Navigating Foster Care And Adoption

"I'm excited to be a sister in our foster family, but I'm worried about new rules. I feel happy and sad at the same time. What about when our help isn't needed anymore?" It's Okay to Wonder is a story about Avery, a loquacious girl whose parents have decided to become foster parents. While Mom and Dad attend another foster training class, Avery shares with her Nana and Pop about her mixed-up feelings. She and her grandparents learn together what it might be like to become a foster family--that it's okay to feel two emotions at the same time and that it's okay to wonder! The Joy of Avery series offers resources for foster care families and brings the world of foster care to life by exploring Avery's feelings as her family welcomes foster children into their home. It's Okay to Wonder is the first book in the series.

There are great rewards that come along with being a foster parent, yet there are also great challenges that can leave you feeling depleted, alone, and discouraged. The many burdens of a foster parent's day--hurting children, struggling biological parents, and a broken system--are only compounded by the many burdens of a foster parent's heart--confusion, anxiety, heartache, anger, and fear. With the compassion and insight of a fellow foster parent, Jamie C. Finn helps you see your struggles through the lens of the gospel, bringing biblical truths to bear on your unique everyday realities. In these short, easy-to-read chapters, you'll find honest, personal stories and practical lessons that provide encouragement and direction from God's Word as you walk the journey of foster parenting.

The requirements of the child being fostered as well as the life situation of the foster parent can both have a significant impact on the type of foster care that can be provided. Some children remain in foster care for only a few days or weeks at a time, whilst others may remain there for several months or even years at a time. Foster parents have the option of taking care of only one kid at a time, as well as taking care of numerous children at once, including siblings. Adoption may offer children who need a loving home with stability, security, and a feeling of belonging in their new family. Adopted children sometimes come from tough situations, such as households in which they were abused or neglected, and consequently, they may have suffered trauma or struggle with emotional challenges. These children may be given the love and support, as well as the secure and caring home environment that they need in order to recover and grow when they are adopted by loving families. My desire to write an eBook about fostering and adoption is driven by a desire to share my experience and insights with others who may be considering fostering or adopting. My story can serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for others, providing practical advice and emotional support for those embarking on this challenging journey.

It Takes a Village is the first comprehensive guide to help you navigate the child welfare system in Massachusetts, negotiate your role as a foster parent, make a difference for children in care, and attend to your own needs throughout this fulfilling and challenging journey. All Our Kids, Inc. has supported hundreds of foster, preadoptive, and kinship families along their foster care and adoption journeys since its inception in 2017. This guide compiles and presents the information and support that families routinely seek from AOK, with empathy and wisdom. It's a common-sense, no nonsense guidebook you will refer to again and again as you travel the road of foster parenting. Here you'll find information about:?The inner workings of DCF, who the players are, and how cases work their way through the foster care system?An outline of how cases progress through the courts?How to advocate for yourself within the DCF chain of command?Facilitating a connection to your children's birth families and siblings?Caring for your own emotional needs, and those of your permanent children?Dealing with grief and loss, and other complicated emotions?What you need to know about census forms, taxes, birth certificates, and social security numbers??? And so much more!"The AOK guide for foster parents is the most comprehensive map of fostering in Massachusetts I have ever seen. While providing answers to many questions it does not gloss over the simple fact that far too often there is not a hard and fast rule for many specific scenarios. The guide speaks to one of the most challenging components of working with a large bureaucratic agency and that is a lack of consistency. Foster parents armed with this guide can feel empowered by a deeper understanding of foster care but more importantly the knowledge that there is the support system of All our Kids behind them in their journey." - Melissa Tyler Tarjick, Board Member, Massachusetts Alliance for FamiliesFoster/Adoptive parent of 20 years.

The essential guide to parenting adopted and foster kids--learn to create felt safety, heal attachment trauma, and navigate challenging behaviors and triggers Children who have been adopted and/or shuttled through the foster-care system experience trauma at a much higher rate than other kids, which can make it difficult for them to trust, relax, regulate their emotions, and connect with their new families. As a parent, learning how to heal attachment trauma, attune to your child's needs, identify triggers, and create felt safety is essential to providing the loving, supportive, and stable home they need to thrive. Written for parents of adopted and foster kids of all ages, this book offers resources for handling common concerns like sleep issues, food sensitivities, anger, fear, and reactivity. It also provides guidance on navigating transracial adoptions, working through parents' own hang-ups, and recognizing signs of developmental and psychological conditions. The book highlights practical strategies and provides real-life examples to address questions like: How do I help my adopted child adjust? Is this kind of behavior "normal"? How do I help my child live, heal, and thrive with PTSD?

"Foster Care 101: Insights and Tips for New and Existing Foster Parents" is an essential guide aimed at empowering both new and seasoned foster parents on their journey through the complexities of foster care. This book breaks down the intricacies of the system, clarifies common misconceptions, and offers practical advice for creating a nurturing environment for foster children.The guide provides an in-depth look into the emotional and psychological experiences of children in care, equipping parents with the understanding necessary to support their foster children's unique needs effectively. It covers the challenges foster parents may face, from navigating legalities and addressing behavioral issues to managing the effects of trauma. Additionally, it offers strategies for preparing one's home and heart for the arrival of a foster child, ensuring a smooth transition for all involved.Central to the book is the journey of the foster parent. It acknowledges the hurdles and challenges that may arise and provides solutions for overcoming them. Emphasizing the importance of resilience and motivation, the guide discusses building a robust support network and the critical nature of self-care for foster parents.Moreover, the book outlines how to handle various transitions within the foster care experience, whether it's reuniting children with their biological families or preparing them for adoption. It underscores the importance of creating enduring bonds and having a meaningful impact on the lives of foster children."Foster Care 101: Insights and Tips for New and Existing Foster Parents" stands as a vital resource for anyone involved in or considering foster care. Combining heartfelt guidance with actionable strategies, this guide is invaluable for fostering healthy relationships with foster children and navigating the foster care system with success.

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!

Raising Other People's Children helps you navigate the complicated world of foster and step-parenting with better awareness and greater empathy, providing real-life solutions for forging strong relationships in extraordinary circumstances. Drawing on Debbie Ausburn’s decades of experience with every facet of the foster care system, Raising Other People's Children provides expert guidance viewed through the lens of real human interactions. The responsibility and complexity involved in raising someone else’s child can seem overwhelming. Regardless of whether you’re a stepparent, foster parent or adoptive parent, it is on you to take on the challenge of caring for them, helping them to move forward while also meeting their unique emotional needs.

Many people embark on the journey of adoption and foster care but are unprepared for the challenges that await them along the way. Replanted takes an honest look at the joys and hardships that come with choosing this journey and provides a model of faith-based support made up of three parts to help families thrive: Soil, Sunlight, and Water. Soil, or emotional support, addresses the need for grace-filled settings where families can connect with other families who understand their experience. Sunlight, or informational support, focuses on obtaining helpful training to raise children who may have unique needs or challenges. Water, or tangible support, deals with concrete resources such as medical care, child care, and financial support. Throughout the book, the Replanted model is brought to life by stories and examples based on the clinical work and personal experiences of the authors. Their candid insight will serve families who are actively involved in adoption or foster care, as well as people who are eager to help support those families. Replanted affirms that with the right support system in place, parents can answer this sacred call not only with open hearts but also with their eyes wide open.

Discover What Adoption and Foster Care Really Look Like If you are considering adoption or foster care or are already somewhere in this difficult and complicated process, you need trusted information from people who have been where you are. Mike and Kristin Berry have adopted eight children and cared for another 23 kids in their nine-year stint as foster parents. They aren’t just experts. They have experienced every emotional high and low and encountered virtually every situation imaginable as parents. Now, they want to share what they’ve learned with you. Get the answers you need to the following questions, and many more: Should I foster parent or adopt? How do I know? What is the first step in becoming an adoptive or foster parent? What are the benefits of an open versus closed adoption? How and when do I tell my child that he or she is adopted? How do I help my child embrace his or her cultural and racial identity? Honestly Adoption will provide you with practical, down-to-earth advice to make good decisions in your own adoption and foster parenting journey and give you the help and hope you need.