Adoption Lifebooks from Adoption World Specialties

Adoption World Specialties is exactly what its name describes – we are specialists on the subject of adoption and foster-to-adopt situations. Discover our world at www.AdoptionWorld.net and you’ll see the variety of bibliotherapy products we have which encompass the child, the parent, the social worker. Our adoption life books and foster life books as well as our teen adoption life books are distinctly different from all other literature on the subject. Each family’s situation is unique and special – our life books help to document the story of the child as he or she enters the world of foster care or adoption.

I am President of Adoption World Specialties, and proud to invite you to our adoption life books and foster care books website. I am excited to be a part of such a wonderful cause, and join the dedicated staff at www.AdoptionWorld.net!

My background is in business development for a printing and publishing company. I jumped at the chance to lead this special adoption life book company because it’s a cause that is close to my heart. Both my daughter and son are adopted. I know, first hand, how adoption life books can open up conversations that help heal.

I am so excited to represent our adoption life book authors Donna Barnes and Terri McCoy. They are a mother/daughter team that started writing adoption books for foster and adopted children in 1992. Donna’s expertise comes from raising 4 foster / adopted children. Her daughter Terri has many years of professional experience as a social worker in the adoption field.

This new adoption lifebook and foster book web site is part of our effort to be more accessible. I would like your feedback. Write to me at kmobley@adoptionworld.net and tell me what you like and what you would like to see changed about this website and our adoption books.

I look forward to learning more about you and helping you meet your adoption book needs!

Adoption Life Books

Adoption Life Books serve several purposes. Adoption Lifebooks are therapeutic because they help children cope, understand and heal. They are also a good record keeping devise for important family history.

Adoption Life Books are serious in places but should also have sections that are simply fun for the child. They tell a child’s story. The child should have enjoyment in telling about their likes, dislikes and positive family memories. In so many cases, the child’s past may be difficult, but Adoption Life Books also assist in allowing the child to address these issues while working with a social worker.

Adoption World Specialties is the leader in Adoption Life Books.  Our website showcases all of our adoption books, and each life book is available to order easily, and conveniently, online at www.adoptionworld.net – please visit our site and discover our world!

Excerpt from our Adoption Life Book:

“Hello! My name is Ricky.”

“Together we are going to record your life story in this “Life Book”.

“Why? Because no one else in the world is exactly like you. WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU’VE COME FROM, AND HOW YOU GOT HERE are important parts of your story. With the help of your caseworker, foster parents or adoptive parents, we can complete this book… one page at a time… skip a page and come back to it later… or move ahead quickly as you want to. And, you can add extra pages wherever they fit in. As you write your story, some parts will make you feel happy and others may make you feel sad or angry. It will also be fun to learn any new information about yourself. ALL of your feelings are important and should be shared with your adult helper. SO… LET’S GET STARTED. The first chapter will be fun because it is about who you are right now – a VERY SPECIAL PERSON.”

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

Adoption Life Books Company Adoption World Specialties presents this article on The Foster-to-Adopt Parent Booklet.

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!

Adoption Life Book company, Adoption World Specialties, has many bibliotherapy resources for adoptive and foster parents and the child. In addition to the Adoption Life Books we offer on our website AdoptionWorld.net, is a special adoption workbook called My Adoption Workbook, written by Theresa L. McCoy, LBSW.

Theresa writes: “Dear Social Worker, Preparing a child for adoption is vital to a successful placement. This pre and post-adoption workbook is intended for individual use with a school-age child. Some activities, however, may be incorporated into a group setting. This workbook addresses not only the mechanical process of adoption, but also the feelings, fears and questions that may arise in the child. Exercises are based on 26 years of hands-on experience placing ‘special needs’ children. Adapt this curriculum to any unique circumstance and supplement as needed. In addition, I recommend the use of life books to help adopted children document their life stories and to understand better the issues concerning their past.”

My Adoption Workbook addresses key elements of the process: What Is Adoption? How birth parents and children get separated; a judge decides; why you are separated from your birth parents; it’s alright to remember. How Adoption Gets Started includes important adoption facts; the social worker’s job; the plan for my adoption; questions to ask your social worker; you are worth it; what I like about myself. What Are Adoptive Families Like? Some like pizza… Some don’t; wishing while you wait; a picture in your mind; what about trust?; what does trust mean to you?; Parents show love in many ways; love is more than hugs and kisses. Meeting a family who wants to adopt includes feelings; I wonder…; Parents have questions, too!; Visiting is an important step; getting ready for your first meeting; first overnight and first long visit; your adoptive family is chosen. Moving In – Pack up and saying good bye; living with your new family, changes to get used to; thinking of people you care about; and they lived happily ever after; more than a family member. A Forever Family focuses on finalizing your adoption; questions and answers about finalization; David’s finalization day. The Appendix has games, commitment ceremony, candle ceremony and adoption pledges.

Excerpt from What Is Adoption: Because you and your birth parents cannot live together, it is necessary to find another family who will love and care for you. This adoption book will help you understand why you and your birth parents are separated and all the steps that will be taken to find a new family that is right for you. Becoming part of that new family is called “adoption”.

At Adoption World Specialties, we trust that you will find this pre/post adoption workbook helpful in preparing a child to make a “love connection”. It is dedicated to all children who are still waiting… and hoping for a new family. To learn more about this workbook, our adoption life books and adoption life story books, foster life books targeted at children and parents in foster situations, and the variety of bibliotherapy we have to offer please visit us at www.adoptionworld.net and discover our world.

Foster Care

The Wikipedia definition of Foster Care is:

A system by which a certified stand-in “parent(s)” cares for minor children or young people who have been removed from their birth parents or other custodial adults by state authority.

Sounds so cold…how about

A system by which a parent who enjoys being with children, is able to handle change and stress, has a sense of humor and is flexible; opens their home to a child and lovingly helps them through a difficult phase of their life. These parents provide structure, basic necessities and a great deal of comfort to a child that is in great need of these things.