Everybody loves to up-date their surroundings. We do it with our homes – we paint the walls, rearrange furniture, plant fresh flowers in our yards. The art department at Adoption World Publishing began by freshening the looks of their established products.

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.

Navigating through life is a challenge for all teenagers. Obstacles are everywhere. A teenager in the foster/adoption system encounters extra obstacles. A life book is a wonderful tool that can be used to assist youth in dealing with the issues they face.

In our 17th year of business, Adoption World Publishing continues to be a player in the lifebook market. Our  title, The Real Me teen life book was the company’s top seller in 2010.

Introduced in 2002, the chapter topics- Who I am Today, Where I Came From and What My Future Holds – remain as relevant today as they were when the book was written. Authored by the mother/daughter team of Theresa McCoy and Donna Barnes, their years of experience working with youth in the foster and adoption system contribute to the creditability of the book.

The Real Me teen life book is currently being used by agencies, families and organizations in at least 24 states and Canada. It is sold exclusively by Adoption World Publishing at 319-365-3454 or www.adoptionworld.net.

In September of 2010, HHS awarded $39 million to 38 states and Puerto Rico for increasing adoptions from foster care.

“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

Like so many of you I have been anxiously awaiting the results of the mid-term election (and I’m glad it’s over!). While I don’t plan to get partisan here, I do want to express my concerns about how the results will affect the entire area of adoption & foster care funding.

Perhaps actions taken by the new Congress will stimulate and improve the economy, resulting in more revenue for government and private agencies involved with social services. Or, as I fear, government spending will be cut, with social and child services taking an especially hard hit.

In any case we are certainly facing uneasy times ahead. Hopefully our children and teenagers who need lifebooks and all of the other services needed to enrich their lives will not be forgotten!

Chuck Carpenter

With today’s tight budgets, many foster children are going without lifebooks. That’s unfortunate because the therapeutic effects of life books are well documented. Just keeping a memory book helps children make transitions from middle school to high school or from one foster home to another.

The Scrapbook Option

One option that some are trying is to create their own lifebook via scrapbooking. This method can be rewarding and low budget, especially if you are creative. It does however, take time. Prep time can be extensive and securing low cost materials can be daunting. One of the biggest drawbacks is not covering the full gamut of therapeutic issues like a time-tested professional book.

Internet Downloads

If you look long enough, you can find online where a staffer in some state put together a life book that you can download for free. This could do in a pinch, especially if you can arrange to print it for free. If you can’t print for free, color copies often cost about 40¢ per page. Then add binding, and a “free” book could cost $12.00 or more, and you still won’t have a really good life book.

Time-Tested Winners

Today’s kids live very stressful lives and they deserve a lifebook that is really going to make a difference for them. This is why, for many years now, it has been imperative to find the funding for essential bibliotherapy. Without the right materials, the job is nearly impossible.

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.