Adoption and fostering: advice, topics and issues Books

Book SynopsisWhen you decide to foster, you are faced with many difficult decisions, dilemmas and questions: How do you navigate the daily struggles of foster parenting? How can you nurture bonds with your foster child who is angry, sad, and defiant? How can you prepare to step back when it's time to let go?Foster Parenting Step-by-Step is a concise how-to guide to fostering that summarizes what to expect as a foster parent, and gives immediate practical solutions. It outlines the different stages of a fostering relationship, raising common issues encountered at each age and how to tackle them. It also explains the impact of trauma on your child: how this can show itself through challenging behavior and how to respond to it. This book will provide fostering parents with the skills and knowledge to support the needs of the children in foster care. It will be invaluable not just to foster parents but also to those professionals supporting foster placements.Trade ReviewDr. Gopal has been a lifeline for many children in foster care and their parents and foster parents for many years. [She] is also a well-known speaker and has blessed the National Foster Parent Association with numerous workshop presentations at our annual education conferences. In Foster Parenting Step-by-Step: How to Nurture the Traumatized Child and Overcome Conflict, Dr. Gopal… writes as if she were sitting across the table from you and explaining the incredibly many aspects of foster care and foster parenting. My recommendation is to read the book from cover to cover, taking time to mark those areas that you know you will want to refer to time and time again as you welcome additional children into your home. This new book provides insights and recommendations that will be beneficial to all who chose to provide foster care and/or kinship care. -- From the foreword by Irene Clements, Foster Care Consultant and President of the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA), Minneapolis, USAThis useful book is valuable for foster carers (and prospective foster carers) in helping to consider the issues around looking after other people's children who have suffered early difficulties in their lives. It will help any foster carer to work reflectively and consider the options and issues that the child they are looking after is facing, together with ideas about strategies that might usefully be used in understanding and managing situations. As with all good foster care sharing ideas and thoughts gained in studying this book is made more effective by discussion in supervision. -- Jim Bond MBE, Foster Carer and CounselorTable of ContentsQuotes from Foster Children. Preface. Introduction. 1. The Motivational Stage – First Things First! Know What to Expect. 2. The Planning Stage – About Your Family. Are You Prepared? 3. The Welcoming Stage – Getting to Know Your Foster Child. 4. Displacement Trauma. 5. The Adapting Stage – Attachment and Protecting Your Foster Child. 6. The Educational Stage – Parenting Issues and Much More. 7. The Empowering Stage – Successful Evidence-Based Strategies. 8. The Letting Go/Adopting Stage. Resources and Useful Addresses. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisCapturing the warmth and fun of forming close relationships with children, this book offers simple advice to parents of children who find it difficult to attach and bond - whether following adoption, divorce or other difficult experiences.Attachment therapist Deborah D. Gray describes how to use the latest thinking on attachment in your daily parenting. She reveals sensory techniques which have proven to help children bond - straightforward activities like keeping close eye contact or stroking a child's feet or cheeks - and explains why routines like mealtimes and play time are so important in helping children to attach. The book offers positive ideas for responding to immediate crises like difficult behaviour and meltdowns, but importantly also offers longer-term strategies to help children to develop the skills they need to cope as they grow up - the ability to plan, concentrate and be in control of their emotions. Offering fascinating insights into how children who struggle to attach can be helped, this book is full of easy-to-use ideas which will help you to enjoy the many pleasures of bonding and attaching with your child.Trade ReviewDeborah has provided us with a highly practical book aimed at helping parents to parent in a way that promotes attachment security. This book is full of wisdom and clear suggestions for parenting children with a range of insecurities across a range of ages from toddlers to teens. Whilst there are some UK/USA differences, there really is something for everyone here. I especially liked the focus on parents taking care of themselves and the way that all behavioural management suggestions are provided within the context of providing warm, nurturing care that promotes connection, security, and self esteem. When these qualities are central within parenting our children will grow to successful maturity able to fulfil their potential. -- Kim Golding, Clinical Psychologist with Worcestershire Health and Care NHS TrustA must read for parents! Informative and practical knowledge for parents about two critical aspects of childhood development; emotional intelligence and attachment. -- Dr. Sue Cornbluth, Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Temple University, Philadelphia, USAThis is a lovely, practical, wise book that parents will find helpful on many levels. The author seamlessly integrates attachment concepts, brain science, and concrete examples of parent-child interactions to provide a well-spring of hands-on guidance for raising resilient, secure, emotionally intelligent kids. I highly recommend it. -- Jonathan Baylin, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Broudy and Associates, Wilmington, DelawareAttaching Through Love, Hugs, and Play is an invaluable resource for parents wanting to deepen their relationship with their children. For struggling parents, Attaching Through Love, Hugs and Play provides an accessible resource for understanding what is driving their children's challenging behaviours. More importantly, in this volume, Deborah Gray provides a practical playbook for bringing joy and laughter into the parenting relationship! -- Dr. Karyn Purvis, Director of the Institute of Child Development, TCU, Fort Worth, TexasIn Attaching Through Love, Hugs, and Play, Deborah Gray focus on parenting skills that develop strong secure attachments needed for children to be willing to turn to a special adult or adults for protection, calming and reassurance of their worth. Gray provides a wealth of concrete examples of how touch, play, language, structure and limit setting can be employed to strengthen the nurturing parent-child connection that is the foundation of pre-social child development. Any parent, foster parent or adoptive parent who is helping an abused or neglected child recover from early trauma and/ or neglect will find a wealth of invaluable practical guidance in Attaching Through Love, Hugs and Play. Public child welfare agencies should consider making Deborah's Gray's books widely available to foster parents and adoptive parents who are desperate for guidance in parenting children whose early histories have left a legacy of fear, anger and distrust of caregivers. -- Dee Wilson, Director, Child Welfare Services, Casey Family Programs, Author of the Sounding Board commentariesThis easy-to-read book has much to offer to adopters or step-parents about how to develop attachments... Parents will find many examples of everyday behaviour that they face alongside practical strategies to illustrate how to respond helpfully, especially for children whose early experience include trauma, abuse or loss... As the title suggests, t values sensory approaches to forming emotional connection, using touch and play to help provide nurture and regulate emotional states... Overall this is a very rich and positive book, which presents a well-informed, humane, evidence-based view of parenting strategies that will enhance attachment. it is likely to be valuable resource, especially for parents of children who have had adverse early experiences. -- Alison Paddle, Independent social worker * Seen and Heard *Table of ContentsDedication. Introduction. 1. Close Connections: Attaching and Bonding. 2. Put Your Oxygen Mask on First 3. Teaching Children to Calm, Care, and Think: Behavior and Daily Routines. 4. Helping Children with Thinking and Caring. 5. "Carrots and Sticks", Rewards and Limits. 6. Life Stories. 7. Promoting Attachment in Tweens and Teens. Epilogue.

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Book SynopsisHow do you create an adoption portfolio that will show prospective birth families why you are the perfect adoptive parent for their child? Do you know which pictures to include and which to leave out? Do you really understand what prospective birth parents care about? This is a step-by-step guide to creating a portfolio which will reflect your personality, make a strong positive impact and encourage the right birth family to choose you. Madeleine Melcher shares the secrets she has discovered over years of creating successful portfolios, profiles and prospective birth parent letters. She combines simple and effective design ideas and tips for writing and layout with a deep understanding of how portfolios work. Importantly, this book also draws extensively on the experiences of birth mothers and the professionals who support them to examine what they are really looking for, featuring questions which prospective birth mothers will want to see answered in your portfolio. From text to design, this guide will give you the confidence to create a portfolio that sets you apart. It is essential reading for prospective adoptive parents, as well as adoption attorneys and adoption agencies advising those hoping to adopt.Trade ReviewMadeleine Melcher's expertise and guidance in creating an adoption portfolio made parents and satisfied customers out of me and my partner. This book will make the process of adopting less intimidating and the end result, parenthood, more accessible to those who want to adopt - a win-win situation for both prospective parents and children who need homes. It's a beautiful thing, a true gem. -- Beth Vollmer, adoptive parent, USAWorking with Madeleine was wonderful. She designed our adoption portfolio and we were chosen just two days after its completion. We are grateful for her knowledge and understanding of what prospective birth parents want to know about you. Her book will give you the tools needed to create a portfolio that will stand out among the rest. -- Allison and Kendall Sidorsky, adoptive parents, USAAs a birthmother and the co-founder of BirthMom Buds, I was honored to be a part of Madeleine's book. Madeleine does a great job of giving a voice to expectant mothers considering adoption and through her book educates adoptive parents on how expectant mothers considering adoption think and feel, which will in turn build healthier relationships amongst birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees. -- Nicole 'Coley' Strickland, Co-Founder of www.birthmombuds.com, USAYou're told over and over that the profile is the single most important piece in an adoption - the only way to truly represent yourself to potential birthmothers - and this can be really daunting. When faced with the challenge of making an adoption portfolio or profile, the only tool you needs is Madeleine's new book! It's like having her right there alongside you for this incredible journey, as we in fact did. Madeleine created two of our adoption portfolios, which both ended in successful adoptions. Our fourth adoption happened very quickly - and our son's birthmother still tells us over a year later, that it was all because of our portfolio. Thank you Madeleine for putting this into a book. -- Rawley and Gus Tziavias, adoptive parents, USAMs. Melcher's book assisting families with writing their Dear Prospective Birthparent letter and Adoption Profile gives not only the "how to", but an educational experience as well. She discusses what pregnant couples are looking for in an adoptive family to raise their child, the importance of keeping contact agreements between the two families that must be honored (even though many states now have legally binding contracts), and different designs and text to create their profile. Dear Birthmother letters have been used for quite some time but the additional need now for a booklet makes this a timely book for everyone considering an adoption placement. The workbook at the end further assists prospective adoptive families. How To Create a Successful Adoption Portfolio is very insightful, well thought out and helpful. -- Maxine Chalker, MSW/LSW, Founder, President & CEO, Adoptions From The Heart, USAHow-to" tells you something."Why-to" tells you more. Way more.This book will tell you both.At a time when there is so much confusing advice about adoption, Ms. Melcher "gets it. -- Birney Bull, adoption attorney, Savannah, GA, USA, www.AdoptNeed.comFor families who are feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of writing an adoption or family profile this book is a great place to start... Very easy to read and follow it touches on all the bases, knowing your audience, remembering the guidelines set forth by your agency or attorney, the importance of photos etc. This book is a great place to start and makes the task of writing an adoption profile much more manageable. -- Wordpress.comAs an adoptive dad of two-and starting the process to adopt #3-my wife and I have created several adoption profiles (aka portfolios). We had guidelines to follow from our agency and we got better at creating them but after getting Madeleine's book, we found a great process for creating the best profile. She does an amazing job teaching about how to start, what you need to know, writing your letter to a prospective birthmother, how to layout the pages and (in my opinion) the most important part-how to make your profile unique.I highly recommend getting the book. A HUGE bonus in the book is that it contains a wonderful workbook in the back that takes you step by step through creating your portfolio. Good stuff! This WILL help you. -- Tim Elder of InfantAdoptionGuide.comTable of Contents1. Introduction - "I understand...". 2. What is an Adoption Portfolio? 3. Before You do Anything Else... 4. What Prospective Birthmothers are Looking for. 5. Get Your Camera Out Now! - Pictures ARE Important! 6. Writing Your Text and Preparing for Layout: Insight and Samples by Page. 7. Speciality Text Issues. 8. What Will Your Design Say about You? 9. Ways to Create Your Portfolio. 10. Your Final Review - Getting a Fresh Set of Eyes. 11. Printing Choices Make a Difference. 12. Marketing Yourself Making Use of Your Portfolio. 13. Letting Go. 14. Your Dream CAN Come True. 15. Workbook Questions for Core Pages.

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Book SynopsisThe Foster Parenting Manual is a comprehensive guide offering proven, friendly advice for novice and experienced parents alike. Distilling many years' experience into one book, John DeGarmo combines his own wisdom with that of fellow foster parents. He describes what to expect from the process, how to access help and how to ensure the best care for your child. He tackles thorny issues such as children's use of the Internet and social media, managing contact with birth parents and how to support your child at school. Most importantly, he provides advice designed to help your child feel safe, secure and loved.The Foster Parenting Manual offers seasoned, sympathetic advice that will be valued by foster parents and the professionals who support them.Trade ReviewDeGarmo, an experienced foster parent of more than 30 children, fills the gap in current, quality literature on foster parenting with this concise yet comprehensive guide for potential foster parents or those affected. Beginning with a short history of the practice, he helps readers understand who foster children are, how best to understand their challenges and struggles, and how to establish rules and expectations in a home, as well as considerations for working with caseworkers and birth families... VERDICT For anyone considering becoming a foster parent, this title is esstential reading, full of rich advice. Unequivocally recommended. -- Library Journal, starred reviewJohn DeGarmo's new book, The Foster Parenting Manual exceeds expectations! Realistic and honest, it effectively describes the foster care system with discernment, describes being a foster parent and a foster family clearly and compassionately and it describes the children in the foster care system with empathy, sensitivity and truthfulness. It is an honor to endorse this book. -- Irene Clements, Foster Care Consultant and President of the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA), Minneapolis, USAThis is a unique book for people doing a unique job of fostering children which explains the subject simply and pragmatically. The gift of this book is the way it dispels the myths surrounding fostering and should help to lessen the anxiety around caring for someone else's child and also children who can struggle to accept care. It also provides carers with practical and reassuring guidance - encouraging positive outcomes in what can be a difficult yet rewarding partnership. The real-life examples support research in the field, and provide non-fostering adults a glimpse into the world of foster families and families themselves with insights and guidance from peers. This book is a fostering manual for the modern age and supports good learning for us all. -- Gradle Gardner Martin, Foster Care and Social Work Trainer, Elevate Training and Development Ltd, London, UKJohn DeGarmo is one of foster care's most promising experts. His new book The Foster Parenting Manual: A Practical Guide to Creating a Loving, Safe, and Stable Home is an essential resource for any foster parent or foster care professional. DeGarmo's detailed knowledge of foster care coupled with a smooth delivery ensures the reader of an informative and entertaining reading experience. -- Chris Chmielewski, Owner and Editor, Foster Focus magazine, Pennsylvania, USAJohn DeGarmo's latest book, The Foster Parenting Manual is a valuable reference for both prospective and new foster carers, written from the carer's perspective. Whilst some material in the manual may be specific to the foster care system in the United States, the book contains many practical suggestions on how to manage the day to day interactions with a foster child in a way that assists the child. The book is easy to read and could be used as a basis for a series of training sessions for new carers. Caseworkers would benefit from the book's perspective on many of the issues that carers face. The book points to the universality of the issues societies face in raising children who are separated from their families and the critical importance of providing them with supportive care. -- Scott Bray, Life Without Barriers, AustraliaThe Foster Parenting Manual: A Practical Guide to Creating a Loving, Safe and Stable Home lays the foundation of understanding for potential and current foster parents. It answers all the questions up front, so people can easily determine if fostering will be the right path for them. DeGarmo covers all of the important topics, including allegations, grief and loss and so much more… The manual is a must-read for anyone considering foster parenting. -- Kim Phagan-Hansel, Editor of Adoption Today & Fostering Families Today, Colorado, USAThe author as an experienced foster carer himself acknowledges how difficult placements can be and the many challenges it may have on the foster carer's family life... This is an excellent aid for both foster carers and prospective foster carers as well as professionals who are responsible for placing children. -- Aileen Dunne, children's guardian and independent social worker * Seen and Heard *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements. Foreword by Mary Perdue, Former First Lady of Georgia. Introduction. 1. Foster Care: Children, Parents, and Caseworkers. 2. The History of Foster Care. 3. Training. 4. Placement: What to do Beforehand/How to Prepare. 5. Problems Foster Children Face. 6. Creating Rules and Expectations. 7. Your Foster Child and His Development. 8. Foster Children and School. 9. Working with Caseworkers. 10. Birth Parents and You. 11. Protecting Yourself and Family. 12. Finding Help as a Foster Parent. 13. When a Foster Child Leaves. 14. Adoption. 15. Resources. Index.

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Book SynopsisFoster children are more likely than other children to be involved in risky activities online due to backgrounds of neglect and abuse, an absence of supportive adults, lower self-esteem, and greater exposure to drugs and alcohol. Covering all the dangers of online technology that your foster child might encounter, from cyberbullying and "sexting", to child grooming and online hoaxes, this book pays particular attention to dangers unique to foster families, such as the difficulties internet access poses for maintaining formal arrangements for contact with birth families. DeGarmo equips foster parents and professionals with strategies to keep foster children safe online, giving tips on establishing expectations for internet usage, advice on how to prevent inappropriate contact and protect personal information, and explaining the importance of "netiquette". An indispensable guide to negotiating online dangers, this is required reading for all foster families as well as residential child care workers, social workers and other professionals working with children in care.Trade ReviewI'm grateful to Dr. John DeGarmo for tackling this overwhelming and frustrating topic. He has made it easy to understand both the pitfalls and the positive learning experiences associated with technology and social media. The information in this book is vital to everyone who works in the foster care system or who develops training programs for the children and youth in care. -- Irene Clements, President, National Foster Parent Association, USA“Keeping Foster Children Safe Online should not only be on the nightstand of every foster parent - it should be in the hands of every parent whose children are online." -- From the Foreword by Kim Hansel, Editor, Adoption Today and Fostering Families TodayThis book provides a wealth of information, good and ghastly, about the dangers and risks that foster carers, adoptive and biological parents, teachers, youth workers, social workers and others who work with, teach or live with preteens and adolescents really ought to know!... This book should be read and re-read and information shared... Having been a foster carer myself, I cannot highly enough recommend this book to anyone who lives or work with young people - not just foster children. -- Nurturing Potential, Potential UnleashedDeGarmo looks at the positives of internet use but also explores in detail the "nastiness" of the cyber-world we all know about... the addition of case studies brings the realities of this to life... this is an invaluable resource and should be required reading for all parents and everyone in the children's workforce. -- REES Centre NewsletterTable of ContentsForeword. Preface. Introduction - It's a Digital World. 1. Sex, Violence and Scams. 2. Establishing Ground Rules. 3. Social Networking. 4. Texting and Sexting. 5. Cyberbullying: Beyond the Playground. 6. Contact with Birth Parents. 7. Sexual Predators. 8. Access to Drugs, Alcohol and Cigarettes. 9. Apps and Video Games. Conclusion. About the Author. Resources. References. Glossary of Terms.

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Book SynopsisChild Adoption is a straightforward, concise and comprehensive guide which adoptive parents and the professionals who advise them will find invaluable. R.A.C. Hoksbergen covers the practical and emotional issues and possible problems which affect child and parents in adoption, such as:* preparation of the family and the child* adopting from different races or cultures, and dealing with discrimination* helping the child adjust to school* discussing the adoptive status with the child.This handbook provides much-needed information so that everyone involved in the adoption process can make educated and fully thought-out decisions. It is invaluable reading for any professional involved in the process of adoption including adoption workers and lawyers, social workers and couples who are considering adoption.Trade ReviewHere is a truly international perspective, perceptive, gentle, humorous and ironic. The views and utterances of adoptive children and adults who were adopted in childhood, are particularly enlightening....a welcome addition to the learning material of adoption educators and trainers. -- Issues in Social Work EducationCovers a whole range of issues related to adoption. The book is indeed very useful for couples preparing for international adoption, especially when they are preparing for a home-study or when a home-study is already in progress. The book is well worth reading. The book contains a welath of information, is very concise and the list of references makes it easy to find more information on the subjects touched upon in the book. -- Adoption UKThis book will be of interest to all professionals dealing with adoption, as it outlines possible problems realistically and backs up its case with plenty of research. I would recommend it to all trans-racial adopters unreservedly. -- Child Care in PracticeThe book is informative, non-judgemental, and sensitive to the initial problems for both adopters and adoptees. Its contents are supported by research and from the writer's own experiences of over 20 years of work in this area... The advice given can be of help to those adopting in many situations. My experience, having read the book, is that it achieves what it set out to do. For anyone who feels they need information or guidelines to adoption this is a book that is worth reading, especially if you work in this field. -- Psychotherapy and CounsellingAn informative, comprehensive guide to the possible challenges of adoption. -- ParentwiseTable of ContentsPreface 1. What do adoptive parents have to take into consideration? 2. Why do people adopt a child? 3. Adoptive parents need intensive preparation 4. The arrival of the child changes the family 5. The adoptive child at school 6. Some years later 7. Psychic homelessness and adoption 8. Transracial adoption and discrimination 9. The adoptive status should be discussable for the parents as well as for the children Conclusion. Appendix: Adoption Centre Brochure

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Book SynopsisThis is a book of real life stories of adopters which takes the reader through every stage of the adoption process starting with the moment when they decide that adoption is the right option for them to the stories of adoptees brought up by adoptive parents.In between, the book looks at all the different types of adoption that are carried out by all sorts of families from all sorts of children of every race and age and with every kind of problem. They range from babies who are only days old when they are taken into an adoptive family to teenagers with a multitude of psychological and physical problems. The book looks at both the success and failure of these adoptions.Its aim is to inform and enlighten professionals, adopters, potential adopters and all those whose lives have in some way been touched by adoption or want to know more about it.In 15 chapters it includes more than 70 real life stories which are all told from the heart sometimes in a moment of crisis and sometimes at a time of joy. They are not analysed, they are true stories about how it feels to be at the centre of adoption. All the stories, which have been recounted over the past 10 years, are reflective of adoption today in Britain.The book also includes a chapter on the legal aspects of adoption and a further chapter of useful information and addresses.Trade ReviewWould that there had been such a book when our sons were little, especially when we added a seven year old with emotional and behavioral difficulties to the family. I hope that everyone involved in adoption will be aware of the existence of this book, since it covers the actual experience of adoption form every aspect... Those who have contributed to this rich collection of personal experiences have been generous in sharing their hopes and fears: the good moments and the moments of utter despair and even failure... Like any book that is a compendium of writings, it would be easy to imagine that people, for whom adoption was a painful experience, would not have a voice here. This might be true to some extent but there are accounts of adoptions that failed, and times when tracing a birth-parent did not bring complete happiness. There are stories that might have been painful to write but can shed light on what it means to be an aopder or an adoptee, such as the story of the family whose badly damaged son suddenly seemed to thrive, and went on to become a successful business and family man, only to committ suicide at 27. This book should be required reading for all social workers, teachers, would be adopters, adopters and their doctors. For years adoption was a family secret for the birth-mother and the adopters. Now we are passed that stage it is important that the stories be heard. -- Mental Health Care and Learning Disabilities.The most appealing aspect of this book is that it consists of actual stories from actual adopters, incorporating every part of the adoption process from the 'short moment of pure joy and excitement for most potential adopters when they first decide that they want to adopt' to their feelings about their children seeking a reunion with their natural families or simply leaving home. The accounts, taken from this very journal over the past 10 years, have a rare honesty about them, resulting in an unadulterated insight into both the joys and the nightmares that adoption can bring. It is for this reason that I would describe it as a must for anyone considering adoption - including professionals - whose life has already been touched by adoption. Read from start to finish, it is as compelling as any novel, but the way the accounts are separated into themes such as "You want to adopt" and "Telling, tracing and the need to know more" - each with an introduction by the editor - also makes it a volume that can be accessed as a reference book. -- Adoption UKThis collection of first hand experiences of adoption has been compiled by Adoption UK. It is aimed primarily at adopters and prospective adopters and has the express aim of encouraging those who are thinking about adoption to consider it more seriously. However, it will be of general interest and offers an engaging and informative read for anyone interested in the adoption process and the issues it raises. Adoption UK believe that all children have a right to a family life, and lament the number of children who still wait for suitable adopters- particularly black children, older white children and children with disabilities. Through adopters own experiences the book covers the decision to adopt and the process of adoption, the adoption of school children and adolescents, children with a physical or learning disability, children who have been abused, adoption by single parents and gay couples and race and adoptions. -- ChildrightTable of Contents1. You want to adopt. 2. First meetings, first months, falling in love - good times, bad times, bonding. 3. Adopting babies and toddlers. 4. Adopting schoolchildren. 5. Taking on an adolescent. 6. Adopting children with a physical or mental disability. 7. Adopting a physically or sexually abused child. 8. Unusual adopters - single parents, unmarried couples, homosexuals, adoption over birth choice. 9. Adoption and race. 10. Openness in adoption. 11. Attached or unattached, the ongoing problem. 12. The nightmare - when an adoption breaks down. 13. Telling and talking. 14. Tracing. 15. The birth mother's story. 16. What adoptees say. Appendix 1. Legal issues. 2. Index of organisations.

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Book SynopsisWritten by an experienced adoptive parent, this clear, sensitive and practical handbook is designed to encourage and support adoptive and long-term foster parents, their children and adolescents. An adopted child may well have suffered abuse, neglect or inconsistent parenting in the past; he or she will certainly have experienced painful separations and losses. These early traumatic experiences, often expressed in emotional and behavioural problems within the family, can conceal a broad range of subtle alterations to the brain and nervous system of the developing child. They may become increasingly problematic as the youngster approaches the developmental challenges of adolescence.Drawing on both firsthand experience and some of the latest medical research, Caroline Archer presents strategies to help parents deal with their youngsters' troubling behaviour and to make them feel more comfortable, in what seems to them a hostile world.Archer sets out to provide adoptive and foster parents with an understanding of the complex range of difficulties with which their children may struggle as a result of their early experience of adversity. By exploring, in very simple ways, the effects of adverse experiences on the child's built-in biological response systems, she assists parents to make sense of the frequently perplexing behaviours of the hurt child within their family. Common situations which she specifically addresses include: sleep problems; anger, aggression and violence; lying and stealing; staying out late and running away; addictive behaviours and self harm; impulsiveness and risk-taking; sex; suicide and compulsive eating disorders.Following on from First Steps in Parenting the Child Who Hurts: Tiddlers and Toddlers (2nd edition), Next Steps will be an invaluable resource for adoptive and foster parents seeking to support their child through the later stages of childhood and adolescence. This book will also be an essential practical guide for professionals working with families and eager to gain a thorough understanding of the on-going developmental and relationship difficulties of adopted children.Trade ReviewIf you don't buy another book buy this one. For adoptive parents and foster carers, and for professionals working in either field, this is a must. Here the perplexing behaviours that drive us to despair and seriously threaten relationships, are explored with great sensitivity and a depth of understanding that has long been awaited. Caroline Archer draws upon new medical research to illustrate the changes to the brain and development of young people who have endured early trauma, and uses first hand experiences to provide a practical guide to the egg-shell-strewn daily journey with pre-teens and adolescents, All the problems we thought were ours alone – and surely due to our personal mismanagement – are explained here in this clear and well-constructed publication. Easy to read, it tackles with honesty all circumstances from bed-wetting to suicide attempts, lying to exploitation, sexuality to addictions and self-injury to protection of siblings. It also offers reassurance, encouragement and strategies allowing you to recognise and reach out to the child who hurts. -- Foster Care[Reviewed with First Steps] 'The holistic approach makes it particularly relevant to occupational therapists. They will be pleased to see references to neurological development and a mention of the value of sensory integration for some children whose trauma has caused tactile defensiveness or some other sensory problem. However, the majority of the chapters rightly deal with the psychological aspects. The focus on parents and carers does not prevent realistic advice on when to seek help from professionals. A sympathetic understanding of the children's feelings is balanced by a real concern for the needs of carers and the rest of the family. There is a clear recognition that firm boundaries are essential and there is frequent emphasis on positive approaches… I have found “Tykes and Teens” so supportive in my work with children who hurt and their foster or adoptive families that I am recommending it to parents and colleagues alike. I also recommend it to all NAPOT members who are involved in this field.' -- NAPOT Journal…this is a clear, sensitive and extremely practical handbook which looks at the reasons behind difficult behaviour, especially the effects of early trauma in a child's life, as well as suggesting strategies for dealing with it… This is a must-have book for adopters and foster carers and is also highly recommended for ordinary parents and step-parents whose children hurt for other reasons. If you are only in the early stages of considering adopting or fostering, it may open your eyes to issues you have not considered but try not to let its realism put you off unnecessarily. Not all children who have been through the care system have extreme problems, especially if they are given the sensitive support suggested here. -- Adoption and FosteringThis book follows on logically from the First Steps book and continues the challenging journey through childhood and into adolescence… In essence this is a book about love, and the ability to express it towards the adopted child, despite persistent and often extreme tests of that love. The author uses innovative imagery to explain the effects of emotional trauma early in the adopted child's life which may result in the “scared kid”, the “stuffed kid” and finally the “superkid”. The “looking glass” model is particularly effective at describing the marked perceptual differences that may arise between the child and the parent… A large section of the book is devoted to a review of specific sensitive situations that commonly arise… These range from bedwetting to stealing to self-injury and suicide. No attempt is made to offer all the answers and indeed the author emphasises that only the parent will know what is right for their own particular family and set of circumstances. This is another excellent book which draws on the real experiences of many adoptive parents and their families… For some the solutions suggested will not prove appropriate and for others very different problems will arise. However the basic tenets of the book deserve the widest possible readership amongst all those involved with adoptive children. -- Ed Abrahamson, Consultant Paediatrician, for Adoption UK JournalThe author's basic premise is that all children who have been adopted or placed in long-term care have undergone some form of psychological hurt. She argues that while some children will be more resilient to this hurt than others, many children will need their hurt to be acknowledged by their parents/carers, and be allowed to grieve for their losses in order to move forward to a life of greater well-being and fulfillment. [The book begins] by exploring such issues as bringing a child home, child development and what to do when things “don't seem quite right”. Other issues covered are the effects of trauma on a child, and how to handle specific difficulties that may arise with an adopted child. -- Family MattersNext Steps deals with “tykes and teens”. It looks at... potential hazards, such as addictive behaviour, sexual acting out and drug and alcohol use, all now, arguably, the birth-right of any parent. Of particular use here is a section called “Principles into Practice” where a range of scenarios is proposed with possible outcomes. These could also serve as training material…grounded in hard won experience. -- Community CareTable of ContentsForeword by Professor David Howe. What is Adoption UK? Introduction. 1. Coming Home. 2. More Beginnings: Continuing Child Development. 3. When Things Don't Seem Quite Right. 4. Through the Looking Glass. 5. Fundamental Principles. 6. Principles into Practice. 7. Sensitive Situations. Glossary. References. Hope Against Hope.

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Book SynopsisRecently there has been a renewed interest in family placement, its effectiveness and its value for money. What Works in Adoption and Foster Care? reviews changes in policy and practice and will assist managers and practitioners in family and childcare social work to make decisions based on sound evidence about where to place children and what sort of practice is likely to bring about the desired outcomes for children, birth relatives, foster carers and the adoptive family. The authors explore the factors that research indicates are likely to be associated with positive outcomes, how practice can be evaluated and what outcome measures can be used, and also look at the shortcoming of this research.

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Book SynopsisAn unusually humorous and candid memoir of Mulholland's experiences of growing up adopted, searching for and finding his birth mother and dealing with the psychological trauma he associates with the adoption.

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Book SynopsisThe true and moving story of a family's adoption of a little boy with cerebral palsy.

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Book SynopsisHonest and heartfelt, Laurel Ashton's memoir focuses on the adoption of not one, but two baby girls.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of a lesbian couple who adopted three girls.

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Book SynopsisThe Don’t Touch Garden explores what it is to be adopted, both for the child and the adoptive parents, through a wide range of poetic styles and complex emotions.An absorbing account of the legacy of being an adopted child. Forthright and tender, this moving sequence reflects Foley’s unflinching gaze into the mirror in a sometimes excoriating attempt to discern traces of her belonging, and to make peace with the past. Joy Howard, Poet, publisher and former Fostering Services Manager

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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 SynopsisThe shocking true story of a baby illegally sold at birth and her relentless journey to find her birth family, help fellow victims, and expose the hidden secrets of the Hicks Clinic.

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Book SynopsisNeither an argument for or against the practice of transracial adoption, this book seeks to counter the dominant public view of this practice as a panacea to illegitimacy and the misfortune of infertility among the middle class with a more nuanced view that gives voice to those involved.Trade Review"[An] empathetic study of meanings of cross-racial adoption to adoptees." * Law and Politics Book Review,Vol. 11, No. 11, Nov. 2001 *"BirthMarks clarifies the complexities of transracial adoption, but it does much more than this. Sandra Patton's detailed and sensitive research helps us understand the depths of racial identity itself. The lesson here is that racial identity is not something given, but something achieved. This resonates not just for the adoptees Patton studies, but for us all. It suggests immense possibilities for resisting racism. Transcending the simplistic ‘pro vs. con' debate about transracial adoption, Patton strives to present racial formation as a highly nuanced process of becoming oneself." -- Howard Winant,Temple University"A compelling mixture of voices and social analysis . . . required reading for anyone seriously interested in adoption and families in a multiracial world." -- Maxine Baca Zinn,Michigan State University"This superb study of transracial adoption in the United States addresses profoundly vexing and divisive questions about the social, biological, cultural, and political meanings of identity. Displaying a rare blend of sociological wisdom, empathy, and eloquence, BirthMarks demonstrates how and why there can be no such thing as color-blind families or adoption policies so long as the color line remains an intractable American dilemma. Anyone who cares about the changing contours of families and race today should eagerly adopt this marvelous book." -- Judith Stacey,author of In the Name of the Family

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Book SynopsisAn indispensable resource to those families considering or affected by adoption, this book takes an informed look at adoption from a Jewish perspective and will prepare readers for the many unforeseen challenges that may arise.Trade Review"Jewish parents and parents-to-be building families by adoption, whose children will be a minority within a minority . . . will find much to think about here, as will the members of extended families. Leaders within Jewish communities (religious education teachers, rabbis, etc.) whose adoption knowledge is limited, will similarly find this book of importance."—Adoption Quarterly

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Book SynopsisA provocative critique of transnational, transracial adoption from a critical race and feminist perspective and a vision for reformTrade Review"Kristi Brian bravely shines a spotlight on the racial inequities that undergird transnational adoptions but are typically whitewashed by assumptions of adoptive parents' benevolence and colorblindness. Reframing Transracial Adoption proposes a more culturally inclusive, child-centered paradigm focused on the voices of Korean adoptees rather than the personal preferences of white adopters, who sometimes select children on the basis of racialized criteria and then refuse to take their racial identities seriously. A critical contribution to an honest discussion of the role race plays in adoption and, indeed, in all family structures." - Dorothy Roberts, Kirkland & Ellis Professor, Northwestern University School of Law, and author of Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare "[C]ompelling... Brian effectively analyzes the inherently political act of family building... Brian's critical race feminist methodology, and her explanation of the matters of adoption and the ways in which adoption matters are useful and often insightful... There is much to be applauded in a political analysis of a phenomenon such as Korean-American adoption and Kristi Brian's Reframing Transracial Adoption succeeds admirably in this regard." Anthropological Quarterly, Fall 2012 "Brian demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the problems affecting Korean adoption...her work is noteworthy for its effort to document racism within adoptive families... Reframing Transracial Adoption is at once a scholarly study and a work of adoption reform activism. Brian highlights structural problems in the transnational adoption industry and shows how adult Korean adoptees are working to change it. In addition, she makes a strong argument against the commonly held idea that transracial adoption is a cure for racism because it creates multiracial families. She instead shows how the adoption industry depends on white privilege and the geopolitical dominance of the United States."--Signs: Journal of Women and Culture in Society, Winter 2014 "Brian exhibits a strong conversant history and literature on race and adoption... She is particularly good at critiquing transracial adoption by celebrity... she raises the intriguing issue of how adoptees themselves are now changing the processes of adoption... Brian's book provides an excellent critique of the hidden racism in American adoptions." - Contemporary Sociology, May 2014Table of ContentsAcknowledgments; Personal / Political Preface; (1) Adoption Matters: Beyond Catastrophe and Spectacle; (A)The Birth of "Sentimental" International Adoption; (B) Institutionalizing Harry Holt's Mission in Korea; (C)Research Questions & Methodology; (D) Towards a Critical Race Feminist Approach to Transnational Adoption; (E) Overview of chapters; (F) Names, Labels and Terms; (2) Adoption Facilitators and the Marketing of Family-Building:; "Expert" Systems meet Spurious Culture; Customized Family-Building and the Trouble with Culture; (B) Promoting Transnational Adoption; (B:1) Meeting the Consumer Needs of the Target Market; (B:2)Depicting Korea as a Nonpolitical, Cultural "Other"; (B:3)Assuming Race Consciousness in "Culture" - Consuming Parents; (C)A Confusion of Experts; (D)The Fault line between Domestic and Transnational Transracial Adoption; (E) Conclusion: Towards a Paradigm of Consciousness; (3) Navigating Racism: Avoiding and Confronting "Difference" in Families; (A) Phase 1: Choosing the "Acceptable" Model Minority in pre-adoption decision-making; (B) Phase 2: Family Lessons on Racism; (B:1) Assumptions of easy assimilation; (B:2) Failures of the "Ad Hoc," Colorblind Approach; (B:3)"The Fly on the Wall": Adoptees Witness and Confront Racism; (C)Phase 3: Adoption as Point of Departure; (C:1) Adoptees' Departures from Whiteness; (C:2)"This Is How I Taught Her To Be": Parents Observe Departures from Whiteness; (D) Conclusion; (4 ) Navigating Kinship: Searching for Family Beyond and Within "The Doctrine of Genealogical Unity"; Confronting the "Loss" of Birth and "Risk" of Adoption; Choosing "Closed" Adoptions and the "Familyless" Orphan; (C)Reconstructing Memories of Korea as Routes to the Meaning of Family; (D)Searching for Family Origins and Identities in the Shadow of Gratitude; (5) Strategic Interruptions versus Possessive Investment: Transnational Adoption in the Era of New Racism; (A) Towards a Shared Race-Conscious Discourse and Framework; (B) Abduction Language; (C)Race-blind U.S. Adoption Policy as Possessive Investment; (D) The Hague: Race-sensitive Understanding or Multicultural Fantasy?; (E) New Versions of Family to Resist the New Racism; (F) Disquieting Adoption; References.

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Book SynopsisA provocative critique of transnational, transracial adoption from a critical race and feminist perspective and a vision for reformTrade Review"Kristi Brian bravely shines a spotlight on the racial inequities that undergird transnational adoptions but are typically whitewashed by assumptions of adoptive parents' benevolence and colorblindness. Reframing Transracial Adoption proposes a more culturally inclusive, child-centered paradigm focused on the voices of Korean adoptees rather than the personal preferences of white adopters, who sometimes select children on the basis of racialized criteria and then refuse to take their racial identities seriously. A critical contribution to an honest discussion of the role race plays in adoption and, indeed, in all family structures." - Dorothy Roberts, Kirkland & Ellis Professor, Northwestern University School of Law, and author of Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare "[C]ompelling... Brian effectively analyzes the inherently political act of family building... Brian's critical race feminist methodology, and her explanation of the matters of adoption and the ways in which adoption matters are useful and often insightful... There is much to be applauded in a political analysis of a phenomenon such as Korean-American adoption and Kristi Brian's Reframing Transracial Adoption succeeds admirably in this regard." Anthropological Quarterly, Fall 2012 "Brian demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the problems affecting Korean adoption...her work is noteworthy for its effort to document racism within adoptive families... Reframing Transracial Adoption is at once a scholarly study and a work of adoption reform activism. Brian highlights structural problems in the transnational adoption industry and shows how adult Korean adoptees are working to change it. In addition, she makes a strong argument against the commonly held idea that transracial adoption is a cure for racism because it creates multiracial families. She instead shows how the adoption industry depends on white privilege and the geopolitical dominance of the United States."--Signs: Journal of Women and Culture in Society, Winter 2014 "Brian exhibits a strong conversant history and literature on race and adoption... She is particularly good at critiquing transracial adoption by celebrity... she raises the intriguing issue of how adoptees themselves are now changing the processes of adoption... Brian's book provides an excellent critique of the hidden racism in American adoptions." - Contemporary Sociology, May 2014Table of ContentsAcknowledgments; Personal / Political Preface; (1) Adoption Matters: Beyond Catastrophe and Spectacle; (A)The Birth of "Sentimental" International Adoption; (B) Institutionalizing Harry Holt's Mission in Korea; (C)Research Questions & Methodology; (D) Towards a Critical Race Feminist Approach to Transnational Adoption; (E) Overview of chapters; (F) Names, Labels and Terms; (2) Adoption Facilitators and the Marketing of Family-Building:; "Expert" Systems meet Spurious Culture; Customized Family-Building and the Trouble with Culture; (B) Promoting Transnational Adoption; (B:1) Meeting the Consumer Needs of the Target Market; (B:2)Depicting Korea as a Nonpolitical, Cultural "Other"; (B:3)Assuming Race Consciousness in "Culture" - Consuming Parents; (C)A Confusion of Experts; (D)The Fault line between Domestic and Transnational Transracial Adoption; (E) Conclusion: Towards a Paradigm of Consciousness; (3) Navigating Racism: Avoiding and Confronting "Difference" in Families; (A) Phase 1: Choosing the "Acceptable" Model Minority in pre-adoption decision-making; (B) Phase 2: Family Lessons on Racism; (B:1) Assumptions of easy assimilation; (B:2) Failures of the "Ad Hoc," Colorblind Approach; (B:3)"The Fly on the Wall": Adoptees Witness and Confront Racism; (C)Phase 3: Adoption as Point of Departure; (C:1) Adoptees' Departures from Whiteness; (C:2)"This Is How I Taught Her To Be": Parents Observe Departures from Whiteness; (D) Conclusion; (4 ) Navigating Kinship: Searching for Family Beyond and Within "The Doctrine of Genealogical Unity"; Confronting the "Loss" of Birth and "Risk" of Adoption; Choosing "Closed" Adoptions and the "Familyless" Orphan; (C)Reconstructing Memories of Korea as Routes to the Meaning of Family; (D)Searching for Family Origins and Identities in the Shadow of Gratitude; (5) Strategic Interruptions versus Possessive Investment: Transnational Adoption in the Era of New Racism; (A) Towards a Shared Race-Conscious Discourse and Framework; (B) Abduction Language; (C)Race-blind U.S. Adoption Policy as Possessive Investment; (D) The Hague: Race-sensitive Understanding or Multicultural Fantasy?; (E) New Versions of Family to Resist the New Racism; (F) Disquieting Adoption; References.

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Book SynopsisInvestigates social parents people who function as parents but who may not be recognized as suchin the eyes of the lawWhat makes a person a parent? Around the world, same-sex couples are raising children; parents are separating and re-partnering, creating blended families; and children are living with grandparents, family friends, and other caregivers. In these situations, there is often an adult who acts like a parent but who is unconnected to the child through biogenetics, marriage, or adoptionthe common paths for establishing legal parenthood. In many countries, this person is called a social parent. Psychologically, and especially from a child's point of view, a social parent is a parent. But the legal status of a social parent is hotly debated.Social Parenthood in Comparative Perspective considers how the law doesand how it shouldrecognize social parenthood. The book begins with a psychological account of social parenthood, establishing the impoTrade Review"Provides a groundbreaking overview of social parenthood… The book is truly global in scope: it includes perspectives from psychology, sociology, and the law, and it draws on experts from nine countries. It offers a fascinating analysis of how the law approaches, and should approach these relationships, and it is destined to become a classic work in understanding social parenthood. " * Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia School of Law *"Social parenthood is one of the most important issues that family law is confronting in countries today. Further, countries are approaching this issue in vastly disparate ways. The contributors present compelling and complementary legal analysis and insights as to how nine countries address social parenthood, underscoring the necessity for law to adjust to new iterations of families. " * Maxine Eichner, Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Law, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill *"By examining across the countries of North America and Europe whether and how laws value those relationships, Social Parenthood in Comparative Perspective makes a unique and long- overdue contribution. Comparing same-sex couples, stepparents, and non-parental primary caregivers within and among countries, this book is an invaluable resource to anyone who thinks about the meaning of family. " * Nancy D. Polikoff, author, Beyond (Straight and Gay) Marriage: Valuing All Families Under the Law *"Timely and engaging, the comparative and interdisciplinary aspects of this volume offer many valuable contributions to the ongoing conversation about legal recognition of what the book calls ‘social parents.’ The diverse and impressive contributors make the case for law reform in response to the expanding landscape of parenting. " * Susan Frelich Appleton, Lemma Barkeloo & Phoebe Couzins Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis *

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Book SynopsisLori Chamber''s fascinating study explores the legal history of adoption in Ontario since the passage of the first statute in 1921. This volume explores a wide range of themes and issues in the history of adoption including: the reasons for the creation of statutory adoption, the increasing voice of unmarried fathers in newborn adoption, the reasons for movement away from secrecy in adoption, the evolution of step-parent adoption, the adoption of Indigenous children, and the growth of international adoption. Unlike other works on adoption, this book focuses explicitly on statutes, statutory debates, and the interpretation of statutes in court. In doing so, she concludes that adoption is an inadequate response to child welfare and on its own cannot solve problems regarding child neglect and abuse. Rather, Chambers argues that in order to reform the area of adoption we must first acknowledge that it is built upon social inequalities within and between nations.Trade Review‘This is a timely and through analysis that will be of interest to scholars of legal and family history.’ -- Tarah Brookfield * The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth vol 11:01:2018 *"Chambers’s scholarship provides needed insights into the origins of adoption law, the dubious tactics of social workers…, the responsibilities of putative fathers, the sordid tale of child apprehension, the debate between closed and open adoptions, and the fight to be legally recognized as parents by step-parents, same-sex parents, and biological fathers." -- Debra Nash-Chambers, Wilfred Laurier University * University of Toronto Quarterly, vol 87 3, Summer 2018 *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: "Such a Program of Legislation": Illegitimacy and Law Reform Chapter Two: "Doubtful of her Veracity": Procedures and Judgment under the Children of Unmarried Parents Act Chapter Three: "I did not bring this child into the world BY MYSELF": Stories of Pregnancy Chapter Four: "Best for Our Babies": The Adoption Mandate Chapter Five: "Haunted by Bills": Lone Motherhood and Poverty Chapter Six: "Known as MRS. S": Cohabitation and the Children of Unmarried Parents Act Conclusions Bibliography

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Book Synopsis2019 High Plains Book Award (Creative Nonfiction and Indigenous Writer categories) 2021 Barbara Sudler Award from History Colorado In Bitterroot Susan Devan Harness traces her journey to understand the complexities and struggles of being an American Indian child adopted by a white couple and living in the rural American West. When Harness was fifteen years old, she questioned her adoptive father about her “real” parents. He replied that they had died in a car accident not long after she was born—except they hadn’t, as Harness would learn in a conversation with a social worker a few years later. Harness’s search for answers revolved around her need to ascertain why she was the target of racist remarks and why she seemed always to be on the outside looking in. New questions followed her through college and into her twenties when she started her own family. Meeting her biological family in her early thirties generated evenTrade Review"What does it mean to be Native when you weren't raised Native? What does it mean when the members of your birth family who remained on the reservation tell you that you were lucky to be raised elsewhere, but you don’t feel lucky? Harness brings us right into the middle of these questions and shows how emotionally fraught they can be. . . . It's time everyone learned about the many ways there are of being Native."—Carter Meland, (Minneapolis) Star Tribune"Harness's memoir tells a story that we are not often told, one that has taken a generation of knowledge from us and held it hostage, trapped in liminal spaces just out of reach, locked in government offices and files. Hers is a story that our old people remember, but cannot tell, and one that our young people need to hear."—Tarren Andrews, Transmotion"Harness has converted her childhood and early adulthood traumas into a story that can save lives. Bitterroot will be a soothing balm, an extended hand, to anyone who faces the demons of abuse and trauma and is an authoritative guide to those seeking to understand the historical and social structures that perpetuate the vulnerability of Indigenous children and families today."—Katrina Jagodinsky, Oregon Historical Quarterly"The collective scholarly and political work that Harness’s writing has supported and inspired, and now is continuing in her memoir, offers the hope that a more humane approach to transracial adoption—one that works with and learns from Indigenous traditions—is possible."—Lori Askeland, Adoption and Culture“One Salish-Kootenai woman’s journey, this memoir is a heart-wrenching story of finding family and herself, and of a particularly horrific time in Native history. It is a strong and well-told narrative of adoption, survival, resilience, and is truthfully revealed.”—Luana Ross (Bitterroot Salish), codirector of Native Voices Documentary Film at the University of Washington and author of Inventing the Savage "Making sense of her family, the American Indian history of assimilation, and the very real—but culturally constructed—concept of race helped Harness answer the often puzzling questions of stereotypes, a sense of nonbelonging, the meaning of family, and the importance of forgiveness and self-acceptance. In the process Bitterroot also provides a deep and rich context in which to experience life."—Prairie Edge"A moving tale of assimilation and cultural search for identity."—Vernon Schmid, Roundup Magazine"Though there is a distinct sense of dissonance throughout the book, Sue still locates pride in her heritage, when all is said and done. And in finding pride in a troubled history, she is more able to combat her own internal conflict. Despite feelings of abandonment and nonbelonging, love and understanding can still prevail."—Victoria Collins, Hippocampus Magazine"As with any good memoirist, Susan Devan Harness intersperses the past with the present to create dramatic tension, relating how her experience as the American Indian adoptee of white parents shaped her understanding of identity, family, and social responsibility."—House of Books“Bitterroot is an inspiration—one woman’s quest to find herself among the racial, cultural, economic, and historical fault lines of the American West. A compelling, important memoir, as tenaciously beautiful as the flower for which it’s named.”—Harrison Candelaria Fletcher, author of Presentimiento: A Life in DreamsTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Prologue 1. I Wasn’t Born; I Was Adopted 2. Coming-of-Age without a Net 3. Coping Mechanisms 4. Lost Bearings 5. Sliding 6. Fort Laramie 7. Institutions of Higher Learning 8. Coyote 9. How Rez Cars Are Made 10. Thicker Than Water, Thinner Than Time 11. In Memory 12. Too White to Be Indian, Too Indian to Be White 13. This Once Used to Be Ours 14. Integration 15. Custer’s Ghost 16. Vernon 17. Will You Be Here Tomorrow? 18. Gifts 19. Losing the Master Key Epilogue

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Book Synopsis2019 High Plains Book Award (Creative Nonfiction and Indigenous Writer categories) 2021 Barbara Sudler Award from History Colorado In Bitterroot Susan Devan Harness traces her journey to understand the complexities and struggles of being an American Indian child adopted by a white couple and living in the rural American West. When Harness was fifteen years old, she questioned her adoptive father about her “real” parents. He replied that they had died in a car accident not long after she was born—except they hadn’t, as Harness would learn in a conversation with a social worker a few years later. Harness’s search for answers revolved around her need to ascertain why she was the target of racist remarks and why she seemed always to be on the outside looking in. New questions followed her through college and into her twenties when she started her own family. Meeting her biological family in her early thirties generated evenTrade Review"What does it mean to be Native when you weren't raised Native? What does it mean when the members of your birth family who remained on the reservation tell you that you were lucky to be raised elsewhere, but you don’t feel lucky? Harness brings us right into the middle of these questions and shows how emotionally fraught they can be. . . . It's time everyone learned about the many ways there are of being Native."—Carter Meland, (Minneapolis) Star Tribune"Harness's memoir tells a story that we are not often told, one that has taken a generation of knowledge from us and held it hostage, trapped in liminal spaces just out of reach, locked in government offices and files. Hers is a story that our old people remember, but cannot tell, and one that our young people need to hear."—Tarren Andrews, Transmotion"Harness has converted her childhood and early adulthood traumas into a story that can save lives. Bitterroot will be a soothing balm, an extended hand, to anyone who faces the demons of abuse and trauma and is an authoritative guide to those seeking to understand the historical and social structures that perpetuate the vulnerability of Indigenous children and families today."—Katrina Jagodinsky, Oregon Historical Quarterly"The collective scholarly and political work that Harness’s writing has supported and inspired, and now is continuing in her memoir, offers the hope that a more humane approach to transracial adoption—one that works with and learns from Indigenous traditions—is possible."—Lori Askeland, Adoption and Culture“One Salish-Kootenai woman’s journey, this memoir is a heart-wrenching story of finding family and herself, and of a particularly horrific time in Native history. It is a strong and well-told narrative of adoption, survival, resilience, and is truthfully revealed.”—Luana Ross (Bitterroot Salish), codirector of Native Voices Documentary Film at the University of Washington and author of Inventing the Savage "Making sense of her family, the American Indian history of assimilation, and the very real—but culturally constructed—concept of race helped Harness answer the often puzzling questions of stereotypes, a sense of nonbelonging, the meaning of family, and the importance of forgiveness and self-acceptance. In the process Bitterroot also provides a deep and rich context in which to experience life."—Prairie Edge"A moving tale of assimilation and cultural search for identity."—Vernon Schmid, Roundup Magazine"Though there is a distinct sense of dissonance throughout the book, Sue still locates pride in her heritage, when all is said and done. And in finding pride in a troubled history, she is more able to combat her own internal conflict. Despite feelings of abandonment and nonbelonging, love and understanding can still prevail."—Victoria Collins, Hippocampus Magazine"As with any good memoirist, Susan Devan Harness intersperses the past with the present to create dramatic tension, relating how her experience as the American Indian adoptee of white parents shaped her understanding of identity, family, and social responsibility."—House of Books“Bitterroot is an inspiration—one woman’s quest to find herself among the racial, cultural, economic, and historical fault lines of the American West. A compelling, important memoir, as tenaciously beautiful as the flower for which it’s named.”—Harrison Candelaria Fletcher, author of Presentimiento: A Life in DreamsTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Prologue 1. I Wasn’t Born; I Was Adopted 2. Coming-of-Age without a Net 3. Coping Mechanisms 4. Lost Bearings 5. Sliding 6. Fort Laramie 7. Institutions of Higher Learning 8. Coyote 9. How Rez Cars Are Made 10. Thicker Than Water, Thinner Than Time 11. In Memory 12. Too White to Be Indian, Too Indian to Be White 13. This Once Used to Be Ours 14. Integration 15. Custer’s Ghost 16. Vernon 17. Will You Be Here Tomorrow? 18. Gifts 19. Losing the Master Key Epilogue

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Book SynopsisMany people embark on the journey of adoption and foster care but are unprepared for the challenges that await them along the way. Replanted takes an honest look at the joys and hardships that come with choosing this journey and provides a model of faith-based support made up of three parts to help families thrive: Soil, Sunlight, and Water. Soil, or emotional support, addresses the need for grace-filled settings where families can connect with other families who understand their experience. Sunlight, or informational support, focuses on obtaining helpful training to raise children who may have unique needs or challenges. Water, or tangible support, deals with concrete resources such as medical care, child care, and financial support. Throughout the book, the Replanted model is brought to life by stories and examples based on the clinical work and personal experiences of the authors. Their candid insight will serve families who are actively involved in adoption or foster care, as well as people who are eager to help support those families.Replanted affirms that with the right support system in place, parents can answer this sacred call not only with open hearts but also with their eyes wide open.Trade Review“Jesus often drew vivid word pictures from agriculture—wheat fields and mustard seeds, fig trees and grapevines—to help us see His kingdom, ourselves, and what we most need. Replanted does the same, using rich images from the plant world in ways both poetic and practical to help us grasp and feel God’s good purposes for us as adoptive and foster families.” —Jedd Medefind, president, Christian Alliance for Orphans“The loving care of orphans and foster children is the most sacred thing in the world. Those who take on this courageous journey know that it is the greatest of life’s joys—but also full of hardships and challenges. With their ministry, the authors of this amazing book have empowered the church to support families with ‘replanted’ children. They are the most qualified people I know to speak truth into this experience. For both the heroes engaged in adoption or foster care and those of us eager to support them, this book is a must-read.” —Dr. Wess Stafford, president emeritus, Compassion International, author of Too Small to Ignore and Just a Minute“The wall. That is exactly what foster and adoptive parents hit when expectations of the journey collide with the realities of the experience. Authors Jenn¸ Josh, and Mike understand this experience well and have written an amazing, much needed resource for parents and churches. The analogy of what families need—soil (emotional support), sunlight (informational support), and water (tangible support)—truly speaks to the heart of the need. The exercises at the end of each chapter allow for every reader to build self-awareness, parenting awareness, and God awareness. I highly recommend this book for foster and adoptive parents and the ministries and organizations that support them.” —Jayne Schooler, author of Wounded Children, Healing Home and Telling the Truth to Adopted and Foster Children“Replanted openly explores the challenges faced by children impacted by early trauma believing that hope and healing can come as parents gain the support they need, as support systems become trauma-competent, and as churches become more intentional in the ways they come alongside families built through adoption and foster care. Replanted is a timely resource and encouragement for anyone, anywhere, on the journey of adoption and foster care.” —Terri Coley, coordinator of Pre+Post Adoption Support, Show Hope“Replanted provides wise counsel and guidance to those who welcome vulnerable children into their hearts and homes. This resource will challenge and equip, comfort and encourage those on God’s journey to love children from hard places, and inform the church about the crucial role it can play in supporting them.” —Sharen Ford, director of Foster Care Adoption Advocacy for Children, Focus on the Family"Jenn, Josh, and Mike have created something amazing here. Real, authentic conversation about the challenges of this journey combined with hope-filled stories and practical resources that breathe fresh wind in the sails of caregivers. Every foster and adoptive parent will want to have this book on their kitchen table!" —Michele Schneidler, cofounder of the Refresh Conference and senior vice president of programs/partnerships for the 1MILLIONHOME campaign“We have been waiting for this book that, through personal stories, discussion questions, and the Replanted model of support, brings relevant and fresh solutions to the long-recognized core issues in relinquishment and adoption. Offering hope and tools to this generation of adoptive and foster parents, it also provides the insights needed by members of the Church to extend grace and support these families.” —Rebecca MacDougall, LCSW, adoptive mother and executive branch director, Bethany Christian Services of Illinois“As a foster/adoptive parent this book would have saved me years of research and heartache. Not only do Jenn, Josh, and Mike do a fantastic job of taking all different types of research and condensing it down to what is applicable to caregivers, but they do it in a way that is engaging, full of stories, hope, laughter, and tears. They are honest about the deep paradox that exists for families and communities caring for children from trauma. They give practical advice and tools to organizations wanting to support and aid in the healing process, and they do it all with grace and faith. I couldn’t recommend this book more; potential caregivers, you need this! Support systems, they need you to know this!” —Amanda Purvis, TBRI training specialist, Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development“Replanted is a must-have resource for your library! Whether you are an adoptive or foster parent, or you desire to support the ones serving in the trenches, this book is for you. Jenn writes with humility and wisdom from her years of experience working with families. Replanted is not a ‘roses and butterflies’ type of book; it is honest and real and full of hope and practical help to bring healing to your family.” —Jami Kaeb, founder executive director, The Forgotten Initiative"Our children have complex needs. Jenn, Josh, and Mike provide parents, as well as those in support systems, with practical tools and knowledge to utilize while embarking upon the healing journey. This book is a great resource." —Daren Jones, training specialist, Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development“While beautiful and life-giving, the journey of foster care and adoption can also at times feel lonely and isolating. That’s why resources like Replanted are so crucial. This book provides a practical, insightful and proven model of support for families to not only help them survive, but to thrive in the homes, their marriages and their families.” —Jason Johnson, speaker, blogger, and author of ReFraming Foster Care: Filtering Your Foster Parenting Journey Through the Lens of the Gospel“Replanted is as close to an all-in-one handbook for foster and adoptive parents as I've come across. Jenn Hook brings the expertise of a clinician and the compassion of a ministry leader who has jumped into the trenches with many foster and adoptive parents. For those who are new to foster care and adoption, and for those considering getting involved, this book offers hope and a strong foundation. Replanted tops my list as recommended reading for all foster and adoptive parents.” —Jamie C. Finn, speaker, blogger, and author of Foster the Family, foster and adoptive mom

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Book SynopsisA family built, a family lost. Truth Has a Different Shape is a story of the power of compassion, of love and loss, revelations and relationship, and the evolution of self. Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, Kari O’Driscoll was taught that strength and stoicism were one and the same. She was also taught that a girl’s job was to take care of everyone else. For decades, she believed these ideas, doing everything she could to try and keep the remaining parts of her family together, systematically anticipating disaster and fixing catastrophes one by one.Truth Has a Different Shape is one woman’s meditation on how societal and familial expectations of mothering influenced her sense of self and purpose, as well as her ideas about caretaking. As an adult, finding herself a caretaker both to her own children and to her aging parents, O’Driscoll finally reckons with the childhood trauma that shaped her world. Adoption, loss, and divorce defined her approach to motherhood, but in Truth Has a Different Shape, O’Driscoll finally pushes back. This memoir tracks her progress as she discovers how to truly care for those she loves without putting herself at risk, using mindfulness and compassion as tools for healing both herself and her difficult relationships.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisRenown child development expert Dr. Karyn Purvis gives you practical advice and powerful tools you can use to effectively parent your adopted or foster child. Learn how to lovingly guide your children and bring renewed hope and healing to your family. Trade Review"The deeply rich and nuanced skill set required for offering secure parenting to children with trauma has too often been left to common sense. But now, Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls provide a wealth of research-based expertise and personal experience that will change the life of any adult caring for a child who knows ‘hard places.’ They offer a wide variety of practical tools for understanding the core (and often hidden) needs of children struggling with trauma. Their compassionate, wise, and clinically proven step-by-step options can alter the outcome of any child’s life. My deep gratitude to Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls for making this practical and life-altering option available in such a clear, accessible, and compassionate way.” —Kent Hoffman, cofounder of Circle of Security and coauthor of Raising a Secure Child“When caring for children from hard places, feelings of love are simply not enough. This book addresses so many topics close to our own hearts and personal story. The real-life accounts of walking through the hardest places will bring the hope and healing that are so desperately needed. To Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls, thank you for an amazing resource that everyone in the adoption community can use on their own path toward restoration.” —Mary Beth Chapman, cofounder of Show Hope“Providing care for children who come from ‘hard places’ isn’t easy. These children think and act with few assumptions of safety and trust. To connect with these children, we need to understand and attend to their underlying fear and shame while ensuring that we are approachable and trustworthy ourselves. Karyn and Lisa remind us again and again about the power of relationships in promoting healing and development, and they provide many practical strategies to assist us in our journey. They also remind us also of the need to begin at the beginning, creating safety and connection, balancing nurture with predictability and structure, while modeling the attitude and behaviors we hope to teach. The Connected Parent complements Karyn’s earlier work, The Connected Child, and highlights the need for parents to understand and care for themselves while providing their children with the comfort and joy they desperately need. This journey may be hard, so you would do well to keep this book at your side.” —Dan Hughes, author and founder of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy“Lisa Qualls has done a masterful job of weaving her family’s story together with the powerful legacy of the late Dr. Karyn Purvis. A must-read for parents who long to attach successfully to their adopted kids.” —Sherrie Eldridge, author of Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew“Tragically, many traumatized children are greatly misunderstood. Dr. Karyn Purvis knew how to reach these children and begin the process of healing. In her final written work, The Connected Parent, Dr. Purvis shares her wisdom and expertise for working with children who have experienced trauma. She had a heart as big as Texas, and we are so thrilled that her work continues to help vulnerable children and families all around the world.” —Deborra-lee Jackman, adoptive parent and founder of Adopt Change and Hopeland“This is the book foster and adoptive parents have waited for. Dr. Karyn Purvis taught so many of us about our children and how to play a part in their healing. Receiving more insight and instruction from Dr. Purvis posthumously is an unexpected gift, and it is made complete by the compassionate wisdom and experience of fellow foster and adoptive mother Lisa Qualls. Together, their voices create a more complete roadmap for foster and adoptive parents as they love and parent children from hard places.” —Jamie Finn, speaker and author of Foster the Family“This gem of a book provides parents with a holistic, research-based parenting approach for children who have endured trauma. Karyn Purvis’s clear voice provides the science behind children’s struggles and effective parenting approaches. Lisa brings the book home with her scripts, examples, and tips on behavioral interventions. The authors connect aptly with their readers even as they help us to connect with children. This compassionate book touched my heart. I am grateful to Karyn Purvis for her legacy through this book, made the richer through joint authorship by Lisa Qualls.” —Deborah Gray, author of Promoting Healthy Attachments; Attaching with Love, Hugs, and Play; Nurturing Adoptions, and Attaching in Adoption“This amazing book continues the legacy of Dr. Karyn Purvis and her ground-breaking techniques in helping children and families do the work of healing. Joining with Dr. Purvis, Lisa Qualls brilliantly weaves real-life challenges and methods through every chapter, offering hope and practical, realistic strategies. This book will make a great resource for foster and adoptive parent book clubs and support groups. I recommend it highly!” —Jayne Schooler, author of Wound Children, Healing Homes, Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child, and The Whole Life Adoption Book

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Book SynopsisBetween the Mountain and the Sky tells the story of Maggie Doyne’s amazing journey from carefree New Jersey teen to mother of over fifty Nepalese children by the age of thirty.

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Book SynopsisArmed with professional knowledge and inspired by the experiences of others who have gone before them, prospective parents will be informed and reassured by this unique resource.Trade ReviewAn informative guide... this panoramic view of the many routes to parenthood is both practical and encouraging. Publishers Weekly 2009 Personal stories of parents' experiences blend with insights to make for a powerful presentation of options. Midwest Book Review 2009 A comprehensive book... a much-needed resource in the infertility literature. PsycCRITIQUES 2010Table of ContentsPreface: About This BookPart I: What Are the Pathways to Parenthood?1. The Fertility Workup2. Early Fertility Assistance: Hormone Stimulation and Intrauterine Insemination3. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Using Your Own Eggs or Sperm4. Using Donor Sperm5. Using Donor Eggs and Embryos6. Using a Surrogate7. Domestic and International Adoptions8. Which Options Are Available to You? The Requirements for Each Pathway9. Considerations for Nontraditional FamiliesPart II: Balancing the Risks and Benefits for Each Pathway10. Your Influence on Genetics and the Fetal and Infant Environments11. Pregnancy and Medical Risks for Mother and Child12. Mental Health Risks for the Child13. Emotional Costs: What You Might Experience14. Time Costs: How Long before You Become a Parent?15. Hassle Costs: Travel, Appointments, Forms, and Documents16. Financial Costs: Which Options Are Affordable?17. Legal Considerations18. Final ThoughtsAcknowledgmentsAppendixesA. Summary of Your Influence on Genetic Background and Fetal and Infant EnvironmentsB. Environmental Influence, by Child's Age and Type of AdoptionC. Summary of Pregnancy and Medical RisksD. Summary of Mental Health RisksE. Summary of Emotional RisksF. Summary of Time from Start of Process to Conception (Fertility Assistance) or Becoming a Parent (Adoption)G. Summary of HasslesH. Summary of Financial CostsI. Summary of Legal ConsiderationsGlossarySelected ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisArmed with professional knowledge and inspired by the experiences of others who have gone before them, prospective parents will be informed and reassured by this unique resource.Trade ReviewAn informative guide... this panoramic view of the many routes to parenthood is both practical and encouraging. Publishers Weekly 2009 Personal stories of parents' experiences blend with insights to make for a powerful presentation of options. Midwest Book Review 2009 A comprehensive book... a much-needed resource in the infertility literature. PsycCRITIQUES 2010Table of ContentsPreface: About This BookPart I: What Are the Pathways to Parenthood?1. The Fertility Workup2. Early Fertility Assistance: Hormone Stimulation and Intrauterine Insemination3. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Using Your Own Eggs or Sperm4. Using Donor Sperm5. Using Donor Eggs and Embryos6. Using a Surrogate7. Domestic and International Adoptions8. Which Options Are Available to You? The Requirements for Each Pathway9. Considerations for Nontraditional FamiliesPart II: Balancing the Risks and Benefits for Each Pathway10. Your Influence on Genetics and the Fetal and Infant Environments11. Pregnancy and Medical Risks for Mother and Child12. Mental Health Risks for the Child13. Emotional Costs: What You Might Experience14. Time Costs: How Long before You Become a Parent?15. Hassle Costs: Travel, Appointments, Forms, and Documents16. Financial Costs: Which Options Are Affordable?17. Legal Considerations18. Final ThoughtsAcknowledgmentsAppendixesA. Summary of Your Influence on Genetic Background and Fetal and Infant EnvironmentsB. Environmental Influence, by Child's Age and Type of AdoptionC. Summary of Pregnancy and Medical RisksD. Summary of Mental Health RisksE. Summary of Emotional RisksF. Summary of Time from Start of Process to Conception (Fertility Assistance) or Becoming a Parent (Adoption)G. Summary of HasslesH. Summary of Financial CostsI. Summary of Legal ConsiderationsGlossarySelected ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisNominated for the 2005 Norma Fleck AwardThousands of mothers carried their babies to the gates of the Foundling Hospital desperate to save them from the cruel streets of eighteenth-century London. Each baby was left with a personal “token” - identification if a repentant mother ever returned to reclaim her child.Captain Thomas Coram, himself childless, was inspired by the sight of babies abandoned on dung heaps to petition the king for support in building a home for England’s poorest children. Coram’s vision saved countless children’s lives.A Home for Foundlings describes the hospital Captain Coram founded, the luminaries involved - including Handel, Hogarth, and Dickens - and the daily lives of the foundlings themselves.Full of archival photos and materials, and published in cooperation with the newly established Foundling Museum in London and Lord Cultural Resources, A Home for Foundlings is a fascinat

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Book SynopsisCarrie Kipp Howard is an award-winning writer and editor whose work has appeared in numerous books and publications. She has interests in branding and corporate identity, aviation, and parenting and adoption. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, she lives with her family in Seattle.

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Book Synopsis From one of the world's leading experts, this absorbing narrative history of the changing structure of modern families shows how children can flourish in any kind of loving home. The past few decades have seen extraordinary change in the idea of a family. The unit once understood to include two straight parents and their biological children has expanded vastly—same-sex marriage, adoption, IVF, sperm donation, and other forces have enabled new forms to take shape. This has resulted in enormous upheaval and controversy, but as Susan Golombok shows in this compelling and important book, it has also meant the health and happiness of parents and children alike. Golombok's stories, drawn from decades of research, are compelling and dramatic: family secrets kept for years and then inadvertently revealed; children reunited with their biological parents or half siblings they never knew existed; and painful legal battles to determine who is worthy of parenting their own children. Golombok explores the novel moral questions that changing families create, and ultimately makes a powerful argument that the bond between family members, rather than any biological or cultural factor, is what ensures a safe and happy future.We Are Family is unique, authoritative, and deeply humane. It makes an important case for all families—old, new, and yet unimagined.

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