20 Best Books For Adoptive Parents (2023 Update)

Holly van gulden and lisa bartels-rabb offer insight into how adopted children at each age commonly think and feel about being adopted. they also explain how and why adopted children grieve for their birth parents and suggest ways adoptive parents can help them come to a healthy resolution of this grief. for prospective parents, the authors discuss ways to prepare themselves and the child they are about to adopt for the new family union. throughout, the special concerns.

Many families want to adopt, but do not have the large amount of money it takes to complete a private domestic or international adoption. some quickly give up the idea of adopting and are left feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and discouraged. those who choose to proceed often take out large loans or borrow from family and friends which adds to the financial pressure on the family. author julie gumm shares proven strategies from her own experience as well as from others that include applying for grants, creative budgeting, and fundraising that prospective adoptive parents can use to prepare for and avoid those high costs associated with adoption.

A child is coming – whether you approve or not it's time to get with the program if someone you care about – a family member, co-worker, or close friend – has recently announced that their family will be growing through adoption, you may have questions. after all, unless you have personally experienced adoption, you may know very little about how adoption works and what it means. are you worried that your loved one may face disappointment? do you find yourself wondering exactly what your role is going to be in the child's life? does the term "open adoption" confuse and concern you? just what are the privacy boundaries for families built by adoption: what is it okay to ask about? adoption is a family affair will answer all of these questions and more, offering you information about who can adopt, why people consider adopting, how kids understand adoption as they grow up, and more. this short book is crammed full of the 'need to know' information for friends and families that will help to encourage informed, happy and healthy family relationships.

Many girls fantasize about their futures: a loving family, dream job, and a house with a white picket fence. these dreams often turn into expectations for "happily ever after." for valerie cantella, childhood hopes of a soul mate, children, and a fulfilling career turned into a script … written and edited to perfection. but life didn't follow her plan. no matter how hard she tried. over the next twenty years, life unraveled. a lifelong battle with type 1 diabetes, the unfolding trauma of mental health crises with a special needs adopted daughter, and her husband's struggle with alcoholism shattered her childhood dreams. and nearly crushed her. nearly. but sometimes, an off-script journey takes you through the unimaginable to where you were meant to be all along-amid hope and healing.

Each installment of this four part series is designed to be easily ingested, usually readable in about half an hour. you owe it to yourself and the others in your adoption triad to learn as much as you can in order to sidestep some of the bumps you may experience along your journey. this book might not go quite as deeply in depth as the others in this series regarding certain topics, but these are 99 essential things every adoptive couple needs to know regarding open adoption. each bit of advice will get the wheels turning inside your mind regarding the intricate complexities of open adoption relationships and get you thinking more deeply about all aspects of your adoption triad-before, during and after the adoption takes place. if you read only one book from this series, make sure it is this one! 10 open adoption essentials: what children need their adoptive parents & birthparents to know about open adoption relationships after an infant is adopted, why is it so common for relationships to fall apart between adoptive parents and birthparents? one reason is because that relationship is so unique from any other relationship in this world that it is difficult for those involved to foresee what that could go wrong. it does not have to be this way. you owe it to yourself and others in your adoption triad (child, adoptive parents, birthparents) to learn as much as you can in order to sidestep some of the bumps you may experience along your journey. there are many factors that go into a healthy adoption triad, but it is always good to start out understanding the ten most essential ones! how to create the ideal adoption profile: how to get noticed by potential birthparents, writing the perfect "dear birthmother" letter, choosing the right profile pictures, and more… why is it that some couples are forced to wait many years before they are chosen to adopt while others are chosen quickly? one reason is that everyone needs to have a good profile listing with the adoption agency or any potential birthparent will browse right past them to the next couple hoping to adopt. creating the ideal adoption profile can be hard, but it doesn''t need to be. using the knowledge gained from his degree in sociology as well as interviewing countless birthparents about why they chose whom they did to adopt their child, this little book will walk you through the process of choosing the right photographs, writing your profile/introductory letter, and doing what it takes to make sure you get noticed! how open should my adoption be? understanding open vs. closed adoption, preparing for possible difficulties, pros & cons of sharing pictures & updates, visiting birthparents, social media, appropriate gifts, & more… when planning to adopt an infant, how could you possibly know how open your adoption should be? no two adoptions are alike, so there cannot be a universal correct answer. even when the same couple is involved in more than one adoption, each situation will require a different answer to that question. and to make a complicated question even more difficult, there are many layers to open adoption that will each require an answer in order to have a healthy adoption triad. how often should you share pictures and updates? what are the pros and cons of connecting with birthparents over social media? what risks are being taken by involving extended family members in your adoption relationships? what about visiting face-to-face? this book may not be able to answer the question for you about how open your adoption should be, but it will give you tools to help you answer it for yourself!

Successful guide for connecting foster and adoptive families learn how to connect with your foster and adoptive teen by applying 15 helpful tips given by former foster and adoptive teens. teenagers can be a mystery to say the least. teens that have been through the foster care system can be even more of a challenge as they put the past behind them, and move forward with their lives. often they must move on while living with someone who is not their biological family. in this setting they can very difficult to connect with. they need a great community of people to guide them to success and it starts with amazing parents. in this revolutionary itty bitty book, james poindexter iii, cc gives you 15 tips with explanations on how to connect with your teen and guide them to success. these tips are handpicked success tips given by former foster teens who have lived through the process and learned the do's and don'ts. tips like: -the same key doesn't fit every lock -look, listen & apply -give us an outlet if you are planning to become a foster parent or adoptive parent or step parent this book is a most important guide for you. pick up a copy today.

Is transracial adoption a positive choice for kids? how can children gain their new families without losing their birth heritage? how can parents best support their children after placement? inside transracial adoption is an authoritative guide to navigating the challenges and issues that parents face in the usa when they adopt a child of a different race and/or from a different culture. filled with real-life examples and strategies for success, this book explores in depth the realities of raising a child transracially, whether in a multicultural or a predominantly white community. readers will learn how to help children adopted transracially or transnationally build a strong sense of identity, so that they will feel at home both in their new family and in their racial group or culture of origin. this second edition incorporates the latest research on positive racial identity and multicultural families, and reflects recent developments and trends in adoption. drawing on research, decades of experience as adoption professionals, and their own personal experience of adopting transracially, beth hall and gail steinberg offer insights for all transracial adoptive parents – from prospective first-time adopters to experienced veterans – and those who support them.

A heartwarming, true story about a family created through adoption author jeannine higgins recalls the compelling history of the coming together of her family through the adoption of her three daughters from russia.

Based on a hugely successful us model, the seven core issues in adoption is the first conceptual framework of its kind to offer a unifying lens that was inclusive of all individuals touched by the adoption experience. the seven core issues are loss, rejection, shame/guilt, grief, identity, intimacy, and mastery/control. the book expands the model to be inclusive of adoption and all forms of permanency: adoption, foster care, kinship care, donor insemination and surrogacy. attachment and trauma are integrated with the seven core issues model to address and normalize the additional tasks individuals and families will encounter. the book views the seven core issues from a range of perspectives including: multi-racial, lgbtq, hispanic, asian, native american, african-american, international, openness, search and reunion, and others. this essential guide introduces each core issue, its impact on individuals, offering techniques for growth and healing.

Love me, feed me is a relationship-building, practical guide to help fostering and adoptive families enjoy family meals and raise children who eat a variety of foods and grow to have the body that is right for them. grounded in science, but made real with the often heart-breaking and inspiring words of parents who have been there, dr. katja rowell helps readers understand and address feeding challenges, from simple picky eating to entrenched food obsession, oral motor and developmental delays, "feeding clinic failures," and more. though written primarily for the adoptive and fostering audience, rowell, aka, the "feeding doctor," shares that her clients are more alike than different. "this book is a distillation of the advice and support i provide all my families as they transform a troubled feeding relationship into a healthy one, and bring peace and joy back to the family table."

Written for children adopted at any age and from any country, all about adoption explores the what, how and why of adoption, as well as the many feelings kids can experience as they grow up. how did you find me? what does adoption mean? where did i come from? would you send me back? what are all those papers? will you always love me? do i fit in? why was i adopted? and for parents, an extensive afterword discusses the unique practical and emotional dimensions of adoptive children and their families, with suggestions for answering the most challenging questions.

Written for children adopted at any age and from any country, all about adoption explores the what, how and why of adoption, as well as the many feelings kids can experience as they grow up. how did you find me? what does adoption mean? where did i come from? would you send me back? what are all those papers? will you always love me? do i fit in? why was i adopted? and for parents, an extensive afterword discusses the unique practical and emotional dimensions of adoptive children and their families, with suggestions for answering the most challenging questions.

A new and comprehensively revised edition of baaf's popular handbook introduces grandparents-to-be and other relatives to information about adoption today. it offers facts about the children needing adoption, processes and procedures and, most importantly, discusses how the wider family can support and be involved in building a family through adoption. quotes and snippets from family stories add an immediacy to this accessible and informative guide, which also includes contributions from grandparents. newly updated for 2014.

I love you, no matter what.' an uplifting true story of an ordinary couple who build an extraordinary family, no matter what describes how sally and rob donovan embark upon a journey to adopt following a diagnosis of infertility.sally donovan brings to life with characteristic wit and honesty the difficulties of living with infertility, their decision to adopt and the bewildering process involved. finally matched with young siblings jaymey and harlee, sally and rob's joy turns to shock as they discover disturbing details of their children's past and realise that they must do everything it takes to heal their children.by turns tragic, inspiring and hilarious, sally and rob's story offers a rare insight into the world of adoptive parents and just what it takes to bring love to the lives of traumatised children.

Adoptive mom and blogger christa jordan knows firsthand how difficult the adoption process can be, especially given her own very unconventional adoption story. with her background and experience in social work and the child welfare system, and after countless conversations with other pre-adoptive parents, she developed this workbook to help others ask the important questions that will guide them through the complicated process.this incredibly comprehensive workbook includes: detailed descriptions of the different types of adoption and foster care, including foster-to-adopt, private domestic adoptions, international adoptions, and embryo adoptions; questions and issues to consider for each type of adoption; questions to help in selecting the right agency and ensuring they adhere to ethical practices and policies; conversations to consider with your partner or support system before starting the process; questions to help address personal expectations and motivations; questions regarding how to address social issues, including medical and psychological issues, and challenges facing multi-cultural families.

Product type: subjects > parenting & relationships > adoption

Product type: subjects > parenting & relationships > adoption

"when nikki biers and her husband were beginning to look into adoption, they had no idea what to expect or where to start. they met with an adoption attorney who was very thorough legally, but had no idea how to support them emotionally. first adoption experiences can be overwhelming and even a little frightening especially not knowing what questions to ask or what to expect from a birthmother. they wished there had been some kind of reference material or book to let them know if they were on the right track and where they were in the adoption process. through the adoption of their three children as well as years as an experienced adoption facilitator, nikki realized she wasn't alone in her desire for information. adoption, the best gift was born from this need for basic procedural and emotional guidance. each chapter covers an important step toward making the dream of family a reality. the book is rich with examples of actual client stories, as well as their joys, fears and concerns during the process of bringing their babies into their families. these personal examples and the documentation of the various emotions that may surface along the way, combined with clear explanations of what to expect, make adoption, the best gift an essential guide for anyone considering adoption."–

Product type: subjects > parenting & relationships > adoption

A practical roadmap for foster and adoptive familiescaring for children is deeply important to the heart of god, and adoption and foster care are important callings that connect to god’s heart for children and families. but this road isn’t always easy. it’s important that foster and adoptive parents prepare to address their children’s history of trauma, separation, and disrupted placements, which can lead to mental health, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. it is also important to understand how this journey shapes and influences our children. drawing on the latest science and research on trauma, attachment, sensory processing difficulties, cultural competence, and grief and loss, authors josh and jenn hook provide a trauma-informed approach to help adoptive and foster families—and the church called to care for the vulnerable in our midst—to help their children heal, grow, and thrive.