First to get a new look was the Positive Adoption Language flyer. Originally it was designed as a published piece to be used as a tool for productive discussions. In 2009 it was converted to a free download from the company’s website. To date, more than 350 downloads have been requested.

The One and Only Me life book kit has been a cornerstone of the Adoption World offerings since 1995. In 2009 the cover and title page received a fresh look. Graphic Artist Susan Readnour created new cover and title page incorporating the original book characters. The colorful illustration is perfect for the intended audience – children age 5-10. Late in 2010, the sticker packet that accompanies the book was revamped. Working with several of the original images, Readnour developed sticker sheets that will assist the child with the journey through the lifebook.

Like the Adoption World Publishing website which uses the images of photographed children, the front cover of My Adoption Workbook now is covered with photos of children. With diversity in mind, the new look helps to draw the child into the material of the book-all of which remains unchanged.

The most recent redesigned product is the Adoption Day button. It is included in the children’s version of the Foster- to-Adopt booklet series and marks the adoption milestone. The Adoption Day button can also be purchased individually and used for Adoption Day events.

“All children deserve loving, safe and permanent homes,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “It is gratifying that most states continue to excel in promoting the adoption of children from foster care. I sincerely thank every adoptive family that has welcomed a child into their home.”

States received $4,000 for every child adopted beyond their best year’s total, plus a payment of $8,000 for every child age 9 and older and $4,000 for every special needs child adopted above the respective baselines. The year 2007 is the baseline.

“America’s communities benefit when children grow up in stable families,” said David A. Hansell, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. “We’re very pleased that the adoption incentives program is helping states improve their programs and place more children into homes that are theirs forever.”

The states will be using the funds from this adoption incentive award to improve their child welfare programs. Many of the states mandate life books for their children and will be able to use this money to purchase these much needed items.

We applaud Secretary Sebelius and the 38 states and Puerto Rico. With the economy still recovering, these federal awards could not come at a better time. Many adoption agencies have been trying to make do with “piece-meal” lifebooks, or no books at all. With this money, children will be able to get quality books in their hands.

Congratulations

Preparing a child for adoption is vital to a successful placement. Adoption workbooks and life books are valuable tools to help kids through a difficult time.

My Adoption Workbook by Theresa McCoy, LBSW, addresses not only the mechanics of adoption, but also the feelings, fears and questions that often arise.

My Growing World by Kathleen Carroll is another great source of information and comfort. Colorful, friendly characters help kids work through issues.

Learn more about these books at www.adoptionworld.net

Mary Beth Chapman is the wife of Christian song writer/singer Steven Curtis Chapman. The book is a result of the unexpected and brutal loss of their youngest adopted daughter, Maria. Mary Beth honestly shares her personal journey from childhood, to the challenges of married life, to the wrestling match with God about adopting children. The couple had 3 children when God nudged the family to adopt. Mary Beth had many reservations about adopting, including whether or not she could love the adopted child as much as her biological children. She fretted needlessly because as soon as she saw the tiny Chinese girl, her heart melted and love poured out so strongly that she knew this little girl was hers.

The Chapman family adopted two more girls from China. The youngest was Maria. She was five when she was tragically struck in the Chapman driveway and died from her injuries. Mary Beth recalls the anguish, struggles and grief of losing a child. Through the journey of grieving, the family has chosen to SEE with faith and hope.

Mary Beth has told her kids for years that ‘God doesn’t make mistakes.’ Through the tears, weeping, praying and hoping came the act of honoring God with a care facility for Chinese, special needs orphans called Maria’s Big House of Hope. Maria’s death has given hundreds of orphans hope for desperately needed surgeries and medical attention. Visit www.showhope.org to learn more about Maria’s story and how Show Hope is changing the lives of Chinese orphans.

To read more about Mary Beth Chapman and her ministry visit www.marybethchapman.com.

Susan Readnour

A review in the January/February 2010 issue of Adoptive Families magazine sang the praises of both the author Kathleen Carroll and the book’s illustrator Lucy Mara Taylor.

The review by Jane Schooler, coauthor of Wounded Children, Healing Homes: How Traumatized Children Impact Adoptive and Foster Families, highly recommended My Growing World “for any child journeying through the welfare system.”

My Growing World was also chosen in the Spring 2010 issue of Foster Families magazine as the editor’s choice.

My Growing World is sold exclusively from the publisher at www.adoptionworld.net or can be ordered by calling 319-365-3454.

Characters like Fuzzihead, Piper Pig and Lambabelle are adorable.  They combine with activities like Musical Motions and Moving Day to create a warm and therapeutic setting not found in other adoption and foster care lifebooks.

Among the best parts of the book are the short stories from children in similar circumstances.  They help a child to identify with and understand that their circumstances may not be unique.

Be sure and go to “What they’re saying” at the bottom of our home page.  Look for the big red button!  Click on the button and it will take you to a review on My Growing World which was published in Adoptive Families magazine.

The Real Me is an empowering, contemporary life book for teenagers. It helps teens explore and document the many sides of their personality. This is an exceptional book that quickly distinguishes itself as a must have for young adults in foster care or adoption.

Each chapter allows the teenager to express their feelings and gives powerful inspiration along the way:

“Who Am I Today?” I am more than what others think of me… more than my fears and anxieties… more than my appearance. I am more than my actions or any labels that the world may place upon me!

“Where I Came From” I need to revisit my childhood in order to understand how I got where I am today. I may feel sad or angry or hurt. I can’t change the past, but I can make peace with it! Then I’ll be ready to move on, taking the best of my memories with me.

“What My Future Holds” The future is a promise that I make to myself. I will not be limited by the past or the choices of others. I will follow my dreams and meet every challenge. I will reach out to others when I need assistance and offer a helping hand in return. I will be the best that I can be… I promise!

There are very few adoption lifebooks out there that focus on the teenager perspective. The Real Me is a very special life book and caters to fostered youth as well as a teen that has finally come into an adoptive situation. For the parental perspective, an older child brings unique challenges. For both the teenager and the parent, this life book encourages growth together through documentation of feelings and happenings that have lead you to be together.

Please visit our informational articles about the adoption process as it applies to foster parenting, adopting and the special children in our care.

]]> http://adoptionworld.net/blog/the-real-me-adoption-life-book/feed/ 0 http://adoptionworld.net/blog/adoption-life-books-child-booklet/ http://adoptionworld.net/blog/adoption-life-books-child-booklet/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:27:29 +0000 kmobley http://adoptionworld.net/blog/?p=62 Adoption Life Books – Child Booklet from Adoption World Specialties

The Foster-To-Adopt Child Booklet

The Foster-to-Adopt “Child” booklet explains that adoption is a big word for small people. In addition to Adoption World Specialties’ array of adoption life books and foster life books, this booklet is a valuable tool for use by parents when they’ve decided to adopt. The adoptive child has many questions and this booklet was written to help them understand what adoption is and how it is different from foster care. Our friends, Ja’mar and Michael and Sarah will help to explain how they traveled the path from being foster children to being adopted by their forever families.

Ja’mar says: “When I was a baby, I lived with my mom and dad. They had a lot of fights. I didn’t like the yelling. Then, when I was five, I went to live with somebody else. After my mom and dad got a divorce, I went back home to live with my mom again, but she still had too many problems. Then she went away somewhere with her boyfriend and didn’t come back. My grandma tried to help, but she got sick and I couldn’t stay with her anymore. Now, my foster parents have adopted me. I’m sure glad they have pets.”

Michael and Sarah say: “Our social worker said we won’t ever live with our mom or dad again. That made my sister, Sarah, cry, but I’m bigger and I’ll take care of her. And our new parents know a lot ‘bout stuff and tuck us into bed at night. They have adopted us and so that means we have a new name and we’ll be their kids forever.”

When your foster family adopts a child, many things take place. As the children explain, Ja’mar says: “My foster mom took me to visit the courthouse ahead of time so I wouldn’t feel so scared. But I still worried that the judge would say “no”. Instead, she shook my hand and said, “Ja’mar, your adoptive parents are lucky to have you for their son.” I had my picture taken with her… she was really nice.

Michael and Sarah also shared with us. Michael says: “Adoption means that I get to have a birthday party every year with the same family.” Sarah says: “Getting adopted was fun. I got a balloon and a new Betsy Baby Doll.”

After adoption, what changes? Some things will change and some will not. A list of child wonderments as follows: Your birthday will not change! Other things that probably won’t change include the child’s bedtime, where they sleep, chores, rules, school or church, friends, pets and weekly activities. Things that will change can be laid out as follows: The social worker, lawyer or judge no longer will decide what is best for the child, like when that child should go to the dentist, if they can stay overnight with a friend or go on a school fieldtrip. After adoption, that is the parents’ job because that’s how it’s supposed to work in families.

When the adoption is final, a new birth certificate will be sent to the parents saying that the child is now their SON or their DAUGHTER. Another change that happens for most kids is a name change! Guess what?! Some kids think that a new name is fun! Some kids thing that a new name sounds strange. Some kids worry… this is a key issue the foster parents can discuss with their child prior to adoption.

Last, it is important that the child’s memories are kept sacred. It will be OK to remember and talk about the birth family members the child is separated from. New parents won’t expect the child to forget about places they lived or pets that they cared about before that child came to their care. Ja’mar says, “I have pictures of my mom. I put them in my life book. Then when I miss her, I just open my book and that makes me feel better. But I wish I had a picture of my dad… and…Rusty. He’s the dog I used to have. He always went along with my dad and me when we went fishing.” Michael and Sarah comment, “When Mother’s Day comes, I think about my mom and I wonder what she’s doing. Then I feel sad that I’m not with her. Her name is Jody. She has long hair.”

To the child:

Well, adoption is still a big word, isn’t it? Adoption World Specialties hopes you understand things a little better now. Did you know that many children, who need a permanent family, have to wait… and wait… and wait? They aren’t as lucky as you are to have foster parents who love them and want to adopt them. Of all the things you have learned from this special book, most of all we want you to remember that YOU ARE LOVEABLE… AND LOVED! www.AdoptionWorld.net

The Foster-To-Adopt Parent Booklet

The Foster-to-Adopt Parent booklet consists of valuable advice aimed at parents who are thinking of adopting their foster child. There are many decisions about adopting, adoption is a big step! You already have a relationship with your foster child and understand his/her situation. And, you have invested much of yourself in the child’s well being and future. Parental rights are finally terminated… so, why not adopt and give this child the love and security of a permanent family?

Like marriage, adoption is a lifetime commitment that affects the lives of many people. It must be considered carefully before taking such a big step. Adoption World Specialties publishes this foster parent booklet, serving to provide perspectives for you to consider; make pre-adoption suggestions; alert you to post-adoption changes that you might experience, and offer suggestions for working through some of the issues that might surface.

You may already have a foster life book or foster story book. There is a supplemental chapter if you decide to adopt, which includes a storyline encompassing the adoption process. You can order this chapter from Adoption World Specialties, link below.

The topics our Foster-to-Adopt Parent booklet touches on are as follows: Is adoption the right choice for you? For the child? At this time? Then it lays out many questions you might want to consider. This booklet explains how you may want to handle birth parent issues. It touches on how important attachment can be. It asks what might the future hold for your child? For you as adoptive parents?

So you’ve given it serious thought and want to move ahead into adoption. What’s next? As adoption day nears, be prepared for “pre-adoption “ jitters! After finalization, be prepared for child’s grieving or a change in behavior. After adoption, what will be different… what will be the same? Should you continue to foster parent?

Please discover our world of information on foster life books, foster-to-adopt guides, adoption life books, and adoption workbooks at www.AdoptionWorld.net because this is an important decision for your family – please make it carefully!