Over 150,000 people adopt children each year, and more than 2 million parents are now raising adopted children and grandchildren. While the path to parenting through adoption is rich with rewards and fulfillment, it's not without its bumps. This compassionate, illuminating, and ultimately uplifting book is the first to openly recognize the very normal feelings of stress that adoptive families encounter as they cope with the challenges and expectations of their new families. Where do parents turn when the waited-for bonding with their adopted child is slow to form? When they find themselves grieving over the birth child they couldn't have? When the child they so eagerly welcomed into their home arrives with major, unexpected needs? Until now, adoptive parents have had to struggle silently with their feelings, which can range from flutters of anxiety to unbearable sadness. At last, Karen J. Foli, a registered nurse, and her husband, John R. Thompson, a psychiatrist, lift the curtain of secrecy from "Post Adoption Depression Syndrome" (PADS). Drawing on their own experience as adoptive parents as well as interviews with dozens of adoptive families and experts in the field, the couple offers parents the understanding, support, and concrete solutions they need to overcome post-adoption blues-and open their hearts to the joy adoption can bring.
Do I have what it takes to be a successful adoptive parent? Does my child consider me a successful parent? Will I ever hear my rebellious teen say, “I love you”? What tools do I need to succeed? In her groundbreaking first book, Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew, Sherrie Eldridge gave voice to the very real concerns of adopted children, whose unique perspectives offered unprecedented insight. In this all-new companion volume, Eldridge goes beyond those insights and shifts her focus to parents, offering them much-needed encouragement and hope. Speaking from her own experience as an adoptee and an expert in the field of adoption, Eldridge shares proven strategies and the moving narratives of nearly one hundred adoptive families, helping parents gain a deeper understanding of what is normal, both for their children and themselves. By first strengthening yourself as a parent, you’ll be able to truly listen to your child, and to connect with him on every level, by opening the channels of communication and keeping them open forever. Then you and your child can grow closer through the practical exercises at the end of every chapter. Discover how to • be confident that your role in your child’s life is vital and irreplaceable • pass on the legacy of healthy self-care by assessing and regulating your stress • communicate unconditional love to your child • talk candidly with your child about her adoption and her birth family • teach your family how to respond positively to insensitive remarks about adoption • connect with other adoptive families–and build a support network • plus learn to become a “warrior” parent…settle the “real parent” question…cope with emotional triggers–what to do when you “lose it” . . . celebrate the miracle of your family…and much more
This comprehensive, accessible guide leads you with confidence through every decision you'll have to make during the adoption process -- including the ones that you'd never know to expect. So you've made the decision to adopt. What's next? For starters, how do you know whether domestic or international adoption is right for you? (And what are the real differences between the two?) Adoption insider Elizabeth Swire Falker answers these questions and many more. As an attorney who practices in the area of adoption and has worked with hundreds of families, and as an adoptive parent herself, she offers expert advice on each stage of the process. Complete with checklists, tips, sidebars, and plenty of advice, it shows you how to: Identify which adoption experts you do and don't need Find the right birth mother or choose the right country for your family-and how to spot red flags in potential situations Select an attorney or agency and prepare for your home visit Finance an adoption on a budget, manage the red tape, and get around the roadblocks Navigate all of the complex emotions that surface along the way With Elizabeth Swire Falker's warm yet been-there-done-that voice, The Insider's Guide to Adoption is sure to become a tried-and-true resource for adoptive parents everywhere.
"This is a landmark book that should be read around the world. For far too long adoption and kinship families have not received the attention that they so sorely need...The material in this book is well researched, sensitively delivered, and essential for any clinician for adoption and kinship families."—Cheryl Tatano Beck, DNSc, CNM, FAAN,Professor, School of Nursing, University of Connecticut–Storrs, From the Foreword Provides foundational knowledge on how to provide current, evidence-based, clinical best practices for the specific needs of adoption and kinship families. To be a family, and what that means in society, is undergoing dramatic changes that reflect fluidity in the definition of spouse, children, and kin. Pediatric, family, adult-gerontology, psychiatric-mental health, and other advance practice nurses increasingly serve as frontline primary care providers for the growing number of adoption and kinship families. The creation and preservation of these nontraditional families are often replete with social, cultural, and legal issues that the advanced practice nurse must recognize to provide optimal care. This groundbreaking clinical guide breaks down the adoption and kinship triads into their distinct parts—the birth parents, adoptive or kinship parents, and the child—and analyzes the relationships among them and how the nurse can assist their development. Beginning with an overview of adoption and kinship parenting, this book also discusses the specific psychosocial and health care–related needs of adoption and kinship families using detailed case studies to illustrate a variety of conditions and circumstances, along with guidance on how nurses should intervene. A clinically focused section within the case study chapters covers assessment, interventions, referrals, and follow-up considerations. Learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter relay major discussion points and sidebars embedded in each chapter provide related resources for additional information on the health care considerations of adoption and kinship families. Key Features: Addresses nursing’s specific role in the holistic assessment and care of the different members of adoption and kinship families Authored by a renowned nurse leader in adoption and kinship care Provides chapter objectives, highlights, and questions for reflection Promotes current, evidence-based best practices Includes a glossary of adoption-friendly language Discusses nursing practice within the context of a larger health care team
What about the kids already there? How do they do when a child with a challenging past joins a family by adoption? When experienced parents decide to adopt an older child or a sibling group, they jump through all kinds of bureaucratic hoops â?? background checks, interviews, group meetings, reading assignments, classes, etc. But most often the typically developing children these adults are already parenting (whether through birth or adoption) are left out of the process, informed that a new kid is coming, and simply expected to â??adjustâ?? to the addition of another sibling. The addition of a child with a history of neglect or trauma cannot be a seamless transition. The expectations of everyone involved â?? parents, new siblings, and, yes, professionals facilitating the adoption â?? must be realistic, taking into account that the new child will need special attention that may take away time and attention from the already resident kids, that family life is likely to be turned topsy turvy until appropriate counseling and support are in place, that relationships will change. Therapist Arleta James is certainly not the first person to recognize this, but she is the first to do something about it. Brothers and Sisters in Adoption offers insights and examples and sturdy, practical, proven tools for helping newly configured families prepare, accept, react, and mobilize to become a new and different family meeting the practical, physical and emotional needs of all its members. These well prepared and supported families are the ones who thrive!
• We Make It Easy To Adopt. • All your adoption facts in one place for US families interested to adopt overseas, now on Google play books. • The best source for adoption analysis, procedures & contacts. • Download or read any PDF book and receive a free Google Play Audio Album: "Can I Adopt From Any of These 194 Countries?”, by David Livianu, 30 minutes, a $19.95 value. • This is an award winning series of adoption guides, in PDF format. • These PDF adoption books have been scholarly researched, prepared and annotated by David Livianu, a Romanian born American writer, humanitarian and musician. • These are the most important reading materials all prospective adoptive parents {and adoption specialists} should read and study, before embarking on an international adoption journey. • All presented materials have been deeply researched and carefully annotated. • There are 28 PDF books, (over 16,000 pages) covering all aspects of an international adoption {legal, cultural, social, procedural, financial, travel, contacts to government agencies and private adoption agencies}. • You can download or stream to your Android smart phone or tablet and start reading the simple steps, procedures, and yes contacts with addresses and phone numbers for government agencies in every country working with foreign prospective adoptive families. Here are the 28 titles written, compiled and annotated by David Livianu, now in PDF format: 1. A System For Post-Adoption Services, 25 pages 2. Adoption Dictionary in 7 languages, 193 pages 3. Adoption Phrase Guide in 7 languages, 121 pages 4. Adoption Services Harmonized to a Market Economy, 10 pages 5. Art of Adoption, 167 pages 6. Contacts: Adoption Officials In 65 Countries, 224 pages 7. Contacts: Foreign Consulates-Embassies In The U.S., 135 pages 8. Contacts: Immigration Centers In The U.S., 177 pages 9 . Contacts: U.S. Adoption Agencies for Domestic Adoptions, 1,270 pages 10. Contacts: U.S. Adoption Agencies for International Adoptions, 880 pages 11. Contacts: U.S. Consulates-Embassies Overseas, 63 pages 12. Learn to Adopt, a master course, 349 pages 13. Learn to Adopt From Bulgaria, 187 pages 14. Learn to Adopt From China, 203 pages 15. Learn to Adopt From Croatia, 319 pages 16. Learn to Adopt From the Czech Republic, 191 pages 17. Learn to Adopt From Hungary, 232 pages 18. Learn to Adopt From Poland, 374 pages 19. Learn to Adopt From Romania, 246 pages 20. Learn to Adopt From Russia, 1,331 pages 21. Learn to Adopt From Slovakia, 191 pages 22. Learn to Adopt From South Korea, 42 pages 23. Learn to Adopt From Ukraine, 157 pages 24. The Hague Convention & 51 Countries, 29 brochures-pamphlets-list of contacts, 2,835 pages 25. The U.S.A. & The Hague Convention for International Adoptions, 402 pages 26. U.S. Adoption Assistance by State, contacts, 169 pages 27. U.S. Government Guides, 22 brochures-pamphlets-notices, 862 pages 28. U.S. Laws & Statutes By State in the U.S., 1,502 pages • David Livianu is an advocate for orphans' rights and works in Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova since 1989. • Livianu has been featured on the Barbara Walters show 20/20, Angels in Adoption. • Learn in a few minutes if you can adopt from a particular country, plus answer the how, where, and what, accessing legally adoptable orphans of all ages. • Your contribution is tax deductible and helps the orphans. • Questions, Contribution$, Need Help, Wanna Help? Let us know! • This material is provided only for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. • Follow all current and applicable local and international adoption laws, and consult a licensed attorney/adoption agency or appropriate government specialist.
The go-to guide for everything you want to know about international adoption From the initial decision—Is adoption right for you?—through returning home with your child—How can you ease the transition?—The Complete Book of International Adoption takes parents step by step through the entire process of adopting a child from another country. You will find: • An easy-to-understand analysis of the differences between domestic and international adoption • Advice on choosing a country, including 25 important factors to consider, such as the waiting times involved and the estimated costs for each of the top placing countries, with charts for easy comparison • A detailed discussion of the potential health issues based on the latest research and interviews with doctors who specialize in international adoption • Worksheets and a suggested system for preparing and organizing the extensive paperwork involved • Parenting tips to enhance attachment and suggestions for addressing the issues that come up in raising an internationally adopted child • Real parents’ stories and advice at every stage of the process • Plus all of the information you need to select your agency, plan financially, prepare for the home study, travel sensibly, evaluate your child’s health and integrate your new family More than just provide the facts, The Complete Book of International Adoption also helps parents manage the emotional rollercoaster that comes with the territory. Sensitive, wise, and often witty, this book is a must-have for any parent considering building their family through adoption.
In North America, more and more families are adding members through adoption. And there are more ways to adopt--and kinds of adoption--than ever. This quick-start resource will help prospective parents consider key emotional and spiritual issues up front...before they plunge into the near-overwhelming mass of details and start to run into roadblocks, even dead ends. Laura Christianson--an adoption educator and mentor, and an adoptive mom herself--brings her experience and knowledge to address unspoken but crucial questions about... loving an adopted child extended family's reaction expenses openness in adoption the role of birth parents physical disabilities emotional/behavioral challenges racial and cultural prejudices Recounting real-life miracles and mishaps of adoptive families, the author will help prospective parents--and their friends and family members--think through adoption's challenges and joys, and confidently move forward from a firm emotional and spiritual footing.
Labours of Love unearths an issue that is still stigmatized in some areas of the country. Through conversations with adoptive parents, adoptees, and birthparents who reveal their inmost feelings, the reader will gain a new understanding of the joy and complexity of adoption.
