NJ ARCH - Articles for Families
Below is a
list of articles recommended by NJ ARCH for adoptive families.
Included is a
brief description of the article’s content and potential uses. These articles
will have an icon
in the Title Box that indicates the article is available through the NJ ARCH
Library, free of
charge. Simply click on the icon to go to the online article request form.
Please note that
some of the articles are from websites; if you would like to access these
articles, please
click on the web address to be taken directly to the article page.
Please click on a category below to go directly to that
listing:
General Adoption
Child Behavior
Mental Health
Special Needs
Adoption Support and Advice
Child Development
International /
Interracial / Intercultural
Search and Reunion
Birth Families
Alternative Families
Education / Special Education
Step Parent Adoption (English and Spanish)
"General Adoption"
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Journal |
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American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
The Adopted Child
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www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/adopted.htm
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April 1999 |
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Notes |
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Brief description of statistical trends of adoption in America. Includes types of children in need of adoption and the issues they face. Good overview, concise, without in-depth information. |
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Are you pregnant and thinking about adoption (English version)
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Child Welfare Information Gateway |
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Notes |
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Grief and Loss
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Notes |
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Excerpt from book. Talks about the common causes of grief and loss, how people deal with these emotions and suggests innovative methods for combating grief and loss. |
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Author |
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Journal |
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Keefer, Betsey and Jayne E. Schooler |
Just the Facts Ma’am: Why Do Children Need Them?
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Book Title: Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child |
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Notes |
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This chapter includes the topics: unrealistic fantasies of adoptive parents and children, identity confusion, “magical thinking,” divided loyalties, fears, disconnectedness, and trust issues. Also includes a short case study. All topics focus on the importance of honesty towards adopted or foster children. |
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Resources for Adoptive Parents 1993 |
The Adoptive Family
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Notes |
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Brief explanation of main themes facing a new adopted family, with specific emphasis on parenting abused or neglected children. |
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Title |
Journal |
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Keefer, Betsy and Jayne E. Schooler |
The Ten Commandments of Telling: Principles to Consider
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Book Title: Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child… |
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Notes |
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Excerpt from the book listed above, has ten simple, one-sentence guidelines aimed at helping parents with the issue of telling their adopted child about their situation. |
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about.com |
Adoption Search Series – Basics
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Notes |
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From the “about.com” database, this is a 7-section document including the following topics: Making the Decision to Search, First Steps to Take, What You Need to Know About Birth Certificates, What You Need to Know About Adoption Reunion Registries, What You Need to Know About Misspellings, Using Libraries for Search and Research, and When You Don’t Want to be Contacted. Each section is short, and easily understood. |
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
Issue |
| Bennet, Pat |
Adopting a Waiting Child in the U.S.: How to Begin  |
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| Notes | |||
| This article in outline form contains a fairly comprehensive list of suggestions and resources for families considering adoption in the United States. Topics include: DYFS locations, adoption agencies, national adoption agencies, agencies not licensed in New Jersey, exchange locations, and photolistings. | |||
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
Issue |
| Schoettle, Marylin, M.A. |
Beyond Their Story: Educating Children to be Part of the
Adoption Community |
Center for Adoption Support and Education Inc. | |
| Notes | |||
| This article highlights the benefits and need for all children to understand adoption. The author points out how understanding on the part of all children is healthy for adoptive families. It also includes several useful and easy-to-use suggestions on how to educate children about adoption. | |||
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
Issue |
| O'Riordan, Jennifer |
Choosing an Adoption Agency |
Adoptive
Families (click above to view) |
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| Notes | |||
| A short and insightful article providing sound advice for choosing an agency. Tips include how to approach the process, what expectations to have (and not to have), what questions to ask, and what to watch out for. | |||
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
Issue |
| Lovett, Abigail |
The Goal of Adoption is Child-Centered: An Adoptee's
Advice to Prospective Adoptive Parents |
Decree: American Adoption Congress | Summer 1998 |
| Notes | |||
| Written by an adult adoptee, this article provides great advice for parents to help them empathize with the feelings and experiences of adopted children. The article encourages adoptive parents to keep the adoption process with the child's best interests as the focus. Also includes "The Ten Commandments of Child-Centered Adoption" by James L. Gritter, M.S.W. | |||
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
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| Brown, Jane A. |
Adoption and Siblings |
Decree: American Adoption Congress | Summer 2001 |
| Notes | |||
| Honestly discusses both the positives and negatives of adoptions and sibling relationships. It also includes 10 helpful strategies to manage and promote healthy sibling relationships in adoption. | |||
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
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| Watson, Ken Ph.D. |
What Adoption Is and What It Isn't |
Decree: American Adoption Congress | Summer 1997 |
| Notes | |||
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
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| Emig, Carol |
Fostering Families Today - Pew Commission on Children In
Foster Care: recommendations for fixing the broken system (view article here: click icon below) |
Pew Commission |
August/September 2004 |
| Notes | |||
| The Executive Director of the Pew Commission offers a comprehensive paper based on research and developments in the world of adoption and foster care about how to resolve many of the flaws in the system. | |||
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
Issue |
| Jeff Katz |
Listening to Parents: Overcoming the Barriers to Adopting
Children from Foster Care (view article here: click icon below) |
Evan B. Donaldson, Adoption Institute | Special Study |
| Notes | |||
| The vast majority of potential parents who are recruited – well over 90 percent – do not ultimately wind up adopting a child not because they don’t want to, but apparently because they decide not to deal with a system they perceive as too frustrating, bureaucratic and just plain unfriendly. This comprehensive study lays out detailed recommendations for changing the system and improving children’s prospects of finding permanent, loving families. | |||
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Author |
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Journal |
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Gil, Eliana PhD. |
Age-Appropriate Sex Play Versus Problematic Sexual Behaviors
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Notes |
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Helps professionals and parents recognize and appropriately respond to sexual behavior in children. Mostly easily understood, some jargon. |
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Hughes, Daniel Ph.D |
Day-to-Day Parenting
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Notes |
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Excerpt from the book Facilitating Developmental Attachment: The Road to Emotional Recovery and Behavior Change in Foster and Adopted Children. Two separate checklists with suggestions on how to welcome a child to a new home and simple parenting tips. |
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Author |
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Journal |
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Becker-Weidman, Arthur Ph.D. |
Temperament
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Notes |
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Includes a checklist of 9 temperament dimensions including: activity level, regularity, initial reaction, adaptability, intensity, mood, distractibility, persistency/attention span, and sensitivity. Helps parents become more understanding and adaptable to child’s behaviors. |
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Author |
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Keck, Gregory C. Ph.D. and Regina Kupecky LSW |
The Effects of Impermanence on the Hurt Child
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Book title: Adopting the Hurt Child - Hope for Families With Special Needs Kids |
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Excerpt from the book listed above, briefly outlining the symptoms and implications of a child who experiences impermanence and a lack of attachment and affection. |
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Mind/Body Health Newsletter |
Mind/Body Health in Practice
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Mind/Body Health Newsletter |
Vol.VI No.2 1997 |
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Notes |
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A packet of useful information for parents and professionals. Includes the following elements: discussion on child temperament, a temperament rating chart, why children misbehave, a child behavior chart, suggestions for behavior management of emotionally disturbed children, and a behavior management mindset checklist. |
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
Issue |
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Becker-Weidman, Aurthur. Ph.D. |
Subtle Signs of Attachment Sensitivities in Adopted Children
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Healing Magazine |
Spring/Sumer 2004 |
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Notes |
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A short but useful article by the Director of The Center for Family Development in Upstate New York. Includes eight signs of possible attachment sensitivity, what parents can do, and how to manage attachment. |
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
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Finkelstein, Wamsley, Currie and Miranda |
Youth Who Chronically AWOL from Foster Care: Why They Run, Where They Go, and What Can Be Done
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Vera Institute of Justice |
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Notes |
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A comprehensive publication that offers detailed analysis of AWOL and foster care based on a study conducted by the Vera Institute of Justice in New York. Included is a discussion of placement problems, push and pull factors for youth, first hand AWOL accounts, and possible remedies for AWOL in foster care. |
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
Issue |
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Brown, Jane |
The "A" Word in Adoption: Helping Children Understand and Cope with Abandonment Issues
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Decree: American Adoption Congress |
Fall/Winter 2001 |
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Notes |
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| The two main themes of this article are: examining the biological and environmental roots of abandonment issues and developing coping skills to deal with those issues. | |||
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Author |
Title |
Journal |
Issue |
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Child Welfare League of America |
Suggestions for Nurturing Your Child’s Mental Health
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Notes |
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Clear, brief 12-point checklist with suggestions for parenting strategies that can help improve a child’s mental health. |
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
Suggestions for Nurturing Your Child’s Mental Health
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Simple, easily understood 12-point list of suggestions for parents in order to help any child maintain good mental health. Includes issues of responsibility, safety, emotional expression, setting examples, and discipline. |
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Journal |
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Unknown |
Bonding and Attachment
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Book Title: Raising Adopted Children |
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Notes |
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Chapter excerpt from the book listed above. Discusses the following topics: attachment ambivalence, attachment following arousal, and attachment disorders. |
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Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology |
Being Prepared: Knowing How to Find Help for Your Child
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This brief, but useful article spells out effective ways to determine if and how to get help for your child's mental health |
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