Adoption and fostering: advice, topics and issues Books

Book SynopsisDamian longs for home, but one man stands in his way Damian is just seven when he is taken in by foster carer Cathy Glass. His mother, Rachel, loves her three young children dearly, but she is vulnerable, naive and unable to cope on her own.Cathy sets about helping Damian overcome his eating issues, with the hope that he will eventually return home. But when Rachel's new boyfriend, Troy, arrives on the scene, Cathy becomes deeply concerned. She soon realises that Damian and his siblings are in great danger

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Book SynopsisWhen Reece arrives at Cathy''s door aged 7 years old, he has already passed through the hands of four different carers in four weeks. As the details of his short life emerge, it becomes clear that to help him, Cathy will face her biggest challenge yet.The latest title from the author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged.Reece is the last of six siblings to be fostered. Having been in care for four months his aggressive and disruptive behaviour has seen him passed from carer to carer. Although only 7, he has been excluded from school, and bites people so often that his mother calls him ''Sharky''.Cathy wants to find the answers for Reece's distressing behaviour, but he has been sworn to secrecy by his mother, and will not tell them anything. As the social worker prepares for the final hearing, he finds five different files on Reece's family, and is incredulous that he had not been removed from them as a baby. When the darkest of family secrets is revealed to Cathy, ReecTrade 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 Synopsis''Wow! I did not want this book to end. This story was unlike any other'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reader review''Very gripping and powerful read... makes you see what can be going on behind closed doors'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reader review''I''m very, very bad. I don''t deserve to have nice things. Nobody loves me.''Three young siblings arrive at Maggie''s door after being taken into care. Teachers of eight-year-old Bobby spotted distinct hand-shaped bruises on his arm and his dad and stepmother are uncooperative and hostile to Social Services. While they investigate, Bobby, as well as Melodie and Poppy, are looked after in Maggie''s home.As the children settle in, a thought won''t let Maggie go. While Melodie and Poppy are clean, well-fed and immaculately dressed, Bobby is pale, severely underweight and extremely quiet. What looks like a case of neglect is actually something m

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Book SynopsisFrom Torey Hayden, the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of One Child comes The Invisible Girl, a deeply moving true account of a young teen with a troubling obsession and an extraordinary educational psychologist's sympathy and determination to help.Eloise is a vibrant and charming young teen with a deeply caring nature, but she also struggles with a worrying delusion. She’s been moved from home to home, and her social workers have difficulty dealing with her habit of running away. After experiencing violence, neglect and sexual abuse from people she should have been able to trust, Eloise has developed complex behavioural needs. She struggles to separate fact from fiction, leading to confusion for the social workers trying to help her.After Torey learns of Eloise's background she hopes that some gentle care and attention can help Eloise gain some sense of security in her life. Can Torey and the other social workers provide the loving attention that has so far been missing in Eloise's life, or will she run away from them too?Trade ReviewHayden is a fine storyteller, recounting the touching bonds that form among children and between Hayden and her students. * Washington Post *Torey Hayden deserves the kind of respect I can’t give many people. She isn’t valuable, she’s incredible. The world needs more like Torey Hayden. -- Boston Globe

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Book SynopsisFrom Torey Hayden, the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of One Child comes Lost Girl, a poignant and deeply moving account of a lost little girl and an extraordinary educational psychologist's courage and determination.Jessie is nine years old and looks like the perfect little girl, with red hair, green eyes and a beguiling smile. She even has a talent for drawing gorgeous and intricate pictures. But Jessie also knows how to get her own way and will lie, scream, shout and hurt to get just exactly what she wants.Her parents say they can't take her back, and her social workers struggle to deal with her destructive behaviour and wild mood swings. After her chaotic passage through numerous foster placements, Jessie has finally received a diagnosis of an attachment disorder. Attachment disorders arise when children are deprived of the all-important close bonds with trustworthy adults that allow them to develop emotionally and thrive. Finally educational psychologist Torey Hayden is called in to help. Torey agrees to weekly meetings with Jessie to try and uncover why she is acting out. Torey's gentle care and attention reveal shocking truths behind Jessie's lies. Can Torey and the other social workers help to provide the consistent loving care that has so far been missing in Jessie’s life, or will she push them away too?Trade ReviewHayden is a fine storyteller, recounting the touching bonds that form among children and between Hayden and her students. -- Washington PostTorey Hayden deserves the kind of respect I can’t give many people. She isn’t valuable, she’s incredible. The world needs more like Torey Hayden. -- Boston Globe

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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 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 SynopsisAdult adoptee and family therapist Katie Naftzger shares her personal and professional wisdom in this guide to help adoptive parents remain a calm parental influence in the midst of stormy and erratic teen behavior. This guide describes the essential skills you need to help your adopted teen confidently face the challenges of growing up and outlines four key goals for adoptive parents:· To move from rescuing to responding· To set adoption-sensitive limits and ground rules· To have connecting conversations· To help your teen envision their futureParenting in the Eye of the Storm contains invaluable insights for adoptive parents and simple strategies you can use to prepare your adopted teen for the journey ahead and strengthen the family bond in the process. It provides answers, guidance and understanding - working as a road-map through the tempestuous teenage years.Trade ReviewI loved Parenting in the Eye of the Storm. While Katie Naftzger defines her work as 'a guide for adoptive parents in the teen years', I found it to be so very much more. Inside this book I found priceless wisdom and insight into the wounded hearts of adopted teens. The tools Ms Naftzger shares here are like a flashlight and compass for parents to light the way for their struggling adopted teen and bring them home. Well worth the investment of time! -- Nancy L Thomas, author of When Love is Not Enough; a Guide to Parenting Children with Reactive Attachment DisorderNaftzger provides useful day to day insights and practical suggestions for adoptive families with teens. Her book is filled with personal accounts and situations that are both from her personal experience as well as her clinical practice. This combination of lived and professional insight in the adoption world is rare and makes this book a must-have for all adoptive families. -- Iris Chin Ponte Ph.D., President of Ponte and Chau Consulting Inc and Director of The Henry Frost Children's ProgramAfter my adoptive daughter's teen years, I appreciate even more the value of Katie Naftzger's keen insights and sage advice. By sharing adoptee's stories and empathizing, as only a once teen adoptee can, Naftzger ably steers adoptive parents through the choppy waters of adolescence. -- Melissa Ludtke, author of Touching Home in China: in search of missing girlhoods.Wow. Life changing. No nonsense. Filled with fresh ideas My daughter ( adopted internationally) is 14. I'm already using Katie's advice in day to day life. You'll need a hard copy to highlight and leave on your bedstand. -- Beth O’Malley M.Ed adoptee, older adoptive mom and adoption professional.As I read this book, it resonated with me deeply through my professional lenses as Executive Director of ATTACh and in my role as an adoptive mother with four teens. I had so many 'ah-ha' moments as Katie shared her stories and they rang true. How I wish every parent raising a teen could read this insightful and poignant book. -- Mary M. McGowan, Executive Director of The Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in ChildrenThis book gives a unique insight into the world of adopted teenagers. The authors personal experience and thought provoking anecdotes add significant value to the content, and the practical strategies make this a very useful resource for adoptive parents. -- Jennifer Jones, Inspired Foundations www.inspiredfoundations.co.ukThis is the most insightful book I've read about parenting adopted teens. Naftzger draws from her own experience as an adoptee and a therapist to offer parents practical tools for improving communication with their child, without ever being preachy or prescriptive. Most importantly, she honors the emotions, integrity and intellectual capacity of the adopted teen at every turn, helping parents better understand the complexity of their child's experience. -- Nicole Opper, Director/Producer, Off and Running: An American Coming of Age StoryThis book is Katie at her best ... a clear, gentle voice cutting through emotional chaos to provide needed structure and steps for change. A must-read! -- Stacy Schroeder, Exec Dir/Pres of KAAN: The Korean-American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (also adoptive parent and sibling)Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Layers of loss for adoptees; 2. The learning stance; 3. The unrescue mission; 4. Setting 'adoption-sensitive limits'; 5. Empathy in conversation; 6. Envisioning the future; 7. Privilege, race and cultural norms - making it personal; 8. Mental health and survival for adopted teens; Conclusion

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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 SynopsisA New York Times Notable BookThe shocking truth about postwar adoption in America, told through the bittersweet story of one teenager, the son she was forced to relinquish, and their search to find each other.“[T]his book about the past might foreshadow a coming shift in the future… ‘I don’t think any legislators in those states who are anti-abortion are actually thinking, “Oh, great, these single women are gonna raise more children.” No, their hope is that those children will be placed for adoption. But is that the reality? I doubt it.’”[says Glaser]” -Mother JonesDuring the Baby Boom in 1960s America, women were encouraged to stay home and raise large families, but sex and childbirth were taboo subjects. Premarital sex was common, but birth control was hard to get and abortion was illegal. In 1961, sixteen-year-old Margaret Erle fell in love and became pregnant. Her enraged fami

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Book SynopsisTherapeutic parenting is a deeply nurturing parenting style, and is especially effective for children with attachment difficulties, or who experienced childhood trauma. This book provides everything you need to know in order to be able to effectively therapeutically parent.Providing a model of intervention, The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting gives parents or caregivers an easy to follow process to use when responding to issues with their children. The following A-Z covers 60 common problems parents face, from acting aggressively to difficulties with sleep, with advice on what might trigger these issues, and how to respond.Easy to navigate and written in a straightforward style, this book is a 'must have' for all therapeutic parents.Trade Review.A real breath of fresh air! The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting is a much needed strategy focused, no-nonsense book which is easily accessible. Essential help for all therapeutic parents dealing with the many difficult challenges they face. -- Sarah Dillon, Psychotherapist and attachment therapist, Fostering Panel Chair, former child in foster careAn absolute must have book that every therapeutic parent should own. No more searching the internet for hours on end looking for strategies and solutions to my children's behaviours. There are all here in this book -- Emma Edwards, Adoptive parentTable of ContentsPart 1: 1. Why Our Children Do the Things They Do. 2. A Word About Developmental Trauma and Related Disorders. 3. The Essential Foundations of Therapeutic Parenting. 4. The P.A.R.E.N.T.S Model of Intervention for Therapeutic Parenting. 5. Summary and Explanation of Other Therapeutic Parenting Strategies. 6. Responses and Strategies to Avoid. 7. Managing Our Own Feelings. Part 2: A-Z of Behaviours and Challenges with Solutions

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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 SynopsisAn honest insight into the rollercoaster reality of therapeutically parenting teenagers.Raising any teenager is tough, but raising teens who have experienced trauma in their early years is a whole different - and more difficult - ball game. Adoptive parent Sally Donovan is here to answer every question you've ever wanted to ask about therapeutically parenting teenagers, and a whole lot more besides. Therapeutic parenting is equal parts love, commitment, determination, and realism, and Sally writes about it all with equal parts blazing wit, tear-jerking honesty, and wisdom. Read this book to hear a voice speaking from experience - and above all, the heart - about everything to expect from therapeutically parenting your teens.Trade ReviewSally writes with an honest and open approach using her own experiences of parenting traumatised teens in a heartfelt, at times funny, at times moving manner. Sally's experiences are clearly unique to her but I have no doubt that her insights, observations and ideas will be useful to others in similar positions. Parenting children and young people who have suffered early trauma is challenging and, as Sally reminds us, requires skills, knowledge and support greater than the average parent requires. It also requires doggedness, compassion, understanding and a sense of humour and realism. Sally's insightful book shows how to care for these vulnerable teens who, by no fault of their own, have had some of the most challenging starts to their lives. -- Kevin Williams, Chief Executive, The Fostering NetworkTherapeutic parenting requires equal parts bravery, commitment, fierce love, and hope. Sally Donovan offers an authentic peek into the trial-by-fire reality of the teen years. With genuine compassion and insight, she gives strategies that will help sustain the flagging spirits of exhausted parents, so they can continue their heroic efforts to be the parents their children need them to be. It takes more than love. Read this landmark book. -- Gayle H Swift, author of ABC Adoption & Me, and co-founder of GIFT Family ServicesSally pulls no punches in this insightful, compassionate and beautifully-written book. The honesty and sensitivity with which she describes the experiences of parenting teenagers who have experienced trauma will profoundly resonate with many. Compelling, validating, tough and yet uplifting, its authenticity is firmly rooted in experience. Parents/ carers - I strongly suggest you read this book as an exercise in the self-care that Sally so wisely advocates for. Professionals - this is a fantastic resource. I strongly recommend a read [or three]! -- Rachel Staff, author of 'Parenting Adopted Teenagers'

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Book SynopsisAngie, 6, and sister Polly, 4, are utterly distraught when they arrive to stay with foster carer Cathy Glass. Their older half-sister Ashleigh has accused their father of something horrible, and the two young sisters have been removed from home to keep them safe.Cathy tries to comfort the girls, but they are inconsolable. They just want their mummy and daddy, whom they love dearly.The girls appear to have been well looked after, but as they settle and start to talk of life at home, it becomes clear something is badly wrong. Then a chance remark sets in motion a chain of events that eventually changes everything.

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Book SynopsisLara was seven when her birth mother died from a drug overdose. With no extended family to look after her, she was put into foster care. The care system failed Lara and now she is failing her son.Lara and her one-year-old son, Arthur, are brought to experienced foster carer, Cathy Glass, by their social worker. Lara has fled an abusive relationship and Arthur has suspected non-accidental injuries. Cathy must monitor Lara whenever she is with her son, day and night. She cannot let them out of her sight for a minute.Lara loves her son, but she puts her own needs first. Cathy must teach Lara how to care for Arthur, but will it be enough to allow her to keep him?

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Book Synopsis"This is a remarkable achievement. Like Batman's Utility belt for teachers. So many practical, wise, inspiring, and achievable ideas are packed in here. I can imagine this becoming as indispensable for teachers as Gray's Anatomy is for doctors..." - Stephen Fry"If you want a book to assist with your work with traumatised children, choose this one. It is the best!" - Professor Peter Fonagy OBE, Chief Executive, Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families"Humane and grounded in science, this book could change lives." - Sir Norman Lamb, Chair of Maudsley NHS and Children and Young People's Mental Health CoalitionWhat does trauma-informed teaching really look like in the classroom, and can we really achieve it?Maybe you, like many other teachers, will reach the end of a busy day feeling exhausted, deskilled and less than keen to dive into a book on the theory of trauma. Luckily you won't find any complex theory or jargon in this book, but you will gain an understanding of how small humans develop, how perplexing behaviours can be explained and learn inclusive strategies that will help all children in your classroom and school. Part 1 provides you with an explanation of what trauma-informed teaching involves. Then, Part 2 lists an A-Z of issues and behaviours for you to flip to in your busiest moments, ranging from Aggression and Lateness right through to Learning Challenges and Zzz (sleep issues). Gain new understanding into the children in your classroom with this book offering you strategies to better support every child's mental health and resilience.Trade ReviewThis is a remarkable achievement. Like Batman's Utility belt for teachers. So many practical, wise, inspiring, and achievable ideas are packed in here. I can imagine this becoming as indispensable for teachers as Gray's Anatomy is for doctors... -- Stephen Fry, English actor and comedianIf you want a book to assist with your work with traumatised children, choose this one. It is the best! This is the most comprehensive, accurate, and practically valuable guide for managing children made vulnerable by adversity which all teachers should have. The authors provide a beautifully written, well laid out, accessible and accurate understanding of a highly complicated area and go on to identify all (yes all) the problems that can arise in an educational context with a child who experienced adversity and trauma and offer explanations and practical solutions to support their management. The book is a remarkable and invaluable resource for all those working with children, from senior clinician to professional support staff. -- Professor Peter Fonagy, OBE, Chief Executive, Anna Freud National Centre for Children & FamiliesA must read for all teachers! The A-Z will empower and equip teachers to understand trauma and create the best possible environment for children to feel safe enough to learn. -- Helen Fearn, Primary Teacher, Adoptive Mum, Foster parent, Therapeutic Parenting Coach and TrainerAt last, the ultimate, practical guide to understanding children and their behaviour. Humane and grounded in science, this book could change lives. Instead of punishing 'naughty' or 'badly behaved' children, teachers and others will get the tools to do their job, recognising the impact of trauma and other adversity, and enabling children to learn and to grow. -- Sir Norman Lamb, Chair of Maudsley NHS and Children and Young People’s Mental Health CoalitionEvery person working in a School needs to read this book! By demystifying complex behaviour, this book gives readers the confidence to question 'School-shaped' approaches and the tools to build relationships based on trust, which is the key to meeting the needs of children affected by trauma. -- Naomi Edmund, adoptive parent and former school nurseThe authors' hands on experience of developmental trauma means the book is written with a lot of heart and the advice therein has real integrity. It is also written with an understanding for the lot of teachers trying their best to accommodate ever more complex needs in their classrooms. The result is a refreshingly succinct, accessible, informative read - one that parents and teachers alike should find immensely useful. -- Nick Moss, headteacher, Minchinhampton Primary Academy

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Book Synopsis"All behavior makes sense"'"It most certainly does not!", is probably your first reaction.Parenting and neuroscience expert Robyn Gobbel is here to reveal how all behavior, no matter how baffling, can be explained and remedied. You just need to look past the behavior and understand what's going on inside.Robyn decodes the latest brain science into easy-to-understand principles and metaphors to help you become an expert in your child's behavior. She reveals simple ways to help you regulate and connect with your child, with brain-, body- and sensory-based strategies to overcome day-to-day challenges. She also provides you with the knowledge to understand and regulate your own brain so that you don't flip your lid when your child flips theirs.Let this be your lifeline for parenting or caring for any child with baffling behaviors and hidden challenges, including kids who have experienced adversity, or with additional needs.Trade ReviewRobyn Gobbel is a clinical powerhouse who masterfully eases the reader into science-based strategies that actually work. This book delivers wisdom and grace to parents everywhere. -- Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP, psychotherapist and co-producer of Therapist Uncensored Podcast, a Top 10 Social Science podcastA must read for anyone that cares for a struggling child. Robyn brilliantly simplifies the complexities of a kid's developing autonomic nervous system, equipping us with practical knowledge of how to actually help! -- Jackie Flynn, Host of Play Therapy & EMDR with Kids CommunitiesEvery parent or caregiver should read this book because the author brilliantly takes complex issues and makes them understandable and manageable. -- Mary M. McGowan, Executive Director ATTAChThis book is a gift for weary parents!! Reading it feels like sharing a cup of coffee with a dear friend who is there to hold your hand on this wild ride of raising kids with big, baffling behaviors.Clear explanations, helpful analogies, and "aha" moments galore await you in these pages, but it doesn't stop there. With deep compassion and well-timed humor, the author shares the science behind behavior and illuminates the path to relational healing. I will be sharing this book far and wide. Highly recommended! -- Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, Author of Riley the Brave's Adventure series and Light Up the Learning BrainRobyn Gobbel has created an important resource for parents that explains the 'why' behind baffling behaviors and provides practical and science-based solutions to help improve them. -- Greg Santucci, Occupational Therapist, Executive Director Power Play Pediatric TherapyWritten in a connected, conversational style, Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors explains some very complex neurobiological science that is at the root of understanding kids' behaviors. It's like having Robyn in your living room, co-regulating with you as you parent. -- Julie Beem, Executive Director, Attachment & Trauma Network, Inc.The author brings a spirit of inclusivity and generosity to an important discussion on the intricacies of parenting through complicated moments and intense seasons. This is an approachable and beautiful gift to parenting literature! -- Marshall Lyles, LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-SA revolutionary book uniting sound neuroscience with easy-to-understand examples and engaging characters. Read this book to truly understand how to help people with vulnerable nervous systems. -- Marti Smith, OTR, author of The Connected Therapist: Relating Through the SensesThe author's expertise tackles all experiences, even those that are shameful and marginalised in a way that is equally smart and kind. Finally, a book that speaks with love to the parents who need it the most! -- Bethany Saltman, author of Strange Situation: A Mother's Journey Into the Science of AttachmentThis book delivers transformative, powerful and easy to implement tools for parents that promote safety, regulation and connection. Masterfully organized with the author's clinical experience and the latest relational neuroscience it is rich, well integrated, and immensely useful. -- Ana M. Gomez, MC, LPC Author of EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children: Complex Trauma, Attachment and DissociationThis is not your typical parenting book. The author's wit, charm and vulnerability comes across on every page. Although there are plenty of practical tips and strategies, the magic of this book is that it changes you, and when we change, our children change too. -- Karen Doyle Buckwalter, LCSW, RPT-S, co-author of Raising the Challenging Child and Attachment Theory in Action podcast hostWeaving together relational neuroscience with practical ideas and application, Robyn has created the ultimate guide for parents who would love to understand and ultimately transform their children's challenging behaviors into safety and connection. -- Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and creator of Synergetic Play TherapyThe simulated parent-therapist format, and creative restructuring of the child and parent perspectives into narratives, garners compassionate understanding from the reader. As a parent, I find the insights and strategies in this book timely and appropriate. -- Dr Stephen Porges, Professor of Psychiatry and Founding Director, Traumatic Stress Research ConsortiumA sneak-peek into the intimate conversations between a frustrated parent and a skilled therapist, this book is a fantastic combination of neuroscience and practical strategies. You'll learn how to respond to your child's baffling behaviors in compassionate and effective ways. -- Tina Payne Bryson, LCSW, Ph.D., New York Times Bestselling co-author of The Whole-Brain Child & No-Drama Discipline, and author of The Bottom Line for BabyThe author impressively weaves the early effects of trauma into the present day behavior of children. This is a must read for any parent who has ever felt inadequate at parenting their child with baffling behavior. -- Stephen J. Terrell, PSYD, International Trainer for Developmental Trauma, , Developer of Transforming the Experience-Based Brain and Co-Developer of Somatic Resilience and RegulationI highly recommend this book to anyone living or working with challenging children. Neuroscience demystifies disruptive behavior and decouples it from shame whilst a conversational writing and friendly animal metaphors makes the content readily accessible for stressed parents. -- Emily Daniels, Author & Founder of The Regulated ClassroomComprehensive and filled with hands-on tips for parents striving to help their children. -- Julia M. Reffner, The Library Journal

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Book SynopsisPresents a committed quest to unravel and document the postwar adoption networks that placed more than 3,000 Greek children in the United States, in a movement accelerated by the aftermath of the Greek Civil War and by the new conditions of the global Cold War.Trade Review“Drawing on the fields of memory studies, cultural anthropology, Greek history, and international adoption history, Van Steen explores how Cold War anticommunism in post-World War II Greece drove the foreign adoption of Greek children, mainly to the U.S. . . . The book provides an important corrective lens, including statistics that prove how desirable Greek orphans were to U.S. families in the decades after World War II.”— Rachel Rains Winslow, Westmont College“A revealing window into the politics, culture, and social practices that predominated in postwar Greece. . . the author contributes to the nation's collective memory valuable insights into the impact of the civil war upon its most innocent victims. Combining meticulous scholarship with empathy, this seminal study of the selection of children for foreign adoption during the 1950s and 1960s has earned Gonda Van Steen the lasting gratitude of all students of contemporary Greece.”— From the foreword by John O. Iatrides

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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 SynopsisThe true story of a 6-year-old boy with a dreadful secret.Oskar's school teacher raises the alarm. Oskar's mother is abroad and he has been left in the care of friends', but has been arriving in school hungry, unkempt, and with bruises on his arms, legs and body. Experienced foster carer Cathy Glass is asked to look after him, but as the weeks pass her concerns deepen. Oskar is far too quiet for a child of six and is clearly scared of something or someone.And who are those men parked outside his school watching him?

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Book SynopsisA BOY WITHOUT HOPE is the heart-breaking story of a boy who didn't know the meaning of love. A history of abuse and neglect has left Miller destined for life's scrap heap. But in this turbulent story of conflict and struggle, Casey Watson is determined to help Miller overcome his demons, show him love and give him hope.Casey Watson is back, doing the job she does best rolling up her sleeves and fostering the children who, on first meeting, seem like hopeless cases. But when she meets Miller and discovers the truth about his disturbing childhood, even Casey begins to doubt if this child will ever be able to accept love.Found naked and alone on a railway track, Miller was just five when he was first admitted into the care system. Emotionally tormented by his biological parents, Miller has never understood how to establish meaningful relationships, and his destructive past, and over 20 failed placements, is sealing his fate in society's social scrap heap.After a torrent of violent behavi

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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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Book SynopsisInnocent is the shocking true story of little Molly and Kit, siblings, aged 3 years and 18 months, who are brought into care as an emergency after suffering non-accidental injuries.Aneta and Filip, the children's parents, are distraught when their children are taken into care. Aneta maintains she is innocent of harming them, while Filip appears bewildered and out of his depth. It's true the family has never come to the attention of the social services before and little Kit and Molly appear to have been well looked after, but Kit has a broken arm and bruises on his face. Could it be they were a result of a genuine accident as Aneta is claiming?Both children become sick with a mysterious illness while, experienced foster carer, Cathy, is looking after them. Very worried, she asks for more hospital tests to be done. They've already had a lot. When Cathy's daughter, Lucy, becomes ill too she believes she has found the cause of Kit and Molly's illness and the parents aren't to blame.However

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Book SynopsisTilly hates her stepfather, Dave. He abuses her mother, but she refuses to leave him.

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Book SynopsisJackson is aggressive, confrontational and often volatile. His mother, Kayla, is crippled with grief after tragically losing her husband and eldest son. Struggling to cope, she puts Jackson into foster care.Cathy, his carer, encourages Jackson to talk about what has happened to his family, but he just won't engage. His actions continue to test and worry everyone.Then, in a dramatic turn of events, the true reason for Jackson's behaviour comes to light

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Book SynopsisWhen foster carer, Cathy Glass, is asked to foster Darcy-May, a two-day old baby, she is very concerned.The baby is coming to her straight from hospital and will have no contact with her teenage mother, Haylea. Even more worrying, she will be brought to Cathy with a police escort as it's vital her extended family don't know where she is.Abandoned at birth, Cathy and her family quickly bond with little Darcy-May although they have to accept she will eventually leave them to be adopted. But fostering is rarely straight forward, and when Haylea asks to see her baby a different story begins to emerge. It's so alarming that even Cathy, a highly experienced foster carer, struggles.

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Book SynopsisAfter taking a few weeks off work, Casey is presented with a new foster child: 14-year-old Elise, whose Mum left her at just five years old.At first, she's no trouble at all, that is until she falsely accuses another carer, Jan, of acting inappropriately towards her. It turns out this isn't the first lie Elise has told her previous carer was constantly following up allegations Elise had made of people bullying her, trying to have sex with her, or hurting her physically. With some reservations, Casey agrees to take Elise on long-term, but when she makes some dark claims about her mum, Casey doesn't know whether to believe her. In any case, she is determined to find out the truth

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Book SynopsisA 5-year-old boy, Ethan, is brought to Casey in the middle of the night after the sudden death of his young mother after a drug overdose.Estranged from her parents, Ethan's mum had been abused by her ex-partner, and began taking drugs to cope. Ethan is obviously lost and bewildered, and regularly wakes up screaming for his mum in the night. He begins to lash out at other kids at school and his behaviour becomes more volatile. When arrangements are made for Ethan to see his dad in prison, Casey recognises the name and face It turns out she's far more familiar with this case than first imagined.

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Book SynopsisLittle Jamey, 2 years old, is placed with experienced foster carer, Cathy Glass, as an emergency.The police and social services have no choice but to remove two-year-old Jamey from home after his mother leaves him alone all night to go out partying.When he first arrives with foster carer Cathy Glass, he is scared, hungry and withdrawn, craving the affection he has been denied for so long. He is small for his age and unsteady on his feet a result of being left for long periods in his cot.Cathy and her family find Jamey very easy to love, but as he settles in and makes progress, a new threat emerges. Coronavirus and lockdown change everything.

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Book SynopsisA family with a dark secret.A child who refuses to speak.Rosie must help her before it's too late.Nine-year-old Caitlin has a secret, but she cannot tell anyone about it. When her mother is sectioned under the Mental Health Act she and her three siblings have to go and live with her grandmother Julie and grandad Ryan.Caitlin finds her new living conditions challenging: cat poo on the carpet, rubbish everywhere and the constant stare of her grandad she retreats more and more into herself.When foster carer Rosie Lewis meets Caitlin she knows something is deeply wrong with this little girl, who is withdrawn, afraid and refuses to speak. Rosie decides to take her in, but Caitlin's silence continues, and Rosie knows she must act.Why is Caitlin so afraid to speak?Could it be that the family has a dark secret?One that is so shocking it can no longer be hidden?Trade Review‘In Silenced Rosie Lewis has drafted a map of the human spirit. Rosie, a talented and empathic foster carer, acts as our guide, taking us from the depths of despair to the peaks of happiness as she tells the story of a remarkable little girl named Caitlin: how Rosie found her in awful circumstances and led her out of the darkness. Told with an innate understanding of child psychology and written with consummate skill, Silenced is a unique testament to the strength and resilience of children, and a reminder that love can save lives.’ – Shane Dunphy, childcare expert and bestselling author of Wednesday's Child.

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Book SynopsisA powerful, intimate memoir of Eritrean-British journalist, Hannah Azieb-Pool, who returns to Eritrea at the age of 30 to meet her family for the first time.What a story. So vivid, honest and moving'' Andrea Levy, author of Small Island''When I stepped off the plane in Asmara, I had no idea what lay ahead, or how those events would change me . . .''In her twenties, Hannah-Azieb Pool is given a letter that unravels everything she knows about her life. She knew she was adopted from an orphanage in Eritrea, and as her adoptive family brought her to the UK, they believed she did not have any surviving relatives.When she discovers the truth in a letter from her brother - that her birth father is alive and her Eritrean family are desperate to meet her - she is faced with a critical choice.Should she go?In this intimate memoir, she takes us with her on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, as she travels to Eritr

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewVincent De Santis First Book Prize, Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era (SHGAPE), 2017. "Birk makes a strong case for the significance of midwestern rural placement to the development of modern child welfare policies. Her study also raises questions about local placements within other regions of the country… This book will be welcomed by scholars with an interest in the proto-welfare state, in childhood history, and in rural studies." --The Journal of American History"Birk forcefully describes the power of ideology and its tragic consequences, using institution records, newspapers, and reformers' publications. Recommended."--Choice "A richly detailed picture of child welfare in the period from 1870 to the Great Depression. The study's timeframe captures a significant period in the history of child welfare policy, while its geographical boundaries allow the author to examine the ground-level practices that resulted from those policies… An informative, interesting, and well-researched book that merits attention from historians in a broad range of fields."--Michigan Historical Review "Birk's book combines social and policy history, as the best works of social welfare history do, and it weaves the disparate stories of policy makers and advocates, volunteers and staff, and families and children across a variety of settings and periods into an organic whole… The result is a rich historical case that illustrates the complex, interlocking, and multitiered mechanisms of social change."--Social Service Review"A complicated story that Megan Birk details meticulously… Fostering the Farm describes the evolution of rural free foster care with precision and clarity, no small achievement when dealing with a phenomenon so disordered."--American Historical Review"Fostering on the Farm is particularly strong in its study of the rise of state agencies, state laws dealing with dependent children, the role of judges, and the influence of Progressive-era reformers at the federal level. . . . What it says about the Midwest is applicable to Kansas and other states west of the Mississippi where farm placement of children was common, child indenture was acceptable, and welfare practices came under greater scrutiny during the early 1900s."--Kansas History"Birk's book combines social and policy history, as the best works of social welfare history do, and it weaves the disparate stories of policy makers and advocates, volunteers and staff, and families and children across a variety of settings and periods into an organic whole. . . . The result is a rich historical case that illustrates the complex, interlocking, and multitiered mechanisms of social change."--Social Service Review"Birk's work closes important gaps in the historiography of dependent and orphaned children. . . . Overall, Birk's work on the rise and fall of farm placement demonstrates solid scholarship and a unique perspective of the development of fostering."--Agricultural History "Birk offers a well-reasoned, balanced assessment. . . . Those who are interested in the history of childhood, family, welfare policy, or rural America will especially appreciate this substantial book."--Journal of Illinois History "In Fostering on the Farm, Megan Birk offers an intertwined history of agrarian ideals and child welfare policy that is both sweeping and steeped in detail. . . . This book should not be missed."--Annals of Iowa "Meticulously researched, Fostering on the Farm complicates the history of dependent child placement and provides insight into the ways that local and state efforts informed twentieth-century federal child welfare policy."--Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth "Provides an important window into social welfare policy and rural history. Contributes to the slow but ever-increasing interest into rural childhood."--Kathleen Mapes, author of Sweet Tyranny: Migrant Labor, Industrial Agriculture, and Imperial Politics "This book explains a particularly important set of transitions in America's social history. . . . Megan Birk's book is required reading for all scholars interested in understanding rural America, child welfare, and the Gilded Age and Progressive Era."--Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, author of Childhood on the Farm: Work, Play and Coming of Age in the Midwest

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewVincent De Santis First Book Prize, Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era (SHGAPE), 2017. "Birk makes a strong case for the significance of midwestern rural placement to the development of modern child welfare policies. Her study also raises questions about local placements within other regions of the country… This book will be welcomed by scholars with an interest in the proto-welfare state, in childhood history, and in rural studies." --The Journal of American History"Birk forcefully describes the power of ideology and its tragic consequences, using institution records, newspapers, and reformers' publications. Recommended."--Choice "A richly detailed picture of child welfare in the period from 1870 to the Great Depression. The study's timeframe captures a significant period in the history of child welfare policy, while its geographical boundaries allow the author to examine the ground-level practices that resulted from those policies… An informative, interesting, and well-researched book that merits attention from historians in a broad range of fields."--Michigan Historical Review "Birk's book combines social and policy history, as the best works of social welfare history do, and it weaves the disparate stories of policy makers and advocates, volunteers and staff, and families and children across a variety of settings and periods into an organic whole… The result is a rich historical case that illustrates the complex, interlocking, and multitiered mechanisms of social change."--Social Service Review"A complicated story that Megan Birk details meticulously… Fostering the Farm describes the evolution of rural free foster care with precision and clarity, no small achievement when dealing with a phenomenon so disordered."--American Historical Review"Fostering on the Farm is particularly strong in its study of the rise of state agencies, state laws dealing with dependent children, the role of judges, and the influence of Progressive-era reformers at the federal level. . . . What it says about the Midwest is applicable to Kansas and other states west of the Mississippi where farm placement of children was common, child indenture was acceptable, and welfare practices came under greater scrutiny during the early 1900s."--Kansas History"Birk's book combines social and policy history, as the best works of social welfare history do, and it weaves the disparate stories of policy makers and advocates, volunteers and staff, and families and children across a variety of settings and periods into an organic whole. . . . The result is a rich historical case that illustrates the complex, interlocking, and multitiered mechanisms of social change."--Social Service Review"Birk's work closes important gaps in the historiography of dependent and orphaned children. . . . Overall, Birk's work on the rise and fall of farm placement demonstrates solid scholarship and a unique perspective of the development of fostering."--Agricultural History "Birk offers a well-reasoned, balanced assessment. . . . Those who are interested in the history of childhood, family, welfare policy, or rural America will especially appreciate this substantial book."--Journal of Illinois History "In Fostering on the Farm, Megan Birk offers an intertwined history of agrarian ideals and child welfare policy that is both sweeping and steeped in detail. . . . This book should not be missed."--Annals of Iowa "Meticulously researched, Fostering on the Farm complicates the history of dependent child placement and provides insight into the ways that local and state efforts informed twentieth-century federal child welfare policy."--Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth "Provides an important window into social welfare policy and rural history. Contributes to the slow but ever-increasing interest into rural childhood."--Kathleen Mapes, author of Sweet Tyranny: Migrant Labor, Industrial Agriculture, and Imperial Politics "This book explains a particularly important set of transitions in America's social history. . . . Megan Birk's book is required reading for all scholars interested in understanding rural America, child welfare, and the Gilded Age and Progressive Era."--Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, author of Childhood on the Farm: Work, Play and Coming of Age in the Midwest

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Book Synopsis''Necessary and illuminating'' Times Literary Supplement''A writer of genuine accomplishment'' Good Book GuideA story of adoption and queer parenting from the award-winning author of The Spring of Kasper Meier, The Other Hoffmann Sister and An Honest ManI''m calling because we have a little boy, four weeks old, who needs a family.''In 2018, after the introduction of marriage equality in Germany, Ben Fergusson and his German husband Tom became one of the first same-sex married couples to adopt in the country. In Tales from the Fatherland Fergusson reflects on his long journey to fatherhood and the social changes that enabled it. He uses his outsider status as both a gay father and a parent adopting in a foreign country to explore the history and sociology of fatherhood and motherhood around the world, queer parenting and adoption and, ultimately, the meaning of family and love.Trade ReviewNecessary and illuminating...he is a fine comic writer * Times Literary Supplment *

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Book SynopsisThe experience of adoption, both adopting and being adopted, can stir up deep emotional pain, often related to loss and early trauma. A for Adoption provides insight and support to those families and individuals facing these complex processes and challenges. Trade Review"This highly accessible and very readable book is written for a broad readership – it might be said that it is written for every one of us. It explores the complex and multi-faceted experiences of adoption in a deeply thoughtful and emotionally compelling way. This is an important book on many levels – it will speak to child psychotherapists, professional colleagues, young people and families and it can add powerfully to the conversation with services, commissioners and policy makers." Marie Bradley, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. Extract from ‘The Association of Child Psychotherapists’ book review"Alison Roy is my go-to child and adolescent psychotherapist whenever I have a letter to reply to in my Guardian column which concerns adoption. Her ability, in particular, to put across the possible viewpoint of the child, is especially important and helpful to me; but her empathy and insight into the whole picture is fantastically useful and thought-provoking."Annalisa Barbieri, The Guardian"Adoption is a complex journey for all concerned. Drawing on extensive professional experience, this book is a must read for professionals and families alike."Liz Rugg, Assistant Director of Social Care for East Sussex"Adoption can provide children with the loving family home and future every child deserves. There will be challenges to children and their adoptive families along the way and that’s why it’s so important there is long-term therapeutic support in place to help children and adoptive families flourish."Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England"Adoption is a lifelong intervention in a child’s life with profound lifelong implications. The chapters in Roy’s book sets out the issues that must be thought about, acted on and drive professional practice. It is a ‘must read’."John Simmonds, OBE, Director of Policy, Research and Development at CoramBAAF"This highly accessible and very readable book is written for a broad readership – it might be said that it is written for every one of us. It explores the complex and multi-faceted experiences of adoption in a deeply thoughtful and emotionally compelling way. This is an important book on many levels – it will speak to child psychotherapists, professional colleagues, young people and families and it can add powerfully to the conversation with services, commissioners and policy makers." Marie Bradley, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. Extract from ‘The Association of Child Psychotherapists’ book review"Alison Roy is my go-to child and adolescent psychotherapist whenever I have a letter to reply to in my Guardian column which concerns adoption. Her ability, in particular, to put across the possible viewpoint of the child, is especially important and helpful to me; but her empathy and insight into the whole picture is fantastically useful and thought-provoking."Annalisa Barbieri, The Guardian"Adoption is a complex journey for all concerned. Drawing on extensive professional experience, this book is a must read for professionals and families alike."Liz Rugg, Assistant Director of Social Care for East Sussex"Adoption can provide children with the loving family home and future every child deserves. There will be challenges to children and their adoptive families along the way and that’s why it’s so important there is long-term therapeutic support in place to help children and adoptive families flourish."Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England"Adoption is a lifelong intervention in a child’s life with profound lifelong implications. The chapters in Roy’s book sets out the issues that must be thought about, acted on and drive professional practice. It is a ‘must read’."John Simmonds, OBE, Director of Policy, Research and Development at CoramBAAFTable of Contents1. Adoption Stories: Begin and the beginning 2. Creating a family life from a family life that has been broken (John Simmonds) 3. The force of the blow: Clinical perspectives 4. What’s Love got to do with it? Parents in pain 5. A Different Kind of Normal: the voices of young people 6. The Professional Couple; The Consultant; and the Outside World (Robin Solomon) 7. Establishing a psychoanalytically informed adoption service: The AdCAMHS Model 8. Baby Number 9: Let’s talk about the birth parents 9. Side by Side: The importance of continuity of Care 10. Closing comments

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Book SynopsisThe young readers'' edition of the true story that inspired Lion, the Academy Award nominated film starring Dev Patel, David Wenham, Rooney Mara, and Nicole Kidman.When Saroo Brierley used Google Earth to find his long-lost home town half a world away, he made global headlines. Saroo had become lost on a train in India at the age of five. Not knowing the name of his family or where he was from, he survived for weeks on the streets of Kolkata before being taken into an orphanage and adopted by a couple in Australia. Despite being happy in his new family, Saroo always wondered about his origins. When he was a young man the advent of Google Earth led him to pore over satellite images of India for landmarks he recognized. And one day, after years of searching, he miraculously found what he was looking for and set off on a journey to find his mother.This edition features new material from Saroo about his childhood, including a new foreword and a Q&A about his experiences and the process of making the film.The emotional journey of Saroo Brierley (Patel) . . . will melt hearts around the globe.?People magazineAmazing stuff.?The New York Post

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