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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

Module 5 - Separation, grief and loss

• Learning objectives
• Structure

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Learning objectives

The learning objectives of Module 5 are:

• to provide an overview of loss experienced by all parties involved in adoption
• to encourage prospective adoptive parents to explore their own experiences of loss and grief
• to provide an understanding of the impact of loss on adopted children from overseas and the factors influencing a child's reaction to separation and loss
• to provide an understanding of the five stages of grief and the way in which an adopted child may emotionally respond within these five stages.

This module will provide prospective adoptive parents with an opportunity to explore their own experiences of loss and grief, as well as to develop an understanding of a child's experience of loss and grief with the adoption process.

Many people consider adoption as a result of loss of fertility. It is essential that prospective adoptive parents appreciate and understand loss experienced by the other parties involved in the adoption process - the adopted child and their birth family.

People of different gender, age, cultural background and life experience express and feel loss and grief differently. The psychological impact of adoption for children and their adoptive families creates unique challenges.

Research suggests that associated issues related to adoption include rejection, feelings of guilt and shame, identity issues, and difficulties with intimacy and relationships.

We strongly encourage you to explore and reflect on the issues and difficulties that an adopted child may encounter throughout their lives as a result of the loss that they have experienced, and the support available to help them deal with their grief.

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Structure

This module is structured as a number of topics:

• 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

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Last updated

19 October 2007