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Potential Parenting Challenges
All adopted people, whether adopted as infants or older children, through voluntary relinquishment, from foster care, or through intercountry adoption, suffer losses. Some children have more losses than others (e.g., children adopted from foster care may lose multiple families; children adopted internationally may have the additional loss of language, country of origin, and culture). It is important to be informed of potential challenges and know which challenges your family is prepared to face. Children adopted domestically and children adopted internationally become available for adoption for similar reasons. Recent studies indicate that the vast majority of adopted children are in good health and fare well on measures of social and emotional well-being. This section contains resources about some of the parenting challenges you may face with adopted children and youth.
A Child's Journey Through the Child Welfare System
The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care (2003)
Describes a child's typical path through the public foster care system, based on current State and Federal laws.
Adopted Children With Special Health Care Needs: Characteristics, Health, and Health Care by Adoption Type
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
Presents information on adopted people with special health-care needs, using data from the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN).
(PDF – 279 KB).
Adopting and Fostering Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (PDF – 145 KB)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2007)
Offers an overview of the challenges associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), including how to gather information for an accurate diagnosis.
Eight Misconceptions About Prenatal Alcohol and Drug Exposure and Adoption
The Evan B. Donaldson Institute
Lists common myths about prenatal alcohol and drug exposure.
| Parenting a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents | |
| Series Title: | Factsheets for Families |
| Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability: | View Download (PDF - 240KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
| Year Published: | 2008 - 10 pages |
| Many factors affect how children react to and recover from sexual abuse. Parents play an important role in their children?s recovery. This factsheet includes information to help foster and adoptive parents of children who have been sexually abused. It includes information about child sexual abuse, tips for establishing guidelines for safety and privacy in the family, and guidance on when and how to seek help, if needed. | |
Special Needs Adoption
Children's Disabilities Information
Offers selected articles on the adoption of special needs children.
| Understanding the Effects of Maltreatment on Brain Development | |
| Series Title: | Issue Briefs |
| Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability: | View Download (PDF - 365KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
| Year Published: | 2009 - 17 pages |
| This issue brief provides basic information on brain development and the effects of abuse and neglect on that development. The information is designed to help professionals understand the emotional, mental, and behavioral impact of early abuse and neglect in children who come to the attention of the child welfare system. | |
When the Bonding Cycle Is Broken
Attach China/International
Illustrates the bonding cycle and the impact of its disruption (click on link in left navigation bar).