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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. (1996). 'Attachment disordered children' in R. Phillips and E. McWilliams, (Eds.), After adoption: working with adoptive families. London: British Association of Attachment and Fostering.
• Eshleman, L. (2003). Becoming a family: promoting healthy attachments with your adopted child. Maryland: Taylor Trade Publishing.
• Fahlberg, V. (1994). A child's journey through placement. London: British Association for Adoption and Fostering.
• Fursland, E. (2002). Preparing to adopt: a training pack for preparation groups. London: British Association for Adoption and Fostering.
• Hughes, D. A. (1999). Adopting children with attachment problems. Child Welfare, vol. 78, iss. 5, 541-561.
• Keck, G. C. and Kupecky, R. M. (2002). Parenting the hurt child: helping adoptive families heal and grow. United States of America: Pinon Press.
• Melina, L. R. (1998). Raising adopted children: practical, reassuring advice for every adoptive parent. United States of America: HarperCollins.
• Ormerod, T. (2004). Service needs of transracial adoptive families: the case for providing more post adoption services. New South Wales: Post Adoption Resource Centre, Benevolent Society.
• Rojewski, J. W. and Rojewski, J. L. (2001). 'And baby makes three: attachment and adjustment issues'. Intercountry adoption from China: examining cultural heritage and other postadoption issues. United States of America: Bergin and Garvey.
• 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.

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Suggested reading

• Eshleman, L. (2003). Becoming a family: promoting healthy attachments with your adopted child. Maryland: Taylor Trade Publishing.
• Gray, D. D. (2002). Attaching in adoption: practical tools for today's parents. Indianapolis: Perspectives Press, Inc.
• Melina, L. R. (1998). Raising adopted children: practical, reassuring advice for every adoptive parent. United States of America: HarperCollins.

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Last updated

19 October 2007