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Intercountry adoptive parent education

• Module 1 - Introduction
  • What is adoption?
  • Who is involved in the adoption process?
  • The adoption process
  • Adoption Services Queensland
  • Suggested reading
• Module 2 - The needs of overseas children requiring permanent adoptive placements in Queensland
  • Overseas country information
  • Are you suited to intercountry adoption?
  • Motivation to adopt
  • Issues and challenges faced by adoptive parents
  • Placement proposals
  • Building resilience with your adopted child
  • Suggested reading
• Module 3 - Child development
  • Understanding child development
  • Factors that impact on child development
  • A child's understanding of adoption
  • Suggested reading
• Module 4 - Attachment and bonding
  • Attachment theory
  • What is attachment and bonding?
  • Types of attachment
  • Attachment behaviour
  • Signs of healthy attachment and bonding
  • Attachment disorder
  • Impact of attachment on adoptive parenting
  • The arousal-relaxation cycle
  • Developing an attachment with your child
  • Suggested reading
• Module 5 - Separation, grief and loss
  • Definition of loss and grief
  • The impact of loss on adoptive parents
  • The impact of loss on adopted children
  • Effects and strategies for dealing with a child's loss
  • Understanding the impact of loss on an adopted child
  • The impact of loss on birth parents
  • The grief process
  • Suggested reading
• Module 6 - Identity and culture
  • Your feelings about ethnic background and culture
  • The impact of adoption on your family
  • Definition of ethnicity, culture and identity
  • Addressing cultural identity
  • The cultural heritage plan
  • Barriers to developing a child's cultural identity
  • A child's racial awareness
  • Stages of development of racial identity
  • Combating racism
  • Telling your child they are adopted
  • The adoptive family life cycle
  • Suggested reading
• Module 7 - Preparing for assessment
  • Departmental assessment considerations
  • Assessing a couple's suitability
  • Meeting the assessment criteria
  • The assessment process
  • Placement considerations
  • Assessors - their perspective
  • Establishing a family tree and Ecomap
  • Suggested reading
• Module 8 - Placement information
  • Medical assessment of children adopted from overseas
  • Lodging an application with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
  • Migration Health Check
  • Naming your child
  • Travel arrangements
  • Arrival in Australia
  • Queensland Birth Certificate
  • Australian Citizenship
  • Adoptive parent support groups
  • Life Story Book
  • Suggested reading
• Module 9 - General reading
• Family profile
  • My family profile
• Printable version
• Contacts

Suggested reading

• References
• Suggested reading

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References

• Archer, C. (1999). First steps in parenting the child who hurts: tiddlers and toddlers. Great Britain: Jessica Kinglsey Publishers.
• Fahlberg, V. (1994). A child's journey through placement. London: British Association for Adoption and Fostering.
• Farber, M. L. Z., Timberlake, E. Mudd, H. P. and Cullen, L. (2003). Preparing parents for adoption: an agency experience. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, vol. 20, iss. 3, 175-196.
• Gribble, K. (2004). The post-institutionalised child (PDF 67 KB). Post Adoption Resource Centre, Benevolent Society.
• Howe, D., Shemmings, D. and Feast, J. (2001). Age at placement and adult adopted people's experience of being adopted. Child and Family Social Work, vol. 6, 337-349.
• Johnson, D. E. and Dole, K. (1999). International adoptions: implications for early intervention. Infants and Young Children, vol. 11, iss. 4.
• Levy, T. M. and Orlans, M. (1998). Attachment, trauma and healing: understanding and treating attachment disorder in children and families. Washington, DC: CWLA Press.
• McDonald, T. P., Propp, J. R. and Murphy, K. C. (2001). The postadoption experience: child, parent, and family predictors of family adjustment to adoption. Child Welfare, vol. 80, iss. 1, 71-95.
• Melina, L. R. (1998). Raising adopted children: practical, reassuring advice for every adoptive parent. United States of America: HarperCollins.
• Schofield, G. and Beek, M. (2006). Attachment handbook for foster care and adoption. London: British Association for Adoption and Fostering.
• Schooler, J. E. (1993). Realistic advice for building a health adoptive family: the whole life adoption book. United States of America: Pinon Press.
• Steinberg, G. and Hall, B. (2000). Inside transracial adoption. United States of America: Perspectives Press.
• Verhulst, F. C. (2000). 'The development of internationally adopted children' in Intercountry adoption, London: British Association of Adoption and Fostering.
• Child Development Institute
• Centre for Adoption Support and Education

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Suggested reading

• Hirst, M. (2005). Loving and living with traumatised children: reflections by adoptive parents. London: British Association of Adoption and Fostering.
• Hutchinson, S. B. (2005). Effects of and interventions for childhood trauma from infancy through adolescence: pain unspeakable. Haworth Maltreatment and Trauma Press.
• Schooler, J. E. (1993). Realistic advice for building a health adoptive family: the whole life adoption book. United States of America: Pinon Press.

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Last updated

19 October 2007