents need to know before filing their 2002 tax returns.
Starting an Adoption-Related Home Business Yassin Young uses her talent for sewing to create a wonderful range of adoption-related products, and Yammi Wear is now a flourishing home-based business. Interview and tips on how to start your own business.
Born Under the X Anonymous abandonment went to the wire at the European Court of Human Rights, but while the French
Sous X laws were being challenged, similar laws are flourish in the U.S.
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