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Helping Adopted Children Cope With Grief and Loss
Adoption involves loss. Resources in this section can help families understand and help their adopted children deal with the loss and grief associated with adoption.
7 Core Issues in Adoption
The Center for Adoption Support and Education
Explains the seven core issues of adoption for birth parents, adopted people, and adoptive parents.
Adaptive Grieving - Natural for Adopted Child
Describes the grieving process that many adopted children go through over time as they develop a deeper understanding of adoption.
Ambiguous Loss Haunts Foster and Adopted Children
Kim
Adoptalk, Winter 2009
Explains the ambiguous loss—grief or distress combined with confusion about the lost person or relationship—felt by parents of adopted children with special needs, birth parents, and foster and adopted children. Strategies for helping children cope with ambiguous loss are provided.
Disruptions in Close Relationships: How They Affect a Child's Behavior, Thoughts, and Feelings (PDF - 190 KB)
University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension (2003)
Examines types of disruptions that may occur in a child's life, the stages of coping, and includes a chart illustrating common reactions of children coping with separation and other major life changes.
How Loss of Culture, Ethnicity, Religion and Heritage Can Affect Children in Foster Care
Krebs, Singer, & Marshall (2009)
Describes the significance of the losses of culture, ethnicity, religion, and heritage for children and youth in foster care.
Finding the Missing Pieces: Helping Adopted Children Cope With Grief and Loss
Adoption Learning Partners
Offers an online course to help adoptive families understand the feelings that children have about adoption and how to help them express and deal with those feelings.
Impact of Adoption on Adopted Persons | |
Series Title: | Factsheets for Families |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 248KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
Year Published: | 2004 - 8 pages |
As discussion of the adoption process becomes more open and accepted in American society, and as more Americans have experience with adoption, there is also more attention focused on those involved in adoption -- the adopted person, the birth parents, and the adoptive parents (often referred to as the adoption triad or, more recently, the adoption constellation). People who have experienced adoption firsthand are coming forward to talk or write about their experiences, and researchers are conducting scientific studies to find out about the impact of adoption on all members of the adoption triad. This factsheet examines the impact of ... |
Selecting and Working With a Therapist Skilled in Adoption | |
Series Title: | Factsheets for Families |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 251KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
Year Published: | 2012 - 13 pages |
Provides members of adoptive families with information on the varieties of therapeutic approaches and professional therapists, recommendations for choosing and working with a therapist, and online resources for postadoption support and national organizations. |
Separation and Loss Issues for Foster and Birth Families [DVD]
Fahlberg (2003)
View Abstract
Explores the feelings of loss and separation experienced by children in foster care. The DVD shares the stories of three children who have been through the foster care system, explains the stages of the grief process, and features interviews with foster parents and birth parents discussing their experiences with grief and loss.
A Tool to Help Adopted People Resolve Loss
Eldridge (2007)
Describes an activity, a "grief box," that parents help their children create to release feelings of grief and loss.
Responding to child abuse & neglect: Trauma-informed care - Resources on trauma for caregivers and families
Out-of-home care: Casework practice in out-of-home care - Helping children and families with separation and loss
Systemwide: Mental health services: Common mental health issues for children, youth, and families involved in child welfare - Unique mental health issues for children, youth, and families involved in child welfare: Grief and loss