Helping Your Foster Child Transition to Your Adopted Child

Series: Factsheets for Families

Author(s): Child Welfare Information Gateway

Year Published: 2012

(PDF - 255 KB)

This factsheet summarizes how foster/adoptive parents can help their child make the emotional adjustment to being an adopted child. Children and youth may not clearly comprehend the difference between being a foster child versus being an adopted child in the same family. This factsheet provides specific steps parents can take to help children understand these changes along with helpful resources.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Talking With Children About the Changes
Helping Children Understand Their Histories and Losses
Helping Children Cope With Trauma and Loss
Helping Children Transfer Attachments
Conclusion
Resources

We also recommend the following Information Gateway publications:

Foster Parents Considering Adoption (Factsheets for Families)
Selecting and Working With an Adoption Therapist (Factsheets for Families)
Adoption Assistance for Children Adopted From Foster Care (Factsheets for Families)

Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2012). Helping your foster child transition to your adopted child. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Helping Your Foster Child Transition to Your Adopted Child

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