Adoption and fostering Books

Book SynopsisThe No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller.At just eight years old, Jodie is violent, aggressive and extremely challenging. Five carers in four months have been unable to cope, but there is one last hope: Cathy GlassAs Jodie begins to trust Cathy and make progress, shocking details about her past come to light. No one had noticed the glaring signs of abuse by those who were supposed to love her most.One of Cathy's earliest and bestselling memoirs, Damaged is a heartbreaking story that proves just how valuable foster carers are for society's most vulnerable children.*Damaged was originally published in 2007*Trade Review'Cannot fail to move those who read it.' Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.' The Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’ The Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.' OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’ First Magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’ Star Magazine

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Book SynopsisWhat could cause a mother to believe that giving away her newborn baby is her only option? Cathy Glass is about to find out. From author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged comes a harrowing and moving memoir about tiny Harrison, left in Cathy's care, and the potentially fatal family secret of his beginnings.When Cathy is first asked to foster one-day old Harrison her only concern is if she will remember how to look after a baby. But upon collecting Harrison from the hospital, Cathy realises she has more to worry than she thought when she discovers that his background is shrouded in secrecy.She isn't told why Harrison is in foster care and his social worker says only a few are aware of his very existence, and if his whereabouts became known his life, and that of his parents, could be in danger. Cathy tries to put her worries aside as she looks after Harrison, a beautiful baby, who is alert and engaging. Cathy and her children quickly bond with Harrison although they know that, inevitably, he will eventually be adopted.But when a woman Cathy doesn't know starts appearing in the street outside her house acting suspiciously, Cathy fears for her own family's safety and demands some answers from Harrison's social worker. The social worker tells Cathy a little but what she says is very disturbing . How is this woman connected to Harrison and can she answer the questions that will affect Harrison's whole life?

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Book SynopsisBased 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.Trade ReviewFor decades, I have been responding to these "seven core issues" as an adopted person, as a parent by adoption, as a poet. Now I imagine myself as a therapist trying to help someone in the adoption constellation. I would definitely want this book close at hand. -- Penny Callan Partridge, Co-founder in 1973, Adoption Forum of PhiladelphiaA beautifully-organized handbook, full of both strong, conceptual understandings and practical recommendations for living, surviving and thriving in this world of adoption. -- Michael Trout, Director The Infant-Parent InstituteAs an adopted person, I'm very familiar with the seven core issues, both comprehensively and experientially. Yet even with my prior knowledge, there was a deeper understanding to be attained through the pages of this book. Having had the pleasure to work with and consider both Sharon and Allison my friends, I've seen first hand the passion they have for adoption and helping children find permanence. Their collective expertise, contained here, is, in my opinion, the gold standard for understanding and working towards permanence in adoption. -- Keith Silverstein, Voice Actor and Adoption AdvocateToo often as healthcare providers, we focus on the medical, contractual, and economic aspects of adoption and 3rd party reproduction. Acknowledging the 7 core issues and their impact on all parties associated with this process is an important first step in improving the care we deliver to our patients. -- Matthew C. Goering, Ph.D., HCLD University of Kansas School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Reproductive MedicineAs an adoptive Dad of three kids from foster care, I found the book to be an insightful and useful resource. It gives voice to both the challenges and resiliencies of those touched by foster care and adoption. -- Sean Anders, writer/director of Paramount Pictures’ Instant FamilyWhat do you get when two highly experienced, talented, thoughtful and respected adoption experts write a book together? The answer is this exceptional piece of work, which falls into the rare `must have, must read and must use' category of literature relating to all sorts of `nontraditional' families. From my perspective as both an adoption professional and an adoptive parent, I couldn't recommend it more strongly. -- Adam Pertman, President of the National Center on Adoption and Permanency and author of “Adoption Nation”This is a very comprehensive, inclusive, updated version of The Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency, which is definitely an amazing resource for families, agency professionals, clinicians, academics, consultants and many others impacted by adoption. The excellent contributing authors have had a variety of professional and personal experiences related to child welfare (i.e. as adoptees, foster youth, kinship care providers, and adoptive and foster parents), as well as having professional training and expertise in working with diverse population groups impacted by the child welfare system. Not only does this book highlight the core issues of adoption and permanency, it is unique, as it includes specific chapters which focus on these issues for ethnically diverse families including: Latinos, African Americans, Tribal communities, Asian and multi-racial families. The book includes content on the implications of the core issues in work with adoptive, kinship families, birth/first families, foster families, and LGBTQ families. It provides very real and practical examples of the impact of losses, vicarious trauma experienced by children and parents, while including content on strategies for coping and gaining resilience. I would highly recommend this book for use in courses on "Contemporary Issues in Adoption and Foster Care", "Child Welfare" and others which are designed to prepare professionals for work in this very important area. -- Ruth G. McRoy, Ph.D Professor Emeritus Boston College School of Social WorkThis is a book that has been itching to be written for a very long time, as the framework of the Seven Core Issues has shaped thinking on adoption for the last three decades. Yet the benefit that this book was not written until now is that it is even more expansive. Rarely if ever have I read a book that covers so much ground so effectively. I have immense respect for the authors and their work. Roszia and Davis Maxon are critical thought leaders. -- Betsie Norris, adoptee, executive director Adoption Network Cleveland: The Ohio Family ConnectionTable of ContentsForeword: by Deborah Silverstein; Preface; 1. Introduction: Seven Core Issues in Adoption & Permanency; 2. Loss; 3. Rejection; 4. Shame and Guilt; 5. Grief; 6. Identity; 7. Intimacy; 8. Mastery and Control; Appendices: Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency; 1. The Authors' Foundational Values and Beliefs; 2. Rituals and Ceremonies for Healing by Sharon Kaplan Roszia and Allison Davis Maxon; 3. Forgiveness by Sharon Kaplan Roszia and Allison Davis Maxon; 4. A Child's Developmental Journey Through Adoption & Permanency by Allison Davis Maxon; 5. Seven Core Issues and Foster Care by Sharon Kaplan Roszia and Allison Davis Maxon; 6. The Seven Core Issues and Kinship Families by Joseph Crumbley and Allison Davis Maxon; 7. The Seven Core Issues and LGBTQ Families by Abbie Goldberg, Clark University, MA, USA and Cynthia Roe; 8. The Seven Core Issues as Seen Through the Eyes of the Latino Family by Dee Dee Mascarenas; 9. Seven Core Issues and the African American Family by Lynn White Dixon; 10. Seven Core Issues and the Multi-Racial Family by Lynn White Dixon; 11. The Seven Core Issues in International Adoption: From an Asian Adoptee by Huyen Friedlander; 12. Seven Core Issues in Adoption/Permanency in Tribal Communities by Kathryn England Aytes; 13. Siblings and the Seven Core Issues by Heidi Staples; 14. The Search and Reunion Experience Through the Lens of the Seven Core Issues in Adoption/Permanency by Gina McKernon-Cindrich; 15. The Seven Core Issues in International Adoptions by Lynne Silver; 16. Openness and the Seven Core Issues in Adoption/Permanency by Sharon Kaplan Roszia; 17. Single Parenting and the Seven Core Issues and Adoption/Permanency by Mary McGowan; 18. The Seven Core Issues and Third Party Reproduction and Surrogacy by Kris Probasco; 19. The Seven Core Issues and Step Parent Adoptions by Michael Grand; 20. Adopted Children with Special Health Care Needs by Carol Biddle; 21. Schools, Learning and the Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency by Blaze Newman; 22. The Lifecycle of the Adoptive/Permanency Family - Stages and Tasks by Sharon Kaplan Roszia; Contributor Biographies; References; Index

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Book SynopsisThe Definitive Guide to Theraplay® for Practitioners, officially endorsed by the Theraplay® InstituteTheraplay is an intervention that focuses on enhancing the connection, trust and joy between a child and a parent. It involves interactive, playful activities using simple face-to-face reciprocal interactions, and involves using all of the senses, including rhythm, movement and touch. This comprehensive guide outlines the theory, reflection, and skill development of the practitioner - the true power house of Theraplay. By maintaining a focus on practice throughout, embedding theory into practice examples, it brings the spirit of Theraplay to life. Part 1 covers the key principles of the intervention; Part 2 addresses Theraplay in Practice: how to use the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM), how to set up a room and choose activities and considerations for working with different client groups; Part 3 encourages the reader to engage in their own development and the stages involved; and Parts 4 and 5 provide a wealth of useful resources, checklists, handouts, sample sessions and an up-to-date list of Theraplay activities. Whether you are a Theraplay practitioner, or simply want to find out how this remarkable intervention works, this book is essential reading.Trade ReviewAnyone interested in Theraplay® will know how difficult it is to find Theraplay® Institute approved information and activities. It can also be a challenge for people who use Theraplay® within their wider practice to get appropriate supervision for the Theraplay aspects of their work. In both areas Norris and Lender's book is an invaluable resource.It is a book packed full of reflection, imagination, problem solving and trouble shooting. The case studies are particularly helpful; they feel real, with honest acknowledgement by the therapists of their own countertransference, defences and complex feelings. They also highlight without any blame or shame how difficult it is for some children and parents to adapt to news ways of relating... I have no doubt that this will be the Theraplay® bible for years to come. * Cairnsmoir Connections *Theraplay is a terrific treatment for disorganized and traumatized kids. This book is highly recommended for all clinicians , teachers and other human beings trying to help children function and thrive! -- Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. Author of The Body Keeps the ScoreI have found the Theraplay approach to healing distressed children to be at the leading edge of humanistic, experiential and evidence-based treatments. What this clear volume offers are step-by-step precise protocols for assessment and treatment using this vital method. Various activities and exercises are simply described and can be applied to many therapeutic situations. The book is a rich contribution, not only for practitioners of Theraplay, but is truly a gift to all clinicians working to alleviate the suffering of troubled children. -- Peter A Levine, PhD, Author (with Maggie Kline) of: Trauma through the Eyes of a Childs Eyes; Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing, and Trauma-Proofing your Kids; A Parent’s Guide for Instilling Confidence Joy and ResilienceIn Theraplay: The Practitioner's Guide, Vivien Norris and Dafna Lender skillfully and comprehensively explain the essential principles of Theraplay. Theraplay is an efficient mode of therapy for children that seamlessly incorporates within a play environment several elements that are shared with models of psychotherapy. In the Guide, we learn about efficient exercises that are effective in enhancing the child's ability to regulate state can be delivered as games; we learn that Theraplay is rooted in developmental science (e.g., attachment theory) and is consistent with contemporary neuroscience (e.g., Polyvagal Theory). From a Polyvagal perspective Theraplay respects the biobehavior state of the child, applies therapist initiated social engagement strategies to trigger a state of safety in the child, and promotes synchronous reciprocal interactions as a neural exercise that increases social flexibility and improves emotion regulation. It is through this development of the child's ability to feel safe and secure that is key to Theraplay's efficacy and functionally illustrates the attributes of Theraplay as a model therapy for children. -- Stephen W. Porges, PhD Distinguished University Scientist Kinsey Institute Indiana University BloomingtonTherapy is a cherished gift to be shared confidently with parents. The gift is deceptively simple and at the same time provides a complex and rich foundation for establishing or deepening attachment bonds. The approach is playful, engaging, safe, and designed to create positive shared memories of warm and attuned physical and emotional experiences between parents and children. This book took my breadth away in its congruence with the Theraplay approach: It is engaging to read, it provides ample and strong structure for the Theraplay practitioner, it challenges us to weave attachment theories with unique responses to clients, and it nurtures and encourages practitioners to provide the best possible assistance they can. Vivien Norris and Dafna Lenders' expertise shines through as they provide a "virtual supervisor" type of guidance to the reader, answering many of the questions that we practitioners have as we negotiate our daily practices. Not only is this book a remarkable addition to the literature on Theraplay, it also succeeds in integrating current neuroscience and research to further guide and strengthen interactive clinical nuances. I will be reading this book multiple times because there are layers of important information to guide us in our work. I am left speechless with gratitude. It's been many years since I've been so enlightened and re-energized by a book with such heart and substance!! -- Eliana Gil, Ph.D. Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and EducationTable of ContentsAcknowledgements; Foreword; Part One INTRODUCTION; 1. Introduction; 2. Theraplay General Principles; Part Two NUTS AND BOLTS; 3. Intake; 4. MIM; 5. Theraplay sessions: getting prepared; 6. Theraplay session with children; 7. Working with parents; 8. Complex parents; 9. Theraplay outtakes-what no one ever tells you; Part Three BECOMING A THERAPLAY PRACTITIONER; 10. Developmental phases; 11. Overcoming common barriers to practising Theraplay; 12. The Theraplay supervision process - A journey of a lifetime; 13. MIM assessment form completed example; 14. Dyadic session supervision form completed example; 15. Sample Phyllis Booth supervision feedback notes; 16. How do you know you've reached Foundational level: TTI session 8 guidelines; Part Four RESOURCES; 17. Sample session plans for various types of children; 18. What Lies Underneath a Parent's Defensive Statement; 19. Intake guidelines; 20. When should you talk about stuff in Theraplay?; 21. Example of combining approaches; 22. Thinking about sensory regulation and Theraplay; 23. What is Theraplay®? A Brief Guide for Parents; 24. List of Theraplay activities; Glossary; References

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Book SynopsisCathy Glass, international bestselling author, tells the shocking story of Zeena, a young Asian girl desperate to escape from her family.When 14 -year-old Zeena begs to be taken into care with a non-Asian family, she is clearly petrified. But of what?Placed in the home of experienced foster carer Cathy and her family, Zeena gradually settles into her new life, but misses her little brothers and sisters terribly. Prevented from having any contact with them by her family who insist she has brought shame and dishonour on the whole community, Zeena tries to see them at school. But when her father and uncle find out, they bundle her into a car and threaten to set fire to her if she makes anymore trouble. Zeena is too frightened to press charges against them despite being offered police protection in a safe house.Eventually, Cathy discovers the devastating truth from Zeena, and with devastation she believes there is little she can do to help her.Trade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisA powerful, moving true story from Sunday Times bestseller, Maggie Hartley, Britain's most-loved foster carer. Perfect for fans of Cathy Glass.

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Book SynopsisBorn in a prison and removed from his drug-dependent mother, rejection is all that 7-year-old Alex knows.When Cathy is asked to foster little Alex, aged 7, her immediate reaction is: Why can't he stay with his present carers for the last month? He's already had many moves since coming into care as a toddler and he'll only be with her a short while before he goes to live with his permanent adoptive family. But the present carers are expecting a baby and the foster mother isn't coping, so Alex goes to live with Cathy.He settles easily and is very much looking forward to having a forever family of his own. The introductions and move to his adoptive family go well. But Alex is only with them for a week when problems begin. What happens next is both shocking and upsetting, and calls into question the whole adoption process.

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Book SynopsisThis expert guide provides 50 essential tools and activities to use in practice with children and young people who have experienced trauma. From bubbles, balloons, and blocks to ghosts, monsters, and squiggles, this book offers a wealth of activities that help children to express their feelings and experiences while feeling safe and supported. Case studies demonstrate how each activity can be easily incorporated into daily interactions during social work practice, and clear explanations of the theory provide context for how they work. Developed from decades of hands-on experience supporting children after trauma, this book demonstrates ways to sensitively discuss children''s histories. This can lead into discussing the way their experiences influence their behaviour, and help them to form healthy attachments for the future.

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Book SynopsisToddler Adoption looks at the unique joys and challenges of adopting and parenting a toddler. When a child aged is adopted between the ages of 12 to 36 months, they often show signs of cognitive and emotional immaturity, which can cause behavioral and relational issues. This book offers support and practical tools to help parents prepare for and support the toddler's transition between the familiar environment of their biological parent's home or foster home to a new and unfamiliar one, and considers the issues that arise at different developmental stages. It highlights the challenges that parents are likely to encounter, but also gives positive guidance on how to overcome them. Written by a specialist in children's development who is also an adoptive parent herself, this fully revised and updated edition of the go-to-source on adopting toddlers is essential reading for both parents and professionals working with adoptive families.Trade ReviewI found it easy to read and with lots of headings it was simple to go to an area I was interested in. If toddler adoption is something you're thinking about, then this is the right book for you! -- Foster FamiliesHopkins-Best provides a guidebook for those considering toddler adoption or those already struggling with its special challenges. She discusses at length strategies for dealing with issues such as a grieving toddler or attachment disorder. The appendix provides a wonderful list of resources. Perhaps most valuable are the anecdotes of both successes and failures from other toddler adoptive families. An important addition to all Adoption collections. -- Library JournalWith practical advice, personal insights, and the shared experience of a number of parents who adopted toddlers, this book offers suggestions and strategies that will certainly contribute to the readiness of parents undertaking the challenges of caring for newly arrived toddlers -- Adoptive FamiliesAt last someone has put into words those fears and frustrations I experienced as the parent of a newly arrived toddler and has offered practical strategies for dealing with unique issues. If Hopkins-Best's book had been available as we were adopting I would have felt affirmed and empowered instead of isolated and incompetent. This should be a required reading for pre-adoptive families! -- From a parent of children adopted in toddlerhoodThank you for this compelling and readable exploration of an issue that has been lost in the shuffle before now – that adopting a child at the toddler stage is not a mere extension of what we know about adopting infants, nor do the tools proven useful for families adopting older children work with toddlers. Both parents and professionals will find this an invaluable tool. -- From an adoption professionalTable of ContentsAcknowledgments. 1. Why Write a Book on Toddler Adoption? 2. Is Toddler Adoption For You? 3. Getting Started on Adoption. 4. The Adoption Transition. 5. Understanding Your Toddler's Development. 6. Parenting the Grieving Toddler. 7. Becoming Attached. 8. Behavior Management. 9. Parents Have Needs, Too. Epilogue. Appendix: Demographic Information on Questionnaire Respondents. Resources. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisDr Karen Treisman has designed this versatile and colourful card deck of 110 cards enabling practitioners to support children, teens or adults who have experienced trauma, stress or adversity.The cards are organized into four different types: sentence completion cards, survival response cards, signals/signs cards and different types of trauma cards. In combination, the cards provide you with a rich resource which enables you to:· Increase understanding of the multi-layered impact of trauma, stress, and adversity - including common sensory, physical, emotional, cognitive and relational aspects.· Deepen assessment and information-gathering· Reflect on progress and the journey· Inform goals and focus interventions· Identify survival responses, feelings and experiences· Use metaphors, analogies and symbols to support Find new ways to name, label or describe experiences or feelings· Increase empathy, understanding and compassion· Support reflection and curiosity· Explore the wider lens of trauma - including cultural, intergenerational, medical, war trauma etc.And much more!Developed to be inclusive of a variety of learning styles, abilities and language skills, the pack can be used with individuals, groups, teams and organizations. Accompanied by a comprehensive explanatory booklet, they will enable you to create assessments, psychoeducation and interventions which are playful, enriching and creative.

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Book SynopsisThe No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller.At just eight years old, Jodie is violent, aggressive and extremely challenging. Five carers in four months have been unable to cope, but there is one last hope: Cathy GlassAs Jodie begins to trust Cathy and make progress, shocking details about her past come to light. No one had noticed the glaring signs of abuse by those who were supposed to love her most.One of Cathy's earliest and bestselling memoirs, Damaged is a heartbreaking story that proves just how valuable foster carers are for society's most vulnerable children.Trade Review'Cannot fail to move those who read it.' Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.' The Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’ The Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.' OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’ First Magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’ Star Magazine

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Book SynopsisDo you know your real parents? is a question many adoptees are asked. In In Reunion, Sara Docan-Morgan probes the basic notions of family, adoption, and parenthood by exploring initial meetings and ongoing relationships that transnational Korean adoptees have had with their birth parents and other birth family members. Drawing from qualitative interviews with adult Korean adoptees in the United States and Denmark, as well as her own experiences as an adoptee, Docan-Morgan illuminates the complexities of communication surrounding reunion. The paradoxes of adoption and reunionshared history without blood relations, and blood relations without shared historygenerate questions: What does it mean to be family? How do people use communication to constitute family relationships? How are family relationships created, maintained, and negotiated over time? In Reunion details adoptive and cultural identities, highlighting how adoptees often end up shouldering communicative responsibility in thTrade Review“Bridging the fields of communication studies and critical adoption studies, In Reunion is a groundbreaking text weaving together the social sciences and humanities to grapple with what it means when we make sense of how reunion is performed—the emotional work undertaken—to consider how adoptees negotiate the discursive burden produced by the act of reuniting. Docan-Morgan attends to the language and cultural gaps and the work adoptees undertake to mitigate those chasms. She expertly and effectively positions herself as a scholar and adoptee, deftly weaving intimate vignettes of her own experiences to tell the stories of reunion.”—Kimberly D. McKee, author of Adoption Fantasies: The Fetishization of Asian Adoptees from Girlhood to Womanhood“An unparalleled text, In Reunion shines light on an understudied, paradoxical family phenomenon—transnational adoptee birth-family reunions. Sara Docan-Morgan artfully interweaves her story with stories of other Korean adoptees to unveil complexities and beauties of being in reunion. Immensely readable, In Reunion raises larger questions about family, belonging, and identity. Drawing upon her expertise as a communication scholar, Docan-Morgan illuminates the role communication plays in the unfolding of these relationships across time, space, and differences in language and culture. In Reunion is a must-read for adoptees, adoptive parents, scholars, and all who work with and support the transnational adoption constellation.” —Elizabeth A. Suter, Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Denver

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Book SynopsisA 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.Trade ReviewTired of foolish comments about adoption from your family and friends? If so, Adoption is a Family Affair by Pat Johnston was designed for you. This introduction to the pitfalls, misconceptions, and issues around adoption is intended to be a basic “Adoption 101" for your parents or for anyone else new to the idea of adoption. As prospective adoptive parents immerse themselves in the adoption process, they may not have time or patience to explain their new way of thinking and findings to their parents or friends. Sometimes it just feels too overwhelming to correct all of society's common assumptions and misapprehensions. Pat's emphatic no-nonsense style can be a useful tool toward opening a dialog about these issues which are inherent in adoptive families in our society. Adoption is a Family Affair provides a basic education on the psychological aspects of adoption and the adoption process. … Adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents who are coping with “adoptism” (that is, the belief that adoption is a second best way to be a family) will find Adoption is a Family Affair a useful resource. -- Adoption Book Review NewsletterDon't you wish that there was an easy way to explain the how's and why's of adoption to your parents and the other members of your family? Adoption Is a Family Affair will make them feel like they've sat down with a close friend to have a coffee klatsch about adoption. This book's conversational tone and wealth of information will turn them into adoption experts! -- Nebraska Children's Home SocietyThis is a great book covering the basics of adoption. It focuses heavily on discounting myths and misconceptions, and presenting clear explanations of often confusing concepts and practices. A wonderful book for those from whom we need support and encouragement. -- Adoption@About.com's Top Five Books About AdoptionAdoption Is A Family Affair! What Relatives And Friends Must Know is specifically written to correct commonly held myths and misconceptions about adoption and adopters. One example is the wide spread myth that people often conceive after adopting because they then “relax” and things just happen naturally. The truth is that only 5% of those who adopt will spontaneously conceive after adopting — the same percentage figure as for those infertile couples who do not adopt! Adoption Is A Family Affair! is very highly recommended reading for prospective adopters, and for their friends and family as well! -- Midwest Book Review/Internet BookWatchThis book is designed for grandparents and family members of people going through the process of adoption. It is a short but very helpful guide. Much of the practical information relates to processes in the US, but also briefly covers processes in the UK and other countries... written by people who have experienced the challenges of supporting their children as they go through the adoption process... Each section has recommended further reading, and this book would make an excellent resource as well as a useful gift for the grandparents to be. -- Youth in MindTable of Contents1. The Announcement. 2. Your Personal, Private Fears. 3. Turning Loss into Gain. 4. How Adoption Works: The Facts vs. Myths. 5. Getting Ready. 6. Home at Last! 7. Parenting in Adoption. 8. Adoption Issues through a Lifetime. 9. Expanding the Family Culture. 10. Special Issues. 11. Adoption and the Rest of the World. 12. How You Can Learn More.

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Book SynopsisIs 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.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent book that does not gloss over the very real issues of transracial adoption. The authors work hard to give white parents a real understanding of the very different perspective their children will be growing up with, and how vital it is that they acknowledge the struggles their children will face and become their educated allies in dealing with them... Throughout the book, the needs and best interests of the children are the priority. The authors give many examples to show the perspectives of children of transracial adoption and give parenting strategies that are healthy, positive and loving... I highly recommend "Inside Transracial Adoption" for all families who have adopted or are considering adopting transracially/culturally, as well as for adoption professionals and adoptees. -- Alicia Baker, Mankato Attachment Parenting, ExaminerAs experienced parents who adopted transracially, Beth and Gail have once again provided adoptive parents with information, examples and approaches that are both practical and useful. As respected professionals, they have created a resource and overview of topics that can be used by agencies in preparing parents for transracial/cultural adoptions. -- Joseph Crumbley, LCSWAdoption can have many complex layers, and with interracial adoption there are the added nuances of race, culture and identity. As a Korean adoptee I have lived this experience. As an adoption professional for thirty years, I have witnessed the transformation of priorities for transracially adoptive families. Parents must explore and understand these issues to successfully navigate the challenges and fully embrace the differences that families live with every day. Inside Transracial Adoption is the bible of resources on this subject, written by two experts it has been my pleasure to work with and learn from. This is the book I most often recommend to anyone considering adoption, adoptees and adoption professionals. There is wisdom for everyone who cares about transracial adoption and the children and adults who come together as transracial families. -- Susan Soonkeum Cox, Vice President Policy & External Affairs, Holt International Children's ServicesWhile largely aimed at an American audience, this book explains how to become an ally and advocate for your transracially adopted child/ren. The authors offer invaluable insight into parenting transracially through adoption. They never lose sight of the reality of racism and the need to help transracially adopted children to name, externalise, and depersonalise racism, as well as build links with their community of birth. Central is the idea that we must really listen to our children, validate their feelings and experiences, challenge racism, and equip them with the skills to do so. Inside Transracial Adoption contains a wealth of tips and guidance for adoptive parents and social workers whether in the USA, UK, or elsewhere. -- Dr. Perlita Harris, Goldsmiths, University of London, Editor of The Colours in Me: Writing and poetry by adopted children and young people and In Search of Belonging: Reflections by transracially adopted peopleTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Section 1. Unpacking the Challenges of Transracial Adoption. 1. Our Perspectives on Transracial Adoption. Section 2. Racial Identity. 2. Racial Identity Development. 3. Confronting Racism and Our Own White Privilege. 4. Breaking the Racial Sound Barrier. 5. Seeking Diversity. 6. Handling Outsiders' Questions and Comments. Section 3. Family Matters. 7. Strengthening Family Identity. 8. Transracial Parenting Strategies. 9. Birth Family. 10. Extended Family. 11. Siblings In/By Adoption. 12. Religious Choices and Beliefs. Section 4. Through Development's Lens. 13. Infants. 14. Preschoolers. 15. School-agers. 16. Tween and Teens. 17. Our Children Are Our Children Forever - Even As Adults. Section 5. Specifics in Focus. 18. Building a Foundation. 19. Building Hope and Pride. 20. Cultural Specifics. 21. Adoption Specifics. Section 6. Parting Thoughts. 22. Embracing Our Strengths. Index.

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Book SynopsisFourteen-year-old Shazia has been taken into care after a conversation at school leads her teacher to suspect that the teenager''s family are planning to send her to Pakistan for an arranged marriage. To her family''s fury, Shazia is sent to live with foster carer Maggie Hartley whilst social services investigate. But with Shazia denying everything and social services unable to find any evidence to support the teacher''s fears, Shazia is allowed to return home. But a few weeks later, Maggie is woken up in the middle of the night by a phone call from a terrified Shazia, who has managed to escape the family home through a window. Sobbing, she confesses to Maggie that her parents are planning to send her to Pakistan to be married in a few days, and have threatened to kill her if she speaks out again. Returned to Maggie''s care, Shazia is petrified that her parents will track her down and kill her, and Maggie must be on constant alert. But the worst is yet to come when

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Book Synopsis· What is shame?· How does it affect children?· How can adults help?The perfect starting point for any adult or carer working with children who have experienced shame, this guide provides straightforward answers and explanations to both common and complex questions.At a time when children are more likely than ever to experience shame, the accessible advice in this book helps adults to boost children's self-esteem. Betsy de Thierry navigates the need to understand its impact and the reasons behind it, as well as how to reduce its hold on self-confidence. Reassuring advice will also help revitalize adults' abilities to face the challenges of supporting children affected by shame. It will teach them how to restore self-esteem.Trade ReviewAnother brilliant book by Betsy de Thierry. Shame is such a crucial area and emotion, however one that is often overlooked. Therefore it is great to see a book that offers a deeper understanding and practical ideas for support around shame. This book is written in an accessible, engaging, and informative way. The doodles and reflective questions are fantastic too. A welcome addition to any book shelf! -- Karen TreismanThorough, underpinned by extensive researched and well articulated. de Thierry manages to write a short guide about shame, a challenging task but one very well executed. If you're looking to understand shame, how it seeps into our being from a very young age and how 'toxic shame can be like a poison in our subconscious', then this guide is for you. For parents, educators, therapists and social workers, this guide is an essential starting point pulling together all the latest knowledge, research and experience. -- Lisa Cherry, BA (Hons) Sociology, ITEC Dip HM, S.A.C. Dip., Life Coaching and Counselling, Reiki MasterThe Simple Guide to Understanding Shame in Children by Betsy de Thierry is thoughtful insight into how shame has such a pervading hold on us all, sometimes with disastrous consequences. De Thierry argues that feelings of shame are often at the root of unhelpful behaviours and linked to a primeval fear we may be abandoned or rejected by our tribe or society. Unwittingly, though, it remains a thread that runs through traditional parenting and the education system, driving the sensitive child towards shame rather than away from it and cutting off crucial relationships with others. The Simple Guide to Understanding Shame in Children by Betsy de Thierry is an important read for adoptive parents and those working with children who may already be sensitive to shame due to damaging life experiences. This book provides a key to understanding the sometimes bewildering and distressing behaviours by those locked in the grip of shame. -- Jill Turner, Editor, Adoption TodayTable of ContentsPreface. 1. What is shame? 2. What is the impact of shame? 3. The neurobiology of shame. 4. How do children get shamed? 5. Shame symptoms: a) hiding, masks, silence and sorry. 6. Shame symptoms: b) deceit, lying, critical of others and projection. 7. Shame symptoms: c) self hatred, self rejection and anger. 8. Shame symptoms: d) emotional shut down, dissociation & confusion. 9. How can we help heal shame? 10. Building shame resilience. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisDifficult behaviour in children with developmental trauma comes from a place of hurt. It is often confusing, unpredictable and painful both to the child and the people around them, and can be a form of self-protection or coping with deeply rooted fears and anxieties. Traumatized children rarely respond to traditional parenting strategies, but once you understand the impact of trauma on children you can master 'developmental reparenting' strategies which do work - by validating their feelings, boosting self-esteem and encouraging open and honest conversations. The first part of this book guides you using easy to understand language through the latest science and research relating to trauma and its impact on the brain and executive functioning. The second part forms the heart of the book, laying out 35 action charts to addresses some of the very hardest challenges for parents and carers - from inappropriate sexualised behaviour and overfamiliarity with strangers through to tantrums, food issues and deception.Written by an experienced adoptive parent who was also a qualified social worker with expertise in trauma-informed parenting, this book will be a welcome relief to any family struggling with the challenges of living with trauma in the home.Trade ReviewThe uniqueness and innovation in this resource is in the practical nature of connecting executive functioning difficulties - the 'why does my child do this?' - to the 'what can I do?' and 'what can I say?'. Packed full of ideas, suggestions and resources for strategies and interventions, all so clearly written by Christine, this guide is not to be missed! -- Edwina Grant, Chair of SAIAThis book will be of great help to adults who care for children with developmental trauma. Christine Gordon deftly helps to close the gap between understanding these children and knowing what to do to provide the consistently compassionate care they need to recover from the effects of early life trauma. -- Jonathan Baylin, PhD, coauthor with Daniel Hughes of The Neurobiology of Attachment-focused TherapyTable of ContentsPART ONE: Understanding the Behaviour and How to Help 1. Preface. 2. The Impact of Early Trauma. 3. How Neuro-biological Development Affects Behaviour. 4. Developmental Trauma and Attachment Difficulties - Secure Attachments. 5. Developmental Trauma and Attachment Difficulties - Insecure Attachments. 6. Introduction to Developmental Reparenting. 7. Main Principles and Concepts of Developmental Reparenting. 8. Developmental Trauma and Executive Functioning Difficulties. 9. The Behaviour Rating of Executive Functioning (BRIEF). 10. Executive Functioning - Inhibit. 11. EF - Shift. 12. EF - Emotional Control. 13. EF - Initiate. 14. EF - Working Memory. 15. EF - Plan/Organise. 16. EF - Organisation of Materials. 17. EF - Monitor. 18. Comments and Phrases that Support a Traumatized Child. 19. Praise and Reprimands, Consequences and Rewards. 20. Siblings. 21. Children who act out in Aggressive and Angry Behaviour. 22. Compliant 'Acting in' Children. 23. Pee and Poo or Choosing your Battles! 24. How to Use the Charts. 25. Charts. 26. Further Resources.PART TWO: Action Charts. 1. Accepting Blame/Responsibility. 2. Acting a Victim. 3. Aggression Towards Siblings. 4. Cheating at Games. 5. Completing Tasks. 6. Compliant and Helpful. 7. Consequences. 8. Dangerous Behaviour. 9. Disrupting Others. 10. Focussing on Tasks. 11. Food Issues. 12. Fiddling Constantly. 13. Homework Issues. 14. Hypochondriac Tendencies. 15. Intense Sibling Rivalry. 16. Losing Resources. 17. Lying. 18. Managing Group Settings. 19. Moving On. 20. Peer Problems. 21. Running Away. 22. School and Separation Issues. 23. Self-harming. 24. Sexualized Behaviour. 25. Shouting Out. 26. Stealing. 27. Stranger Familiarity. 28. Substitute Teacher/Carer. 29. Swearing. 30. Switching Off. 31. Talking Constantly. 32. Tantrums. 33. Starting Tasks. 34. Untidiness. 35. Working in Silence. 36. Blank Chart.

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Book SynopsisA practical guide to talking about adoption to a child adopted from overseas.

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Book SynopsisBabies and young children who have experienced early adversity miss out on good, nurturing relationships, and the sensorimotor development that goes along with them. Their bodies therefore lack a solid foundation for sensory integration. This book lays out a practice model - the Building Underdeveloped Sensorimotor Systems (BUSS) model - to help identify and assess whether these gaps are present in a child's sensorimotor systems. It also advocates the potential of rebuilding the gaps in these systems - using games and activities that take place within loving parent-child relationships - to offer the child a healthy, attuned base from which to develop sensorimotor skills. Also included is a section on parents' experiences of using these activities with their children. With a positive view of approaching sensorimotor underdevelopment, these strategies and case studies all demonstrate that, with the right kind of attention, these children's systems can be rebuilt.Trade ReviewA compassionate, accessible and caring book filled with stories of how children have benefited from the BUSS model. This book is strongly recommended for any practitioners, or families supporting and working with children who have experienced developmental trauma. -- Jane Mischenko, PhD, Strategic Lead Commissioner: Children & Maternity, NHS Leeds CCGThis is a book that all those parenting and supporting children who have experienced developmental trauma should read. Sarah Lloyd has written clearly about the challenges of underdeveloped sensorimotor systems. She provides comprehensive advice for helping the children rebuild these systems. This provides a foundation, not just for their physical skills, but also for emotional regulation, confidence, self-esteem, and relationships. Children are amazing in their resilience and attempts to help themselves; I was so moved by the account of the little girl who put stones in her socks. With a little help from us these children are capable of so much. Beautifully written, illustrated, and with hopeful stories of children's progress, this book fills a gap in our understanding of how we can help traumatized children recover, physically, emotionally and within relationships. Sarah has demonstrated how the foundation for all this recovery lies in the rebuilding of the sensorimotor systems. -- Dr. Kim S. Golding, Clinical Psychologist and authorA fascinating read that has really made me think about not only my own adopted son but also the children at the school I work in. The book aims to get you thinking beyond the emotional, to encompass also physical and sensory gaps in children's development, creating a practical therapeutic approach that can really ensure their developmental building blocks are secured from all aspects. A must read for parents, carers and professionals. -- Sarah Fernihough, Head Teacher, Nurture Learning - a therapeutic independent schoolTable of ContentsContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction Chapter 1 - Introducing the Foundation SystemsChapter 2 - Beginning to notice movement and is this the right kind of intervention at this time?Chapter 3 - The sequential nature of motor development - an overview of development 0 - 12 monthsChapter 4 - A BUSS AssessmentChapter 5 - The Tactile SystemChapter 6 - Assessing the Development of the Tactile SystemChapter 7 - Rebuilding Underdeveloped Tactile Systems - Part OneChapter 8 - Rebuilding Underdeveloped Tactile Systems - Part TwoChapter 9 - The Vestibular SystemChapter 10 - Assessing the Development of the Vestibular System - Part OneChapter 11 - Assessing the Development of the Vestibular System -Part TwoChapter 12 - The Proprioceptive SystemChapter 13 - Assessing the Development of the Proprioceptive System Chapter 14 - Ideas for Getting Started : Rebuilding Underdeveloped Vestibular and Proprioceptive Systems Chapter 15 - And Breathe. A Chance to Catch UpChapter 16 -Next Steps in Rebuilding Underdeveloped Vestibular and Proprioceptive Systems Chapter 17- Over to Parents - Reflections on Experiences of Using the BUSS model: Lenny, Amber, Nadia, Elsa and PercyChapter 18 - Final ThoughtsBibliography

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Book SynopsisProviding an authoritative overview of the growing phenomena of child to parent violence - a feature in the daily life of increasing numbers of families - this book outlines what we know about it, what is effective in addressing it, and outlines a proven model for intervention. Based on non-violent resistance (NVR), the model is founded on a number of key elements: parental commitment to non-violence, de-escalation skills, increased parental presence, engaging the support network and acts of reconciliation. The book outlines the theory and principles, and provides pragmatic guidance for implementing these elements, accompanied by case studies to bring the theory to life.Trade ReviewAn excellent strengths-based practitioner guide to dealing with child-parent violence that is both theoretical coherent and easily applicable to practice. -- Dr John Sharry, Co-founder Parents Plus CharityThis book is based upon the author's extensive experience of practising and researching an area that is increasingly recognised as having very serious implications for families. Accessibly written, it provides a wealth of insights and guidance and should be required reading on all qualifying and post-qualifying courses in social work and related disciplines. -- Professor Brid Featherstone, Head of Department (Behavioural and Social Sciences), University of HuddersfieldI am delighted to recommend this book to the IASW readership and believe that it should be an essential book present in the offices of those in the helping professions, as well as being a core text within social work/allied healthcare programmes. * Irish Association of Social Workers Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction; Part I: Theory and Good Practice; 1. Coming to terms with child to parent violence and abuse;2. What do we know about child to parent violence and abuse: where and why?; 3. Gender, domestic violence and child to parent violence and abuse; 4. Responses to child to parent violence and abuse; 5. Facilitating change: solution focused therapy and child to parent violence and abuse; 6. Messages from research about Non Violent Resistance; Part II: The Non Violent Resistance Model; 7. Introducing Non Violent Resistance;8. Implementing Non Violent Resistance - Foundations and Scaffolding;9. Non Violent Resistance in Action;10. Supporting practice, supporting families; References

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Book SynopsisHealing the Hidden Hurts: Transforming Attachment and Trauma Theory into Effective Practice with Families, Children and Adults provides a unique collection of professional and personal responses to the challenges that arise in dealing with attachment difficulties.With contributions from social workers, adoptive parents, adoptees, psychologists, therapists, counsellors and other related professionals, this book provides a varied and expansive approach to explaining attachment theory. The authors speak from personal experience to deliver explanations of theory, how they relate to practice and to provide practical guidance on how to improve the physical, emotional and psychological development of children in care across a broad range of professional settings. This book provides valuable insights relevant to practitioners within the fields of social work, health, education, the criminal justice system and any independent and voluntary sectors working with children and families.Trade ReviewIt is rare, indeed a privilege to read a book on attachment in which the rawness and immediacy of caring for and working with children...comes across so powerfully. The authors of each chapter speak directly of their own experience - as birth parents, adoptive parents, foster carers, teachers, therapists, social workers, children. Their honesty and candour, hurt and love burn through every page. Healing the Hidden Hurts gives us a rare glimpse of attachment in action and relationships in practice, through thick and thin. I hope that when you have read the following fourteen chapters, each one as brave as it is personal, you will feel as uplifted as I did when I first had the pleasure of reading this exceptional volume. -- From the foreword by David HoweThis is an exciting text which provides professionals with examples of attachment theory in practice. I like how you can dip into each chapter whilst there is still a running theme if you read from start to finish. This is a very realistic text which also remains academic and informative, using different disciplines to show how we can understand attachment behaviour, whilst still being very relevant to the social worker and the profession. The practical examples give the reader a real sense of how they could apply their learning from reading this to the children and families they are working with. This book touched me personally and I think that people will be able to relate to the examples in this book on both a personal and professional level. -- Nicola Hope, Team Coordinator, Children & Families Services, Staffordshire County CouncilHaven't we always known that relationships are at the heart of the human experience? But what happens when the primal attachment doesn't happen as it should? Before we are rational beings, we are sensual beings. Trauma happens at the sensual, emotional level and thus doesn't lend itself to reflection and rational responses. This book recognizes and addresses this in an easy to understand manner. This work is amazing in that, not only has it included the emotional, neurobiological, psychological, and social developmental wounds inherent in attachment deficits, but it has done an exceptional job of demonstrating this understanding in a variety of different scenarios. This makes the book a treasure for anyone who works with children: parents, teachers, physicians, psychologists, social workers, lawyers and the "adult children" themselves who want to understand their reactions to their own childhood experiences. There are so many exciting things to say about this book, it would take another book to list them all. I would just say that if I were to recommend any book on the subject of how attachment affects children as well as excellent suggestions for healing, this is the book. -- Nancy Verrier, MFT Author of The Primal Wound and Coming Home to SelfThe best way to understand the theory of trauma and attachment is through understanding the unique experience and challenges of each traumatized child along with the unique attachment relationship that is crucial for each of these children both to heal and develop trusting relationships with their caregivers. Caroline Archer, Charlotte Drury and Jude Hills have undertaken to help us to understand these theories which is crucial if we are to provide the best treatment and care for many foster and adopted children and their families. They have chosen to do so by providing us with a mosaic of children who have experienced a variety of traumas, as well as a great diversity of adults - of their carers and the professionals who are supporting them. In Healing the Hidden Hurts, the editors have chosen wisely many sensitive and reflective individuals who have the experience - and the skill to convey it - to assist us in our challenges to care for or provide services for, each traumatized child who we meet. -- Dan Hughes Ph.D. clinical psychologist and co-author of Creating Loving Attachments: Parenting with PACE to Nurture Confidence and Security in the Troubled ChildThis is a fantastic book providing informative theory and research leading to formulation and intervention across the child's world. The authors provide narrative accounts via case studies that explore the rich and complex backgrounds of children who have experienced maltreatment and they walk us through their developmental journey. The authors demonstrate practical, reflective attachment-based interventions that can be developed to hold the child in mind and help them understand themselves. They also provide useful ideas for education, social care and health care professionals supporting young people following chronic trauma, whose experience manifests through emotional and behavioural or mental health presentations. -- Jade Smith * ACAMH - The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health *Table of ContentsForeword. David Howe, University of East Anglia. Introduction. Caroline Archer, independent consultant and therapeutic parent mentor, Charlotte Drury, Chair of Attachment Network Wales and Jude Hills. Part 1 Introductory Narrative: Hurt, Humour and Persistence. 1. 'Jolly Walking': How Social workers Can Support Poorly Attached Children and Their Caregivers Effectively . Victoria Drury, social worker. Part 2. Educational Narratives: Understanding, Nurturing and Transitions. 2. The Message Behind the Behaviour: Understanding Attachment in the Classroom. Emma Birch, PhD student, University of Edinburgh. 3. Nurturing the Educational Environment: Creating Safe Space for Children to Learn. Ann Cartwright, teacher and author. 4. 'No,no,no, Mummy. I Don't Want to go to Nursery!': Traumatic Transitions from Home to School. Marie Martin. Part 3. Therapeutic Narratives: Moving, Mentoring, Partnerships and Patience. 5. 'Not Again Little Owl': Transitions from Foster Care to Adoption . Viv Norris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Certified Theraplay® Therapist and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Practitioner. 6. Developmental Trauma and Attachment: An Integrative Therapeutic Approach . Lisa Waycott, Clinical Director of Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd and Senior Lecturer, University of South Wales, Claire Carbiss, Play Therapist, Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd and Karen McInness, University of South Wales and Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd. 7. 'Smile Though Your Heart is Breaking': Therapeutic Parent Mentoring for 'Good Kids' and Their Families. Caroline Archer, independent consultant and therapeutic parent mentor. 8. Getting the Right FIT: The Team as a Secure Base for Supporting Families - Helen O'Shea, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Elaine Simpson, Action for Children. 9. 'Slowly Undoing': A Case Study from a Residential Setting. Jonny Matthew, Youth Justice Board and Tricia Skuse, Wales Forensic Adolescent Consultation and Treatment (FACT). Part 4. Legal Narrative: Assessments and Court Reports. 10. Beyond Feeding and Watering: Trauma and Attachment-based Court Assessments. Christine Gordon, Family Futures Consortium. Part 5. Personal Narratives: Pain, Persistence and Growth. 11. Through Prison Walls: Strengthening Adult Attachments from the Outside In. Hannah Fryer. 12. Mending Hearts: The Lasting Effects of Early Surgical Trauma. Jane McNamara, counsellor, play therapist and writer. 13. Holding on and Letting Go: Bereavement and the Bonds of Attachment, An Adoptee's Perspective. Tamara Gordon, producer and director. Part 6. Closing Narrative: Expression and Exploration. 14. 'And If You Have No Words for It?': An Exploration of Attachment Issues Through Art Therapy . Helen Jury, Art Psychotherapist, Course Leader MA Art Psychotherapy, University South Wales. Index. Glossary. References.

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Book SynopsisThis book offers a thorough examination and discussion of the evidence on attachment, its influence on development, and attachment disorders.In Part One, the authors outline attachment theory, the influence of sensitive and insensitive caregiving and the applicability of attachment theory across cultures. Part Two presents the various instruments used to assess attachment and caregiving. Part Three outlines the influence of attachment security on the child's functioning. Part Four examines the poorly understood phenomenon of attachment disorder. Presenting the evidence of scientific research, the authors reveal how attachment disorders may be properly conceptualised. Referring to some of the wilder claims made about attachment disorder, they argue for a disciplined, scientific approach that is grounded in both attachment theory and the evidence base. The final part is an overview of evidence-based interventions designed to help individuals form secure attachments.Summarising the existing knowledge base in accessible language, this is a comprehensive reference book for professionals including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, teachers, lawyers and researchers. Foster and adoptive parents, indeed all parents, and students will also find it of interest.Trade ReviewAttachment theory is currently a hot topic, so it is essential for all psychology enthusiasts and clinicians to have at least some understanding of its theories and applications. However, most texts are complicated to grasp, with intricate theories enmeshed from multiple directions. This book changes that. Here the authors provide an easily digestible introduction to attachment of theory; assessments of attachment and care giving; the impact of attachment security; attachment disorders and treatments. What was of particular interest to me was the chapter on the theories' validity across cultures - a very relevant aspect considering the growing multicultural society of the UK. It draws on the research evidence to unite the more conclusive findings on attachment. This guides the clinician and student toward an understanding of this enlightening approach to explaining, in part, why we are to a large degree a product of our environment. -- The PsychologistIn my opinion, this book will be valuable not only for mental health professionals but also useful for pediatricians and family physicians who want to update their knowledge in attachment and its disorders. -- The J Can Acad Child Adolesc PsychiatryIt should be a standard recommended text on clinical psychology programmes as well as other training programmes for health and social care staff working with families. -- Clinical Psychology ForumOverall, this is a useful and authoritative resource. It achieves a great deal, and will be a most useful purchase for libraries and for those directly concerned with these issues as they affect children and young people. -- British Journal of Social WorkPrior (behavioural and brain sciences, Institute of Child Health, London) and Glaser, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for children in London, discuss attachment disorders. They consider theory, the assessment of attachment patterns, and disturbances with an evidence-based approach. Topics of note include parenting, multiple caregivers, the applicability of theory across different cultures, functioning, and interventions and therapeutic approaches. The book is aimed at social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, teachers, lawyers and researchers. Both author and subject indexes are provided. All books in this series are based on the work of FOCUS, a multidisciplinary project at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research and Training Unit. -- Book NewsSummarising the existing knowledge base in accessible language, this is a comprehensive reference book for professionals including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, teachers, lawyers and researchers. Foster and adoptive parents, in deed all parents, and students will also find it of interest. -- Handicap InfoThe FOCUS project of the Royal College of Psychiatrists to promote and disseminate information about evidence-based research and practice underpinning child and adolescent mental health services is driven by, and values good quality scientific endeavour and thinking. -- Young Minds MagazineThe work of John Bowlby's attachment theory continues to develop and grow with this new volume... The authors give a comprehensive insight into the latest research, assessment and significance of attachment theories cross- culturally. -- Community CareThis book is timely. The outline of attachment is clearly presented, the classification system follows well, and understanding how the attachments evolve and the factors involved is helpful. I particularly liked the section on different cultures and what has been explored across differing parenting styles and social groupings - its well worth reading. Anyone planning to undertake a research project or clinical study will find this book extremely helpful when trying to select the best available method. -- British Journal of PsychiatryThis is a text that is packed with research evidence and, therefore, will serve as a useful reference tool. The links to practice are clear, and practitioners will be enabled to work towards a more evidence-based approach in their work with children and their caregivers. -- Practice: Social Work in ActionUnderstanding Attachment and Attachment Disorders is a text applicable to large audiences, and proves a succinct traverse into the field of attachment disorders. -- EABP NewsletterWith the current emphasis on the education of children in public care, and multi-agency approaches to these children, this is a recommended text for the service bookshelf and for local authority educational psychologists with an interest in the area. It is also pertinent for independent educational psychologists involved in assessment of children in public and private Court cases. -- DebateTable of Contents1. Introduction. Part One: Attachment and Caregiving. 2. What is Attachment? 3. The Classifications of Attachment. 4. What are the Factors Influencing Attachment Organisation (and Disorganisation)? 5. Affectional Bonds and Attachment Figures. 6. Is Attachment Theory Valid across Cultures? Part Two: Assessments of Attachment and Caregiving. 7. Introduction. 8. Assessments of Attachment. 9. Assessments of Caregiving. Part Three: Correlates of Attachment Organisation with Functioning. 10. Which Domains of Functioning are Hypothesised to be Correlated with Attachment and What are the Possible Pathways of its Influence? 11. Evidence for Correlations between Attachment Security/Insecurity and the Child's Functioning. Part Four: What is Attachment Disorder? 12. Two Versions of Attachment Disorder. 13. Research on Attachment Disorder. 14. The Nature of Attachment Disorder. Part Five: Attachment Theory-based Interventions (and Some that are Not). 15. Introduction. 16. Evidence-based Interventions: Enhancing Caregiver Sensitivity. 17. Evidence-based Interventions: Change of Caregiver. 18. Interventions with No Evidence Base. 19. Conclusions Regarding Interventions. References. Index. About FOCUS.Child and Adolescent Mental Health SeriesWritten for professionals, and parents, these accessible, evidence-based resources are essential reading for anyone seeking to understand and promote children and young people's mental health. Drawing on the work of FOCUS, a multidisciplinary project based at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research and Training Unit, each title in the series brings together practical and policy-level suggestions with up-to-the minute analysis of research.

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Book SynopsisDuring Guatemala’s decades-long civil war, tens of thousands of children, many of them Indigenous Maya, were coerced or kidnapped from their homes. They became commodities in a booming private adoption business, and most wound up in the United States. Rachel Nolan explores the human toll of a global industry that thrives on exploitation.Trade ReviewA deeply reported, sobering history. -- Cora Currier * New Republic *The author has provided an essential history and analysis of forced adoption in Guatemala over a 40-year period and the socio-political dynamics that enabled this poor country to play such an infamous role in a tragic global story of human-trafficking. …Until I Find You is a hard-hitting and disturbing insight into a dark corner of global capitalism, the profoundly racist attitudes of the Global North, and the most despicable of human vices. -- Gavin O'Toole * Latin American Review of Books *A staggeringly brilliant work of the heart and the head. One can’t read Nolan’s story of forced adoptions in Guatemala and not come away both shaken and intellectually challenged. I’ve read many books on Cold War political violence—but never one that pulls you in, that makes you feel as well as think, as much as this tour de force. -- Greg Grandin, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of AmericaLike a dark historical fairy tale pulled from a bewitched archive, Until I Find You illuminates the Guatemalan international adoption trade’s cruel corruption and heartrending complexities in a boldly original way. Nolan’s meticulous research and her beautifully lucid, empathetic writing show how the seemingly benign event of the foreign adoption of an innocent child leaves behind an invisible trail of personal, economic, political, and essentially imperial horrors. -- Francisco Goldman, author of The Art of Political Murder and Monkey BoyImportant, compelling reading. Nolan has interviewed countless people, obtained access to adoption files, read the human rights reports, and sorted through the legal history. This will become a key, authoritative account of the deeply corrupt state of Guatemalan adoption from the 1970s to the 2000s. -- Laura Briggs, author of Taking Children: A History of American TerrorWith a historian’s eye and a journalist’s pen, Nolan delves into the dark heart of Guatemalan adoption, a powerful story of state genocide, brutal economic and racial inequality, and a privatized, unregulated adoption market. Revealing the fuzzy boundaries between coercion and consent, legality and illegality, markets and trafficking, facts and rumor, she shows how the extraordinary violence of war gave way to the everyday violence of peacetime—and how children, especially Indigenous children, have been victims of both. -- Nara Milanich, author of Paternity: The Elusive Quest for the FatherHugely ambitious. With painstaking research and deep sensitivity, Nolan addresses an important and little-studied topic, getting close to stories that are often shrouded in secrecy. -- Betsy Konefal, author of For Every Indio Who Falls: A History of Maya Activism in Guatemala, 1960–1990

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Book SynopsisAdopted at birth, Andrea Ross grew up inhabiting two ecosystems: one was her tangible, adoptive family, the other her birth family, whose mysterious landscape was hidden from her. In this coming-of-age memoir, Ross narrates how in her early twenties, while working as a ranger in Grand Canyon National Park, she embarked on a journey to discover where she came from and, ultimately, who she was. After many missteps and dead ends, Ross uncovered her heartbreaking and inspiring origin story and began navigating the complicated turns of reuniting with her birth parents and their new families. Through backcountry travel in the American West, she also came to understand her place in the world, realizing that her true identity lay not in a choice between adopted or biological parents, but in an expansion of the concept of family.Trade Review"Andrea Ross’s soul-stirring memoir takes readers on her quest to find her birth parents. . . . Ross writes with the keen observation of a naturalist, the wisdom of an outdoor guide, and the purity of a poet, blending the raw beauty and sacredness of nature with the prevailing human spirit. Unnatural Selection will remind you of the times you were lost and searching and the peace of finding something greater than you expected." -- Daina Olseen Collins * Diamonds and Rocks *"With clarity, grace, and humor, Andrea Ross guides us through the terrain of her life. She is not new to guiding newcomers through the wilderness, and she does so expertly with engaging anecdotes of her life in the canyons and mountains of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and along the icy road to Alaska. She weaves these with the poignant and powerful story of finding her birth parents, one that left me in tears. Read this for the stories of wild places and wild people and, in the end, the moving story of family." * David Gessner *“Ross has written a fascinating book, the subtitle of which is A Memoir of Adoption and Wilderness.. It is a wonderfully told adventure of guiding others into the natural wonders of climbing mountains, descending into canyons, crossing deserts, and fording rivers. At the same time it is the weaving together the wilderness of adoption with its traumatic loss of the first mother, living with genetic strangers, the roadblocks in the way of being able to connect with biological relatives, and finally finding her birth parents and her roots. It is a journey of discovering the meaning of family, our relationship with all humanity, and with Mother Earth. Beautifully written. A must-read!” * Nancy Verrier, author of 'The Primal Wound' and 'Coming Home to Self' *Table of ContentsPart OneChapter 1: EarthquakeChapter 2: InflamedChapter 3: Non-IdentifiedChapter 4: SlappedChapter 5: "Lady Ranger" at the CanyonPart TwoChapter 6: Ruins and LaddersChapter 7: Crumbling StepsChapter 8: Double VisionChapter 9: White Courtesy TelephoneChapter 10: Dancing in QuicksandChapter 11: Participate in Your Own RescueChapter 12: Empty ShoesChapter 13: Post-holingChapter 14: Facts and ArtifactsChapter 15: IntermediaryPart ThreeChapter 16: First WordsChapter 17: The Navel of the WorldChapter 18: The Here and NowChapter 19: Half SisterChapter 20: Effects of the EdgeChapter 21: Front Range

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Book SynopsisMusic therapy is a valuable method of support and treatment for those dealing with trauma within the adoption community. Music Therapy in Adoption and Trauma offers a timely and much-needed perspective for music and creative arts therapists, as well as families themselves.Addressing topics such as contemporary adoption processes, potential resulting trauma, attachment and adoption breakdown, the book looks at why music therapy specifically can help. Throughout, it centres the value of lived experience in increasing understanding of trauma and effective support. Following a decade of dramatic change within the adoption practice, this book is an invaluable resource for those looking to support individuals and families impacted by adoption.Trade ReviewThe importance of this book cannot be overstated. Joy Gravestock has produced a seminal text in an area which is now widely recognised as one of the most important in contemporary health and social care. The text will prove invaluable to those involved in all areas of the adoption process, including music therapists, social workers, agencies, counsellors and adoptees and their families. -- Dr Elizabeth Coombes, Course Leader for MA Music Therapy at the University of South WalesThe book I would turn to when contemplating work with anyone affected by adoption. Accessible writing belies the complexity of knowledge and reflexive understanding integrated here. Vignettes illuminate the text like coloured glass, culminating in a profoundly moving case study. -- Dr Cathy Warner, music therapist and programme leader, University of the West of England, Bristol

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Book Synopsis''The best piece of nature writing since H is for Hawk, and the most powerful work of biography I have read in years'' Neil Gaiman''Wonderful - I can''t recommend it too highly'' Helen Macdonald''One of those rare, enchanted books'' Isabella Tree''Beautiful - it made me cry'' Simon Amstell''I was entranced'' Cathy RentzenbrinkThis is a story about birds and fathers.About the young magpie that fell from its nest in a Bermondsey junkyard into Charlie Gilmour''s life - and swiftly changed it. Demanding worms around the clock, riffling through his wallet, sharing his baths and roosting in his hair... About the jackdaw kept at a Cornish stately home by Heathcote Williams, anarchist, poet, magician, stealer of Christmas, and Charlie''s biological father who vanished from his life in the dead of night. It is a story about repetition across generations and birds that run in the blooTrade ReviewFeatherhood is one of the best books I've ever read. I urge you to seek it out, buy it, and be enchanted. It's incredibly moving and I loved every single page * Elton John *The best piece of nature writing since H is for Hawk, and the most powerful work of biography I have read in years. It announces Charlie Gilmour as a major new writing talent * Neil Gaiman *Wonderful - I can't recommend it too highly * Helen Macdonald, author of H IS FOR HAWK *Beautiful, wise, compassionate and powerful, Featherhood is one of those rare, enchanted books that sings to the soul of what it is to be * Isabella Tree, author of WILDING *What a book! I was entranced. A personal reckoning which is simultaneously brutal and joyous. It's full of light. I want to tell everyone about it * Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of THE LAST ACT OF LOVE *This stunning memoir flashes with as many colours as its enchanting subject, and draws us into a world of eccentric characters impossible to predict or forget. Savage, mischievous, moving, sublime * Rhik Samadder, author of I NEVER SAID I LOVED YOU *FEATHERHOOD, it would be tempting to say, is where Helen Macdonald's H Is For Hawk meets Gerald Durrell's My Family And Other Animals. But Charlie Gilmour's memoir is so original and ingeniously wrought, it stands on its own as a book to which others will surely be compared... Gilmour's language is as precise as his gaze is forensic. He is something of a magician himself, conjuring whole vivid personalities with a few deft strokes of his pen... He can slay you with his succinct summoning of a small boy's struggles... and he can dazzle you with the gem-like images of nature he creates which, like all writers who draw you into their orbit, thrum with life... Remarkable.' -- Ginny Dougary * DAILY MAIL, Book of the Week *It is wise, self-aware, never forced, often funny, beautifully crafted, and, in the end, as moving as Kes, that other great work about a boy who is given the gift of liberation by a bird. -- Craig Brown * MAIL ON SUNDAY *A soaring debut... A sincere and searing tale of loss, addictive despair, the redemptive power of love, the natural world and a shit-dropping, feather-moulting talking magpie... This will undoubtedly be held up alongside H Is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald's memoir that saw her tame her grief and a bird of prey in her living room. But Featherhood is an equal, if not better, work of magpie investigation that ranks among the best modern coming-of-age memoirs. -- Helen Davies * SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE *A profound exploration of grief, fragmented families, nature versus nurture and whether we are doomed to repeat the sins of our fathers. But it is also a gladdening celebration of what it is to nurture and bring forth new life. -- Caroline Sanderson * SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE *A beautiful book, sensitive and compelling - it made me cry * Simon Amstell *I loved Featherhood. About nature and growth, about belonging and not belonging, it is beautiful * Andrew O’Hagan, author of THE ILLUMINATIONS *Utterly absorbing, astonishingly well-written, full of heart, Featherhood is the most arresting book I've read for a very long time * Cressida Connolly, author of AFTER THE PARTY *The extraordinary story of an extraordinary family * Sophie Heawood, author of THE HANGOVER GAMES *Featherhood is an incisive, funny and at times traumatic study of the damage done by destructive father-son relationships and the struggle to smash generational cycles. -- David Marsland * EVENING STANDARD *A wonderful, moving book. His account of raising a young magpie offers a lovely insight into this fascinating bird * James Macdonald Lockhart, author of RAPTOR *[An] affecting and beautifully written memoir. * THE BOOKSELLER, Editor's Choice *A good time in a weird way - I have never read anything so filthy * Nell Zink, author of THE WALL CREEPER *Emotional, touching and often odd, Gilmour's memoir about two key relationships - one with his late father and the other with a magpie - lingers long after the final page. -- Sarah Hughes * I NEWSPAPER *I'm having a lovely time with Featherhood by Charlie Gilmour. He is such a tender writer, the book is a magical encounter with birds and fathers. * Andrew O'Hagan in GUARDIAN *Touching and true, with flashes of black humour, it's a fascinating story. It's also a brilliant examination of nature vs nurture. Gilmour is certainly a born writer. -- Cressida Connelly * THE SPECTATOR, Books of the Year *Written with economy, insight, and rare beauty - a perfect nature memoir for our times -- Andrew Lycett * THE SPECTATOR *A tender coming-of-age memoir. It's an intelligent debut that shows that Gilmour, for all his celebrity family connections, is undoubtedly a remarkable writer in his own right. -- Lucy Knight * THE SUNDAY TIMES, Memoir of the Year *Featherhood is an incisive, funny and at times traumatic study of the damage done by destructive father-son relationships. * THE OLDIE *Gilmour's unforgettable memoir is both a beautiful piece of nature writing about caring for a magpie and a brutally honest account of his difficult relationship with his late father, the poet Heathcote Williams. -- Sarah Hughes * I NEWSPAPER, Best Books of 2020 *A delicately choreographed story of salvation through a bird, with echoes of Barry Hines's classic A Kestrel For A Knave. -- Craig Brown * MAIL ON SUNDAY, Best Books of the Year *Bird and author explore this explosive terrain in an exhilarating dance of transformation, from wild to tame, captivity to freedom and darkness to light. -- Ariane Bankes * THE TABLET, Best Books of the Year *Gilmour... is fearless in sharing himself with readers. As he works through his relationships, the emotional freight is not always subtle, but this comes from a generosity and openness on his part, which, ultimately, is what makes "Featherhood" so lovely and inviting. Gilmour practices no magic here; he distracts the reader with no glitzy baubles. He gives us a man and a bird and tells us, best he can, what they've come to know about the world as it is. He is willing to spill a little blood. -- C J Hauser * THE NEW YORK TIMES *Redemptive, beautifully written and often very funny, this is a moving study of the power of human (and magpie) love to repair even the most wounded heart. -- Jane Shilling * DAILY MAIL *

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Book SynopsisAdoption is a big step which can change the whole dynamics of the family. It is crucial that parents understand the impact it has when new sibling relationships are forged and an adoptee becomes a part of the family. Welcoming a New Brother or Sister through Adoption is a comprehensive yet accessible guide that describes the adoption process and the impact of adoption on every member of the family, including the adopted child. It prepares families to have realistic expectations and equips them with knowledge to deal with a host of situations that may arise, addressing difficult questions head-on: 'Did we make the right choice by adopting?', 'How is this affecting our 'typical' children?', 'Will our adopted son or daughter heal?' are explored and solutions discussed in detail. All this is accompanied with real life stories and direct quotes from children, which make it a realistic and insightful resource.This book is vital reading for adoptive families and professionals who work with them including social workers, counselors and psychologists.Trade ReviewJames has produced an extremely practical, theoretically based book which will have many parents laughing and sometimes, crying...Whether you are interested in pre-placement issues, post-placement concerns, disruption/dissolution, sexual acting out, blending siblings, or marital stress, Welcoming a New Brother or Sister Through Adoption will have something to offer you...I believe that every adoptive family will be better able to deal with difficulties that their children and family may be experiencing. Adoption agencies should consider making this book mandatory reading as a component of their pre-placement training program, and anyone who works with adoptive families will appreciate the deep insight that Arleta James has shared with us. -- Extracted from the foreword by Gregory C. KeckThis book is written by an adoption professional... The book mainly focuses on integrating traumatised children into families that typically have children already, whether birth, adopted or step. The book covers all aspects of the needs of traumatised children and their behaviour, as well as lots of parenting advice and help. I especially liked the case studies... I found it incredibly informative. -- Side by SideTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. "I'm Getting a Brother or Sister!": Kids Develop Expectations Pre-Adoption. 2. "My New Brother or Sister Experienced Trauma: What Does that Mean?". 3. Pre-Adoption Preparation: "Yes, We Brothers and Sisters Need Information". 4. "I Am a 'Quality' Parent!": Reviewing and Refining Your Parenting Strengths. 5. Finally! My New Brother or Sister is Arriving!. 6. "After He Came, Everything Changed!": Post-Placement Common Challenges. 7. "My Brother or Sister Won't be Living with Us Any More": Disruption, Dissolution, Displacement and Other Leavings. 8. "Help Me Cope, Please": Striking a Balance Post-Adoption. 9. Triggers, Losses and Feelings: Facilitating Your Son's and Daughter's Grief. 10. "You Know Your Birthmother and I Don't": Blending Children with Diverse Birth Histories - an Emerging Common Challenge. 11. "My New Sibling's Behaviors Are So Bizarre!" Learning to Be a Peaceful Family Again. 12. Two of the Toughest Behaviors - Sexual-Acting Out and Aggression: Ensuring a Safe, Secure Home Environment. 13. "We Hardly have Family Game Night Anymore": Restoring Family Fun. 15. "Yes, I Have Experienced Positives!" Brothers, Sisters and Adoptees Speak about the Benefits of Adoption. Appendices. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisAll families of children affected by trauma are on a journey, and this book will help to guide you and your family on your journey from trauma to trust.Sarah Naish shares her own experiences of adopting five siblings. She describes how to use therapeutic parenting - a deeply nurturing parenting style - to overcome common challenges when raising children who have experienced trauma. The book describes a series of difficult episodes for her family, exploring both parent's and child's experiences of the same events - with the child's experience written by a former fostered child - and in doing so reveals the very good reasons why traumatized children behave as they do. The book explores the misunderstandings that grow between parents and their children, and provides comfort to the reader - you are not the only family going through this!Full of insights from a family and others who have really been there, this book gives you advice and strategies to help you and your family thrive.Table of ContentsIntroductionThe Trauma Difference (Room 1)1. Before2. Expectations3. Meeting4. Moving In5. Honeymooon6. Change7. Christmas8. The Honeymoon Is Over9. Emotional Age10. Stuck11. Food12. Sugar13. Easter14. Birthday15. The Necessary Lies?16. Nonsense Chatter17. Anxiety18. Wee & Poo19. Hypervigilance20. Exhausted (Compassion Fatigue)21. No Friends22. More Than One!23. Straight Talk Please24. Dogs25. Mess26. Blame27. Diagnoses28. Sabotage29. What Lies Beneath (The Internal Working Model)30. Memory31. Lying32. Hypochondria33. Shame34. Visits (Contact)35. Violent36. School37. Isolation38. Guilt39. Therapy40. Busy41. Sleep42. Honesty43. Avoiding Connection44. Who Cares?45. Stealing46. Rude47. Grief48. Moving On49. Hope50. Our FamilyBibliography and References

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Book SynopsisA new memoir from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Cathy Glass. Eight-year-old Aimee was on the child protection register at birth. Her five older siblings were taken into care many years ago. So no one can understand why she was left at home to suffer for so long. It seems Aimee was forgotten.Trade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisBestselling author and foster carer Casey Watson tells the heartbreaking true story of a teenage mother and baby in need of a safe and loving home.

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Book SynopsisThe eleventh memoir and latest title from the internationally bestselling author and foster carer Cathy Glass. This book tells the true story of Cathy's adopted daughter Lucy.Lucy was born to a single mother who had been abused and neglected for most of her own childhood. Right from the beginning Lucy's mother couldn't cope, but it wasn't until Lucy reached eight years old that she was finally taken into permanent foster care.By the time Lucy is brought to live with Cathy she is eleven years old and severely distressed after being moved from one foster home to another. Withdrawn, refusing to eat and three years behind in her schooling, it is thought that the damage Lucy has suffered is irreversible.But Cathy and her two children bond with Lucy quickly, and break through to Lucy in a way no-one else has been able to, finally showing her the loving home she never believed existed. Cathy and Lucy believe they were always destined to be mother and daughter it just took them a little whileTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisIn the much-anticipated follow-up to Sunday Times bestseller Trapped, foster carer Rosie Lewis tells the heartbreaking true story of 13-year-old Zadie. When the young teenage girl runs away from home and is discovered hiding on the city streets by the police, it is clear that all is not as it should be.

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Book SynopsisThe second in a series of true short stories from foster carer Mia Marconi.

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Book SynopsisFourteen-year-old Adrianna arrives on Casey's doorstep with no possessions, no English, and no explanation. It will be a few weeks before Casey starts getting the shocking answers to her questions.Brought to Casey as a short-term emergency placement, fourteen-year-old Adrianna arrives with nothing but her gratitude. Having turned herself in' to a social services office some hundred miles away, she has no possessions, no English and, apparently, no history not that she's willing to share, anyway. She is a beautiful young Polish girl, with the bearing of a ballerina, but is terrified, malnourished and unwell. And, having slept rough for some time (the little they do know about her) she spends much of her first days with Watsons asleep in bed.Growing concerned about Adrianna's wellbeing, and her persistent high temperature, Casey decides to call in the GP. But, to her surprise, Adrianna becomes almost hysterical about being examined and, given her refusal to talk even via the interprete

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Book SynopsisThe heartbreaking true story of a young, troubled mother who needed help.The sixteenth fostering memoir by Cathy Glass.It is the first time Laura has been out since the birth of her baby when Cathy sees her in the school playground. A joyful occasion but Cathy has the feeling something is wrong. By the time she discovers what it is, it is too late. This is the true story of Laura whose life touches Cathy's in a way she could never have foreseen. It is also the true stories of little Darrel, Samson and Hayley who she fosters when their parents need help. Some stories can have a happy ending and others cannot, but as a foster carer Cathy can only do her best.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of 2 year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage.Elaine and Ian had travelled half way round the world to adopt little Anna. She couldn't have been more wanted, loved and cherished. So why was she now in foster care and living with me? It didn't make sense.Until I learned what had happened. Dressed only in nappies and ragged T-shirts the children were incarcerated in their cots. Their large eyes stared out blankly from emaciated faces. Some were obviously disabled, others not, but all were badly undernourished. Flies circled around the broken ceiling fans and buzzed against the grids covering the windows. The only toys were a few balls and a handful of building bricks, but no child played with them. The silence was deafening and unnatural. Not one of the thirty or so infants cried, let alone spoke.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of 2 year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage.

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Book SynopsisFinding Stevie is a dark and poignant true story that highlights the dangers lurking online.When Stevie's social worker tells Cathy, an experienced foster carer, that Stevie, 14, is gender fluid she isn't sure what that term means and looks it up.Stevie, together with his younger brother and sister, have been brought up by their grandparents as their mother is in prison. But the grandparents can no longer cope with Stevie's behaviour so they place him in care.Stevie is exploring his gender identity, and like many young people he spends time online. Cathy warns him about the dangers of talking to strangers online and advises him how to stay safe. When his younger siblings tell their grandmother that they have a secret they can't tell, Cathy is worried. However, nothing could have prepared her for the truth when Stevie finally breaks down and confesses what he's done.

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