Please Note: Inclusion of website links are for your convenience. This listing does not imply an endorsement from Bethany Christian Services of the organization, website or individual. We have no control or responsibility for the accuracy or relevance of the information contained on these websites.
Adoptees
Seven Core Issues Of Adoption Adoption At Different Ages Discovering Your Identity Talking About Adoption With Others Finding HelpBirthparents
Seven Core Issues Of AdoptionFinding HelpPost Adoption Relationships
Post Adoption ContactAdoptive Parents
Coming Home Seven Core Issues Of Adoption Child's Eduction Talking About Adoption With Others Finding HelpNurturing Connections
Adoptive Family and Adoptee Connection Culture and Families Adoptive and Birthfamily Connection Search and ReunionChild Health
Physical Health and Development Before You See The Doctor Early Intervention and Family Service Plans Mental and Emotional Health Complex Trauma1Connecting With Our Children: Shared Feelings Grow Strong Sons and Daughters
Video clip from “We Can Do Better: Parenting the Adopted Child,” part of Adopted: The Movie, discussing aspects of grief and loss in adoption
Timeline of developmental stages and adoption understanding
Children’s Understanding of Adoption: Adopted Children vs. Non-Adopted Children
Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self
Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child: Making Sense of the Past
Child Welfare Information Gateway: Adoption and the Stages of Development
The Impact of Adoption on Adopted Persons.
“Factsheet: Vulnerable Young Children”
Online training on talking to children about adoption is available through Adoption Learning Partners.
Ages 1-5
Talking to Your 3- to 5-Year-Old About Adoption
Embracing the Grief of Adoption
Ages 6-12
Helping Your Child with Adoption Issues During Middle Childhood
Talking to Your 6- to 8-Year-Old About Adoption
Talking to Your 9- to 12-Year-Old About Adoption
Answers to Difficult Questions
A Mother’s Tips for Helping Children Handle Adoption Questions at School
TeenCentral.Net from KidsPeace has a section where teens can post their questions or thoughts on a variety of topics and get responses from other teens. Type “adoption” on the home page to read what other teens have to say about their adoptions.
How to Be an Adoption Advocate
Birthparent Support Websites
www.birthmombuds.com – provides peer counseling, support, encouragement, and friendship to pregnant women considering adoption as well as women who have already placed children for adoption.
www.birthmother.com – information, support, guidance, and first-hand experience for women considering placing a child for adoption, and for those who have already placed a child. Site includes birth father specific information as well.
www.birthmothersunite.com – site was created to help birth mothers connect together and provide information on birth mother issues.
http://openadoptionbloggers.com/open-adoption-blogs/first-parent-birthparent-birthmom-birthmother-adoption-blogs/ – A network of adoption blogs from first/birth parents
http://www.openadoptioninsight.org/index.html – provides current, accurate and thoughtful information on open adoption for people at all stages of the adoption process.
http://www.oyff.org/ – On Your Feet Foundation, provides personal support to birthparents to help them get “back on their feet.” OYFF focuses on helping our clients build a better life by giving them the tools they need through case management and coaching, monetary grants and through the creation of a community of other birthparents.
Postadoption Contact Agreements Between Birth and Adoptive Families
Lifegivers: Framing the Birth Parent Experience in Open Adoption by James L. Gritter (2000, CWLA Press). This book examines the ways birth parents are marginalized. The author makes the point that adopted children are best served when birth parents and adoptive parents work together to ensure that birth parents remain in children’s lives.
Sam’s Sister This children’s book was written by Juliet C. Bond to help birthparents explain adoption to other children they are parenting.
The Spirit of Open Adoption by Jim Gritter (1997, CWLA Press). This book takes a realistic look at the joys and pains of open adoption for birth parents, adopted people, and adoptive parents.
Grief and Loss
- Disenfranchised Grief
- Video clip from “We Can Do Better: Parenting the Adopted Child,” part of Adopted: The Movie, discussing aspects of grief and loss in adoption
- “Silent Voices Heard Impact of the Birth Mother Experience: Then and Now” by Donna Portuesi
- “Grief and Open Adoption” by Brenda Romanick
Health Insurance And Adoption
Health insurance for adopted children
“Medical Coverage for Adopted Children—The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993”
Family Leave And Adoption
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Childcare And Adoption
Selecting the Right Day Care for Your Child
Information on how to find and evaluate childcare, childcare providers and other important considerations is available from:
- Zero to Three
- National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Association for Family Child Care
Download easy-to-use childcare evaluation checklists from:
Birth Certificates And Adoption
State Recognition of Intercountry Adoption Finalized Abroad.
Social Security Numbers And Adoption
Request a social security number for your child from the Social Security Administration.
Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN) from the Internal Revenue Service
The Federal Adoption Tax Credit And Adoption
IRS Website under “Adoption Credit.”
Adoption Subsidies And Other Financial Assistance
Dave Thomas Foundation’s 2011 List of Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces
International Adoptions
U.S. Citizenship and Adoption:
FAQs on the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) of 2000
Re-adoption:
Reasons for re-adopting your child
State Recognition of Intercountry Adoption Finalized Abroad.
The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.): “7 Core Issues in Adoption”
Connecting With Our Children Shared Feelings Grow Strong Sons and Daughters
“We Can Do Better: Parenting the Adopted Child,” part of Adopted: The Movie, discusses aspects of grief and loss in adoption.
“Factsheet: Vulnerable Young Children,”
“School Readiness and School Placement of a Newly Adopted Post-institutionalized Child,” published by the Post-Adoption Learning Center (PAL, Inc.).
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
State departments of education.
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)
“Questions Often Asked by Parents about Special Education Services,”
The Technical Assistance ALLIANCE for Parent Centers.
Gossary of terms related to special education services, IEPs, and IDEA
Cecklist of symptoms of learning disabilities.
Chart comparing major legislation governing special education services.
Developing a “Student Snapshot”
“Welcome to the World of IEPs”.
What Does My Child Need? Neuropsychological or Psychoeducational Assessment?
The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child
Education
How I Explained Adoption to the First Grade
Identifying Learning Problems in Adopted Child
“School Readiness and School Placement of a Newly Adopted Post-institutionalized Child,” published by the Post-Adoption Learning Center
Learning Disabilities: Common Signs
How to Detect Learning Problems in Your Child
Trauma Facts for Educators, Trauma Information Pamphlet for Teachers
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Tips for Elementary School Teachers
Center for Cognitive-Developmental Assessment and Remediation offers educational courses online and on CD for parents and professionals who want to learn more about the needs of children adopted from overseas
Labor of the Heart: A Parent’s Guide to the Decisions and Emotions in Adoption
http://drwhittenonadoption.com.
A Mother’s Tips for Helping Children Handle Adoption Questions at School
Talking with Children Conceived Through Donor Insemination, IVF with Egg Donor or Surrogacy
Increase adoption awareness in your community.
How to Be an Adoption Advocate (from Adoptive Families magazine)
2007 Summer MN ASAP Family Voices
List of country-specific resources for: Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Korea, and Vietnam. Continent-wide resources are available for Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe.
From Adoptive Families magazine:
The Color of Life guide to parenting children of African American, Latino, and Asian ancestry.
Directory of culture and heritage events across the country.
From Adoption Today:
Understanding Race and Adoption
Naming and Re-Naming Our Children
Resources and Adoption Stories:
South Korea
From Adoption Resources of Wisconsin:
Cultural Issues for Transcultural Adoptions
Intercountry Tours:
Visiting the Land of Your Child’s Birth
Holt International Heritage Tours
African American and Multiracial Adoptees:
Caring for Your African American or Biracial Child’s Hair
Biracial Children and the Emperor’s New Clothes
South Korean Adoptees:
The Voices of Adult Korean Adoptees
Videos:
Transracial Adoption: a family’s experience and advice to those considering adopting transracially
Reel Works: A Girl Like Me
Online Training/Education Classes:
Center for Cognitive-Developmental Assessment and Remediation
China-specific courses:
“China: Her Land & People, History, and Philosophies”
“China: Language, Festivals, and Traditions.”
Guidelines for Getting More Information
Search for the Birthparents: The What, When, and Why
The Adoptee Search: Looking for the Missing Piece
Open Your Heart: A Message to Parents
The Experience of Adoptive Parents in Adoption Reunion Relationships: A qualitative study
Definitions of some common terms related to accessing information or searching
Access to Adoption Records: Summary of State Laws
Directory of foster care and adoption resources and agencies in each state.
The American Adoption Congress
Access to Identifying Information: What the Research Tells Us
From Born Learning:
From Zero to Three:
From the Talaris Institute:
Post-adoption assessments: http://adoptiondocs.org/post.jsp
Finding a physician who understands the needs of adopted children:
- The AAP’s Section on Adoption and Foster Care (SOAFC) provides a state-specific directory of members and affiliate members with a special interest in adoption and foster-care medicine.
- Another state-specific directory of adoption medicine professionals is available from the University of Minnesota’s International Adoption Medicine Program.
- What Is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician? (from the AAP)
- The American Academy of Pediatrics website will help you find a developmental-behavioral pediatrician.
Development and Developmental Assessments:
Chart of Milestones in Speech, Play, and Physical Development
International Adoption Medicine Program and Clinic: topical factsheets listing many of the disorders and diseases that should be included as part of the medical evaluation for an internationally adopted child.
Developmental Screening Factsheet
Language Development in Internationally Adopted Children
Initial Developmental Evaluation of an Internationally Adopted Child: Is It Important?
Early Intervention Services and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs)
What Does My Child Need? Neuropsychological or Psycho Educational Assessment?
Nurturing Your Child’s Development:
From Zero to Three:
Books:
- The Connected Child by Dr. Karyn Purvis
- Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents by Deborah Gray
- Parenting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Prenatal Substance Exposure:
Adopting and Fostering Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Prenatal Alcohol and Drug Information.
Prenatal Alcohol and Drug Exposures in Adoption
Eight Misconceptions about Prenatal Alcohol and Drug Exposure and Adoption
Learning Disorders:
Special Education Services and Individualized Learning Plans (IEPs)
Developmental Disabilities:
Adopting Children with Disabilities from the Child Welfare Information Gateway discusses:
- Mental Retardation
- Down Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Autism
- Epilepsy
- Spina Bifida
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effect
Sensory Processing Disorders:
Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation
“Factsheet: Vulnerable Young Children,”
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY): “Finding Help for Young Children with Disabilities (Birth – 5)”
- Also available on this website:
- overview of early intervention services
- information on special education services for older children
- state resources
A statewide directory of Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs): The Technical Assistance ALLIANCE for Parent Centers.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004 (IDEA 2004)
Information on specific disabilities and advocacy groups
The Wright’s Law website: information and recommendations for parents needing help understanding early intervention services.
A glossary of terms related to special education services, IFSPs, and IDEA 2004.
Seven Tips for Surviving Your Child’s Developmental Assessment.
Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Bethany Christian Service’s ADOPTSSM Child Trauma Assistance program
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
Mental Health Services Locator
Adoption Assistance by State: What Mental Health Services Are Provided by Your State?
Selecting and Working With an Adoption Therapist
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Children’s Mental Health Links
ADHD or Hyperarousal? Hyperactivity in Traumatized and Adopted Children
From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN):
The Invisible Suitcase: Behavioral Challenges of Traumatized Children
Complex Trauma in Children and Adolescents
What to Do if Your Child Discloses Sexual Abuse
Online directory of members who provide trauma-informed care: Link 1 | Link 2
Evidence-based treatments and promising practices for children who have experienced trauma
From the Child Trauma Academy:
Bonding and Attachment in Maltreated Children
Other Resources:
ADOPTSSM Child Trauma Assistance program
“Understanding the Behavioral and Emotional Consequences of Child Abuse”
Going and Growing Through Grief and Loss: Parenting Traumatized Adopted Children
Foster Care & Adoptive Community.
Johnny’s Story: A Child’s Perspective on Trauma
The Trauma Center Residential Program
Mental Health Services Locator
Adoption Assistance by State: What Mental Health Services Are Provided by Your State?
Selecting and Working With an Adoption Therapist