Leaving The American Sector
Leaving The American Sector by Mercy Projects Director Jeff Thompson is an exciting and inspirational story in the vein of "God's Smuggler" by Brother Andrew. For 12 years Jeff made secret missions behind the Iron Curtain. In the process he was caught by the East Geman Secret Police (the Stasi) and a covert plan was developed by the Stasi to apprehend him.
This is a story that will...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Mercy Projects |
Ukrainian Foster Family Shares Their Story EEO’s UK Director, Peter Wooding, was recently highlighted on the Christian Broadcasting Network. His video and interview with an EEO sponsored Foster Family (Gedz Family) gives you an unique look into the lives of Ukrainian couples who are making a difference by taking in orphaned and at-risk children with the help of faithful sponsors from all over the world.
Click here to read the...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Mercy Projects |
Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches One of the best and most encouraging books written about adoption is "Adopted for Life” by Russell D. Moore. This book is a manifesto calling Christians to adopt children and to equip Christian families going through the process. It offers biblical foundations for adoption and identifies adoption as a Great Commission priority.
For the month of February, download the audio book for...
New Report on Benefits of Adoption "The Family Research Council recently released a new report exploring outcomes and benefits of adoption. Most of the findings will not come as a major surprise to adoptive families. And, some of the chosen wording and emphasis found in the report may spur a bit of legitimate debate among advocates. But ultimately, this thoughtful paper provide further evidence that...
International Adoption Simplification Act Passed Read this update from America World Adoption about the newly passed Adoption Simplification Act:
"We are excited to share that the International Adoption Simplification Act has officially passed. This bill affects immunization and sibling age exemptions for children adopted by US citizens under the Hague process. For families adopting under the Hague process the current requirement for...
The Financial Challenge of Adoption and How the Church can Respond If you missed the Christian Alliance for Orphan's webinar on financial challenges in adoption and how the church can respond, then you can go back and listen to it here:
The Financial Challenge of Adoption and How the Church Can Respond from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
| Type: Websource | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Starting and Growing a Church-based Orphan Ministry If you missed the Christian Alliance for Orphan's webinar on how to start and grow a church-based orphan ministry, you can go back and listen to it here:Starting and Growing a Church-Based Orphan Ministry from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
| Type: Websource | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Wrestling with an Angel This book tells the story of a father and his struggle dealing with his son's disabilities. For more information or to order the book visit:
http://www.cruciformpress.com/our-books/wrestling-with-an-angel/
Reclaiming Adoption The book Reclaiming Adoption: Missional Living Through the Rediscovery of Abba Father, will be available January 1 for either a print version or an e-version. The book is edited by Dan Cruver, with contributions from John Piper, Rick Phillips, Scotty Smith, and Jason Kovacs.
For more information or to order your copy, click here:
http://www.cruciformpress.com/our-books/reclaiming-adoption/
The Good News of Adoptive Sonship This article by Together for Adoption's Dan Cruver discusses God's adoption of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, and examines the relevance that has for our lives and ministries today:
http://www.togetherforadoption.org/?p=9027
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Together for Adoption |
We Love Because Are you looking for a short video clip to share in your church that conveys the Biblical basis for orphan care? Then this might be just what you're looking for:
We Love Because from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
Ain't No Mountain High Enough This great article by Lisa Qualls shares the difficulties of adoption, as well as God's power to meet us in the middle of those difficulties: http://empoweredtoconnect.org/aint-no-mountain-high-enough/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+EmpoweredToConnect+(Empowered+To+Connect)
Why Love Orphans? Looking for something to show in your church or Bible study to advertise Orphan Sunday? This short video clip might be just the thing:
Why Love Orphans? from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Adoptions in Ethiopia Rise, Bucking Global Trend In the past six years, Ethiopia has become one of the main countries open to international adoptions by Americans. As international adoptions have decreased around the globe, they have been on the rise in Ethiopia: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101012/ap_on_re_us/us_ethiopia_s_orphans
Ethiopia - Culture Smart!: The essential guide to customs & culture Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes...
Isaiah's Story This moving video tells one baby's story from the streets into a loving family:
Isaiah's Story from 31Films on Vimeo.
Adoption Season for Evangelicals This article from the Wall Street Journal discusses the recent rise of an orphan care (and adoption and foster care) movement among Evangelical Christians in the US:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703743504575494263102089970.html
Adoption Tax Credit Information To encourage and support adoption, the adoption tax credit was expanded by President Bush and Congress in 2001. This increased the value of the credit from $5,000 to $10,000, and indexed it for inflation (meaning the credit would increase each year to keep up with inflation.) For 2010, its value had risen to $12,170. However, the 2001 increase was scheduled to...
Summit VI CDs and MP3s Audio files and CDs are now available to order from the Christian Alliance for Orphan's Summit VI. If you missed this event, you'll definitely want to take advantage of this chance to hear the great speakers that were there!
http://www.conventionmedia.net/forchalforor1.html
| Type: Audio | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Small Churches and Adoption According to this article small churches often assume that due to limited resources, they have little to offer when it comes to tasks that seem as daunting as orphan care. But as Dan Cruver of Together for Adoption explains, this is an area in which all churches, regardless of size, can engage missionally:
http://www.edstetzer.com/2010/08/thursday-is-for-thinkers-dan-c.html
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Together for Adoption |
God Found Us You Another collaboration by the team behind God Gave Us You (2000), this book will resonate with many adopted children as well as their adoptive parents. The story is presented as a cherished and much-repeated bit of bedtime conversation between Mama Fox and Little Fox. Asked about “the day I came home,” Mama talks about how long she dreamed about and waited for Little Fox. Little Fox...
Tension, Mercy and Orphans In this article, Christian Alliance for Orphan's Jedd Medefind tackles head-on the deeply mistaken perception that churches must choose between orphan ministry and rock-solid commitment to discipleship and the Gospel:
ttp://chrisitianallianceblog.org/?p=859
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Is the Orphan My Neighbor? This article by Dr. Russell Moore discusses the call on believers to care for orphans: http://www.qideas.org/blog/is-the-orphan-my-neighbor.aspx
30,000 Orphans Sent Back to Russian Orphanages This article, by Christian Alliance for Orphan's Jedd Medefind, discusses the disturbing news of 30,000 orphans returned to orphanages by Russian adoptive and foster parents.
http://chrisitianallianceblog.org/?p=848
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
US Foster Care Statistics The New York Times recently reported on a study following the fate of foster children in the US who have aged out of the foster system. The findings are quite sobering: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/us/07foster.html
For additional info on foster care statistics from Saddleback Church, click here:...
Hope is Fading- Orphan Sunday Video This powerful three minute video promo for Orphan Sunday shares the story of a young girl waiting in an orphanage, hoping someone will come and choose her.Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.
Parenting the Hurt Child The world is full of hurt children, and bringing one into your home can quickly derail the easy family life you once knew. Get effective suggestions, wisdom, and advice to parent the hurt child in your life. The best hope for tragedy prevention is knowledge! Updated and revised.
Click below to learn more or to purchase:
Insights & Gifts Video Series This new 16 video series by Dr. Karyn Purvis (developed in partnership with the TCU Institute of Child Development) offers seven insights and seven gifts that are highly relevant for those who are parenting or considering adopting or fostering children from hard places.
To watch the videos, click here:...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Accredited U.S. Adoption Agencies This is a list of the US adoption agencies that have accreditation to do adoptions in Russia as of July, 2010:
ABC Adoption Services, Inc.
Adopt-A-Child, Inc.
Adoption Associates, Inc.
Adoption Center of Washington
Adoption Options
Adoptions Together, Inc.
Alaska International Adoption Agency
Alliance for Children
Americans for International Aid and Adoption
Beacon House Adoption...
Sharing Power With Your Child In this brief video, Dr. Karyn Purvis explains the benefits of parents sharing appropriate amounts of power with their children through choice giving, compromises and other means. By sharing power appropriately with their children, parents can teach them to communicate effectively about their needs and fears, rather than resorting to behaviors, and can help them develop a strong foundation that...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Twenty Ways to Become an Adoption-Friendly Church While Christians commonly praise adoption, most American churches do not have a single family that adopted a child during the past year. Churches can and should play a crucial role in encouraging members to "look after orphans in their distress" (James 1:27). Here are some specific ideas on how to become an adoption-friendly church:
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/16304
Sex Trafficking More Common for Michigan Teens Than Car Fatalities This article shares the sobering increase in sex trafficking of teens in Michigan:
http://humantrafficking.change.org/blog/view/sex_trafficking_more_common_for_michigan_teens_than_car_fatalities
Liberian Adoption: Preparing for Your Child's Homecoming Liberian Adoption: Preparing for Your Child's Homecoming is a must have resource guide for any family adopting a child from Liberia. It's one thing to make it through the process of adopting internationally; it's an entirely different thing to be properly prepared for a child's homecoming. In this book, written by Liberia Adoption Coordinator Angel Rutledge, adoptive families learn about the...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Christian Adoption Services |
Liberia Adoption Blog The blog is an excellent resource for any adoptive family. Full of adoption resources and information from an adoption coordinator's perspective.
| Type: Blog | | Related Organization: Christian Adoption Services |
Walking Humbly This article by adoptive mother Lisa Qualls offers helpdul advice for other adoptive families:
http://empoweredtoconnect.org/walking-humbly/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+EmpoweredToConnect+(Empowered+To+Connect)
It’s a Meaningful Life The newest VeggieTales movie is featuring a song by Steven Curtis Chapman and focusing on the theme of loving orphans. It's a Christmas DVD and will be released Oct 5, 2010. Make sure to get your copy!
International adoption: From a broken bond to an instant bond Mike Gerson, former chief speechwriter to President Bush, has a tremendous column on international adoption in the Washington Post. Mike has a reputation even among critics as not just a master communicator, but also both an incisive analyst of international issues and a devout Christian. During work-related travel in Zambia, we visited homes of AIDS victims together, and I saw...
International and National Adoption Grows in Ethiopia This article addresses the huge orphan care need in Ethiopia, as well as the rise in both international adoption and national adoption: http://mnnonline.org/article/14648
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Bethany Christian Services |
The Post-Placement Journey Webinar This week the Christian Alliance for Orphans hosted the Post Placement Journey webinar. Dr. Karyn Purvis and Amy Monroe provided practical insights and resources to equip adoption and foster care ministries to help families meet the challenges of loving, nurturing and building strong relationships with children from hard places. In case you missed it, you can view it here:
The...
| Type: Audio | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Playful Interaction Play puts the fun in fundamental - central to a child's well-being now and in the future. Through play, children learn to develop the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. Playful Interaction, featuring child development experts, Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross, along with other child development experts, outlines the importance of play and provides practical examples of...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Healthy Touch Touch is a universal language - more dynamic and powerful than any other form of communication. More than an integral part of everyday life. Touch is essential to our very existence. Healthy Touch features child development experts, Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross, along with other renowned experts. It explores research about touch and provides practical applications for adding healthy touch...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Empowering, Connecting & Correcting Principles In this nearly two-hour presentation, Dr. Purvis, a developmental psychologist, explains her research-based approach with children who come from what she calls “hard places.” These are children who have been exposed to drugs and alcohol in utero or suffered abuse, trauma or neglect early in life. She explains how harm during these critical stages of brain growth causes significant...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
The Neurochemistry of Fear The fundamental goal of this seminar is to empower parents and professionals to become healers in the lives of at-risk children and to discuss interventions developed through our work with families of at-risk children. Tragically, children who have been harmed, neglected and/or abused are at significantly increased risk for behavioral problems, relationship failures and early-onset mental illness....
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Healing Research This seminar helps parents and professionals understand how past and current research gives insights into the behaviors of at-risk children. Dr. Purvis focuses on undertanding how physiological alterations are induced by neglect, abuse or trauma.
For more information or to purchase, click here: http://www.child.tcu.edu/DVD%20Sales.asp
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Facilitating Behavioral Change One of the most commonly asked questions for the staff at The Institute of Child Development is how to deal with "problem behaviors". In this DVD Dr. Purvis explores the concepts of connecting and correcting principles. The information in this session is an introduction to the unique approach developed by Dr. Purvis and offers some examples of applying these to real life situations.
For...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
The Attachment Dance The attachment relationship betwen parents and their children is one of the most cherished experiences of our lives. This DVD focuses on recognizing features of the attachment relationship, how to help your child heal from attachment problems and facing your own attachment so that you can become a healer for your child. Information shared in this seminar is designed to enrich your understanding of...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
How to Talk to Teachers about Adoption "Children who have experienced less than optimal care in the beginning of their life (orphanage care, abusive and/or neglectful birth home, extended or multiple foster care
placements, etc) often have challenges (attachment issues, behavioral or learning issues, developmental delays, sensory integration needs, etc) that impact their school experience. And all adoptees (even those adopted at...
Answering Other Kids' Adoption Questions This article from parenting.com gives advice to parents on how to help your adopted child handle questions about adoption from other children:
http://www.parenting.com/article/Fertility/Development/Answering-Other-Kids-Adoption-Questions
Safe Families Model Webinar This webinar, hosted by the Christian Alliance for Orphans, highlights the Safe Families Model which provides a transformational alternative to foster care that makes the homes of local Christians and their church community the center of care. This model now serves more than 1,000 youth in the Chicago area each year, and is now being replicated by Alliance organizations and churches in...
| Type: Websource | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Is Adoption the Answer? This article addresses adoption and it's strengths and limitations in solving the global orphan crisis. To read the article, click here: http://www.aaronklein.com/2010/08/is-adoption-the-answer/
We're Home! Now What? How to Settle in and Thrive as a New Adoptive Family
Your long awaited international arrival has happened and your new family is formed. Hooray! After the excitement has worn off, reality of this new life settles in.
Now what?
These courses were designed to address immediate issues families face while getting to know one another. Practical suggestions included relate to:...
Beyond Benefits: More Ways to Make Your Workplace Adoption-Friendly This booklet suggests opportunities for employers to help employees who are considering adoption, are engaged in the process, or have already adopted and ways to promote the cause of adoption in the workplace. Created with the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/Free-Adoption-Resources/Adoption-Benefits
Adoption Benefits Toolkit for Employers A two-part toolkit to establish adoption benefits, such as financial reimbursement and paid leave for employee who adopt: includes a folder and CD-rom with step-by-step instructions to establish a policy; and the booklet Beyond Benefits: More Ways to Make Your Workplace Adoption-Friendly. The CD-rom includes customizable documents and samples, making it easy to propose and establish an adoption...
Adoption Benefits Toolkit for Employees A three-part toolkit to propose adoption benefits to your employer: includes a folder and CD-rom for you to give to your employer; a folder and CD-rom for you to use and keep; and the booklet Beyond Benefits: More Ways to Make Your Workplace Adoption-Friendly. The CD-rom includes customizable documents and samples, making it easy to propose and establish an adoption benefits...
Blog excerpt on starting a church orphan ministry Read this helpful blog entry by Hope for Orphans about what to do when "your church doesn't get it" about adoption and orphan care:
http://hopefororphansblog.com/2010/08/16/when-your-church-doesnt-get-it/
| Type: Blog | | Related Organization: Hope for Orphans |
Adoption Awareness in School Assignments: A Guide for Parents and Educators
Several common school assignments can make foster and adoptive children feel left out, uncomfortable, sad, and hurt. Projects like the ‘Family Tree’, ‘Bring-a-Baby Picture’ and ‘Trace Your Genetic Traits’ can be particularly difficult for students adopted at older ages; however, children adopted as infants and those living in foster care may also lack...
Podcast on the Christian Orphan Movement In this podcast Catalyst leader Ken Coleman interviews Jedd Medefind about the Christian Alliance for Orphans and the Christian orphan movement in churches across the US today:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2809712/Catalyst%20-%20Jedd%20Medefind%20Interview%202010.mp3
| Type: Audio | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
The Tragically Relaxed State of Christianity Today This talk by Gennady Mokhnenko addresses:
The dangerous longing for comfort in modern Christianity
Life of a Christian – a difficult journey or a relaxing cruise?
The Church should understand the problem
An honest call to action
This talk was filmed at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church.
This video is only available in...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
Project 1.27 God loves children. But for 80 years too many children and youth have been languishing in the U.S. foster care system. That’s too long. Over 120,000 of them are legally free for adoption and waiting for their forever homes and every year their numbers keep growing. It’s costing taxpayers $283 million a day! In 2005 there were 875 legally free children in Colorado. But something amazing...
Learning & Un-Learning to Parent Your Child Children from hard places have unique histories and needs. As a result, parents of these children need to learn how to love and parent them well. This requires that parents not only learn strategies that will be effective in helping them heal, but they will also need to ‘un-learn’ previous ways of parenting — whether those are parenting strategies that were successful...
| Type: Church Resource | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Helping Your Adopted Child Long before you decided to adopt, long before your child was born, God planned to put your adopted child into your home. Your child is an amazing gift from God, but nurturing an adopted child also brings unique challenges. Understanding your adopted child from Gods perspec tive will allow you to address those challenges by faith and with hope. Learn from counselor and adoptive father Paul...
Help for Russian Families Who Wish to Adopt This book by adoption experts Pimenov and Krasnitskaya provides help and legal information that Russian families need to maneuver through a potentially complicated adoption process:
http://risknetwork.ru/resources/?id=289
Adoption's Assurance This article by Together for Adoption's Dan Cruver discusses our adoption in Christ, and the impact it has when we truly grasp that we are God's sons and daughters. Click below to read the articles:
Part one: http://www.togetherforadoption.org/?p=78
Part two: http://www.togetherforadoption.org/?p=82
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Together for Adoption |
A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families: Stories that celebrate a special gift of love It takes a loving and caring couple to bring an adopted child into their home. And every year, thousands of couples make room in their homes--and their hearts--for these special children. This story collection celebrates the individuals and families who experience these feelings firsthand. From first-time parents, anxiously awaiting the phone call that their little one has arrived to a single...
Better Care Network Toolkit This resource is to aid social work and child care practitioners and policy makers around the world in planning and providing better care for children—including family strengthening and out of home placement. Divided in five categories, the Toolkit contains a selection of practical guides and manuals to support a quality care system and the delivery of alternative...
Finding a Place to Start Parents who are struggling to connect with their children often find it difficult to find any real measure of hope. In this brief video, Dr. Karyn Purvis talks about the importance for parents to find even a single point of connection as way to build a bridge so that they can begin to reach their child.
Finding A Place to Start from Tapestry on Vimeo.
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
My Portable Life: Reluctant Runaway Finds Families for Thousands of Children This autobiography by Jean Erichsen tells the story of how she went from being a neglected, abused child to become an adoptive mother and an orphan advocate. For more information or to purchase, click below:
The Quest to Reclaim Adoption This great article by Together for Adoption's Dan Cruver talks about the importance of understanding our vertical adoption (by God) before we think about horizontal adoption:
http://www.togetherforadoption.org/?p=8122
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Together for Adoption |
A Conversation with the Tuohy's Can you imagine someone wanting to make a movie of your life? Today Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy tell how the movie blockbuster and story of their lives, The Blind Side, came to be. Sean and Leigh Anne also recall their childhoods and tell how their home lives helped mold their philosophy of giving today.
Join the FamilyLife team for this radio broadcast with Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy:...
Ukraine Adoption Procedural Changes This website offers an update from July, 2010 on adoption procedures in Ukraine, particularly on the visa process at the embassy:
http://ukrainiac.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/ukraine-adoption-procedural-changes/
12 Month Church Adoption Awareness Plan This great plan has ideas for monthly activities that can happen in a church over the course of 12 months to increase orphan/adoption awareness. Each idea takes only a few minutes of time during a Sunday service, and only happens once a month. In addition, the plan contains great paragraphs to include in a church bulletin. If you're looking for ways to encourage adoption and...
Adoption Video from Bethany Christian Services This general adoption video from Bethany Christian Services would be great to show in a church service or introductory meeting about adoption:
http://www.fivestone.com/news/bethany-final.html
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Bethany Christian Services |
Field Guide to Child Welfare, Volumes I-IV The "Field Guide to Child Welfare" is a comprehensive, four-volume resource for child welfare workers and supervisors to use in their everyday practice. The guide describes basic theory, practical application, and pertinent case examples and examines specialized practice issues related to adoption, sexual abuse, cultural competency, and children with developmental disabilities. The Field...
20 Things Adoptive Parents Need to Succeed "A must-read and must-keep resource for all adoptive parents, getting straight to the core of adoption issues. This is one of the most validating books for adoptive parents I have ever read, helping them to know not only that their experiences are different but how to turn challenges into healing moments." —Review by Heather T. Forbes, LCSW, author of Beyond Consequences, Logic,...
Wounded Children, Healing Homes Why doesn’t our child return our love? What are we failing to understand? What are we failing to do? These questions can fill the minds of adoptive parents caring for wounded, traumatized children.
Families often enter into this experience with high expectations for their child and for themselves but are broadsided by shattered assumptions. This book addresses the reality of those unmet...
Churches Adopt Adoption This Christianity Today article shares about the growing trend in churches across the US to both get real about the challenges in adoption, as well as to provide support for families who have brought children home.
Click here to read the article: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/july/11.23.html?start=1
FamilyLife Today Insterview with Dr. Karyn Purvis
Recently Dr. Karyn Purvis was interviewed on the FamilyLife Today radio program. During this three part interview, Dr. Purvis discusses the characteristics of children from hard places, the importance of parents having realistic expectations and tools and strategies that can help parents effectively correct behaviors and develop strong and lasting connections...
How to Help Without Hurting "This week the Alliance hosted the first in its monthly webinar series for church orphan ministries. The series is designed to help individuals like you create and grow effective adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry in local churches.
You can watch the webinar “How to Help without Hurting” here. Alongside other practical advice, presenters Elizabeth Styffe...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Understanding the Importance of Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that help our bodies think, feel and move. However, the levels of key neurotransitters in many children from hard places are often too high, too low and/or out of balance. In this brief video, Dr. Karyn Purvis explains the importance of neurotransmitters, both in terms of helping parents gain new insight and compassion for their children and also for...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Foster Parenting Podcast This podcast is an interview with adoptive and foster parents that provides helpful hints for families.
http://adoptivedads.org/foster-parenting-podcast?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+adoptivedads+(Adoptive+Dads)
Adoption Conference Audio Sessions by Dr. Russell Moore Click below to listen to three different audio sessions on adoption which were given by Dr. Russell Moore at the First Baptist Church of Wolfforth's Adoption Conference in June, 2010:
http://fbcwolfforth.org/index.php?mact=PodcastManager,m4,default,1&m4groupid=6&m4displayfiles=true&m4returnid=83&page=83
Preparing Kids in Your Home for Fostering Click below to read a helpful article/tip sheet about preparing kids in your home to foster:
http://www.wifostercareandadoption.org/library/1047/preparingyourkids.pdf
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
How to Talk to my Kids about Adoption Watch below as Christian counselor Julie Lowe responds to this question that so many families ask:
Setting Your Child Up to Succeed Parents often focus much of their attention on obtaining the right skills and strategies to effectively deal with misbehavior — and this is for good reason. All parents of children from hard places need to understand how to address misbehavior in ways that correct while still connecting. But parents also need to understand the importance of setting their child up to succeed.
In this brief...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
July Christianity Today Article Sounds the Call to Serve Orphans The July cover of Christianity Today should excite every orphan advocate-- on the cover, there is a picture of a small child with the title "Abba Changes Everything: Why Every Christian is Called to Rescue Orphans".
Click here to read more about the article: http://chrisitianallianceblog.org/?p=736
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Hello, I Love You: Adventures in Adoptive Fatherhood This is the story of two international adoptions, complete with piles of cash, passport checks, airport con-men, electrocution, and Ukrainian cops on our doorstep with guns. It’s all part of the wild ride that is international adoption. But so is God’s faithfulness taking new forms each day through the love of friends, the support of family, the comfort of Scripture, and the fellowship...
Surprised by Grief This article tells the true story of musician Steven Curtis Chapman and his family's journey through grief over the past two years since the death of their adopted daughter:
http://strang.imirus.com/Mpowered/imirus.jsp?volume=str10&issue=6&page=80
I Wished for You: an Adoption Story Wished for You: an adoption story follows a conversation between Barley Bear and his Mama as they curl up in their favorite cuddle spot and discuss how they became a family. Barley asks Mama the questions many adopted children have, and Mama lovingly answers them all.-- Review from Amazon.com
For more information or to purchase this book, click here:
Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens Working with adopted adolescents is complex. The key to successful therapy and healthy development is to help the adolescent discover and accept the person within. Parents will discover: •the six most common adoption stuck-spots •the complexities of adoption •the adopted teen’s quest for identity •how therapy may help the adoptive families learn and grow together....
Adoption Lifebook: A Bridge to Your Child's Beginnings 'Adoption Lifebook: A Bridge to Your Child's Beginnings' is a new, easy-to-read workbook for international adoptive parents and waiting parents who wish to document their children's early lives for them, in the form of a lifebook. Through exercises and text, readers become more comfortable telling children the truth about their beginnings while emphasizing their strengths and resilience. Adoption...
LifeBooks : Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child From Alaska to Australia the word is spreading. Adoptive parents are discovering the enormous value of adoption lifebooks. But then the questions begin. Where do I start? What information should be included? Do I let my child bring it to school?
Beth O’Malley M.Ed. provides the answers to these and more. In her best selling book, LifeBooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child Beth...
Forever Fingerprints: An Amazing Discovery for Adopted Children For adopted children, learning about their beginnings and how they understand what that means to them is a process. It doesn t happen at one point in time, but rather throughout the experiences of life. In this heartwarming children s book, Forever Fingerprints uses a common occurrence a relative s pregnancy as a springboard for discussions on birthparents, where adopted children are before they...
Pieces of Me: Who do I Want to Be Grade 9 Up—This title refers to the "pieces" that adoptees must identify, gather, and put together properly in order to make themselves whole. It is a compendium of poems, essays, drawings, quotations, and photos created by adoptees, from 12 to 60+, intended to "offer practical insight and hope" to other adoptees. Each contributor is introduced in a brief biographical...
Cassie Wonders: Adoption Questions asked by a 6 1/2 year old This books is fully illustrated and inspired by a young Adoptee. Cassie is a happy and cheerful six and 1/2 year old. Naturally, she has questions and even her own thoughts about her adoption and birth parents. She sometimes even wonders if this world is fair. Some questions her parents can answer but, even when they can't her adoptive parents find ways to assure Cassie that she is special in this...
We See the Moon An elegant and evocative book for adopted children to open the birthparent and adoption dialog between parent and child.
Many adult adoptees have gone through life wanting to ask questions about their birthparents, but felt the thoughts they have might make their parents uncomfortable. Then, these questions have remained unasked and unanswered. "We See the Moon" opens the adoption...
I Don't Have Your Eyes Family connections are vitally important to children as they begin to find their place in the world. For transracial and transcultural adoptees, domestic adoptees, and for children in foster care or kinship placements, celebrating the differences within their families as well as the similarities that connect them, is the foundation for belonging. As parents or caregivers, we can strengthen our...
Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections Featuring over 100 contributors overseen by EMK Press writer-editors MacLeod and Macrae, this book is a virtual one-stop shop for adoption information for readers at any knowledge level. Divided into chapters like "Sleep," "Claiming," "Language," and "Food," it touches upon major issues in brief essays written by adoptive parents, adoptees, and therapists....
Realistic Expectations: The First Year Home Download this free e-book that answers many questions adoptive parents have during the first year their child is with them:
http://www.emkpress.com/realisticexpectations.html
Compelling Washington Post Op-Ed on Orphans in Russia The following is an excerpt from a Christian Alliance for Orphans blog by Jedd Medefind:
"Following the controversy over the American woman who sent her adopted son back to Russia last month, the Washington Post ran a compelling op-ed on the plight of orphans in Russia (Adopted boy's return highlights problems in Russian orphanages.) The author, chief of pediatric cardiology at the...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Love Lessons: Understanding, Learning, and Finding Purpose While Raising Challenging Children This book will take you on a journey of discovery and healing through a mother's eyes. It uncovers the truth about childhood trauma, how it affects the mind and spirit, and what is required to repair the broken bonds of attachment and trust. It is a personal tutorial in lessons of heartache and hope, despair and dedication, failures and forgiveness. Understanding, Learning, and finding purpose...
Crossing the Sahara This excellent article by the director of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, Jedd Medefind, addresses the hard question that so many of us have wrestled with: Given the struggle and sorrow that mark so many attempts at bringing justice and mercy, is there really any motivation that can keep us in this work for the long haul?
http://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/2031/
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
US Foster Care Adoption: Facts & Myths Check out these fact sheets from National Adoption Day on Foster Care Adoption:
Debunking the Myths: The Facts about Foster Care Adoption
Foster Care Adoption: Facts and Figures
The Last Babylift: Adopting a Child in Haiti This article, which appeared in the New Yorker in early May, 2010 tells the true story of a family whose adoption of a Haitian girl through Holt International was processed in the aftermath of the January earthquake. While specifically a story about Haiti, this thought-provoking article contains many important themes about international adoption.
To read the full article, click here:...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Holt International |
Kazakhstan - Adoption Alert The U.S. Consulate General in Almaty received confirmation that the Ministry of Education in Kazakhstan has given instructions to the Kazakhstani Embassy and Consulate in New York not to accept new dossiers for inter-country adoptions. The Ministry said that this moratorium on new adoption cases will remain in effect until Kazakhstan implements a Hague Convention-compliant system, which it intends...
Foster Parent Handbook The Foster Care and Adoption Resource Center staff and members of a statewide work group created the model for the Wisconsin Foster Parent Handbook contained below.
http://www.wifostercareandadoption.org/snav/292/page.htm
| Type: Curriculum | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Saddleback's Civil Forum on Orphans and Adoption The Global Orphan Crisis impacts the lives of 143 million children every day. Change the statistics and engage in this urgent challenge. Join Susan Hillis, Russell Moore, Mike Ryan, Elizabeth Styffe, and Rick Warren at the Saddleback Civil Forum on Orphans & Adoption. Click here to watch the video of the event:
http://www.saddlebackcivilforum.com/orphansandadoption/
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Saddleback Church |
Video Coverage of Summit VI A CBN headline news story today opened a poignant window into last month’s Summit VI and the rising tide of Christian commitment to orphans. Commentary by Pat Robertson following the news segment, however, is likely to prod fierce discussion... click here to watch the news story and read the rest of the written report!
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Christian Alliance for Orphans |
Connecting With Kids Through Stories: Using Narratives To Facilitate Attachment In Adopted Children Children whose early development has been damaged by abuse or neglect are notoriously difficult to reach. Through many years' therapeutic work with adopted children and their families, Denise B. Lacher and Todd Nichols have developed an exciting and innovative technique which uses stories as the main mode for helping parents to communicate and connect with their troubled children. Connecting with...
Understanding Post-Adoption Depression This helpful article in the New York Times discusses the topic of post-adoption depression, and how it can effect families. To read the article, click here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/understanding-post-adoption-depression/?src=tptw
US Adoption in a 40% Decline "With 150 million orphans in the world, we should be seeing a dramatic increase in the number of orphans who are adopted every year in the United States. But sadly, the opposite is true. Adoptions have been decreasing every year since 2004.
A new article in the May edition of Christianity Today says this, "Since 2004, these and other restrictions have resulted in a 40 percent decline...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Children's HopeChest |
Addition by Adoption Love, laughter and lunacy in 140 characters. A work-at-home dad turns to Twitter to share updates about kids, causes and life. It's a curated selection of bizarre quotes, funny stories and temper tantrums. Woven between potty-training woes and breakfast time songs is a family growing through adoption and learning how to change the world, one status update at a time. You'll find humor, parental...
Positive Parenting This articles strives to:
• Discuss the concept of “positive” parenting.
• Explain the developmental stages children experience to achieve self-confidence.
• Identify twelve common behavorial problems and offer a positive response to each.
• Provide an action plan of positive parenting strategies.
• List resources — including books and websites...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Team Building – Family, School, Therapists and Healthcare Workers OBJECTIVES:
This article seeks to assist families involved in adoption and foster care to develop advocacy and team building skills by:
• Defining and identifying family management styles when a child has special medical, physical, or emotional needs.
• Identifying necessary elements of professional team involvement.
• Providing information for choosing therapists, counselors...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Me, My Child and the Teachers: Teaming Up at School Many children, including adopted and foster children, have exceptional education needs. These children will also have emotional challenges and turmoil that can seem overwhelming in almost any household, where caretakers are often balancing the needs of other children, homework help, daily chores and extra-curricular involvement.
When parents or caretakers face raising and schooling children with...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
The Adopted Child Goes To School When the child enters school, it may be the first time he is confronted with adoption issues. He may realize for the first time that there are different ways of forming a family, and that he is different from other kids as he has joined his family through adoption. Questions of “real family”, “birth parent” and identity may confuse him, especially if there has not been an...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves a pattern of behaviors demonstrated by a person who has experienced extreme trauma. Although we usually think of PTSD affecting war veterans (also known as “shell shock”), PTSD can affect anyone who has lived through a terrifying, overwhelming trauma. As family therapist Valerie Jensen explains, “Trauma is the mental result of one...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Parenting the Traumatized Child This article:
• Identifies behaviors in children who have been traumatized.
• Identifies behaviors that make parenting a challenge when traumatized children act out.
• Identify the stages of recovery from trauma.
• Develop positive strategies, including storytelling, for family interaction and growth.
To read the full article, click here:...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Oppositional Defiant Disorder ODD is a persistent pattern of negative, hostile, disobedient and defiant behaviors in a child or adolescent that have not yet reached the point of seriously violating the basic rights of others. It is a disorder of childhood and adolescence that usually begins by age 8.
This article strives to:
• Review data and characteristics of ODD.
• Discuss ODD in relation to other...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Childhood Depression, Dysthymia and Bipolar Illness This helpful article seeks to assist pre-adoptive and post-adoptive families involved in the adoption of children with developmental delays and disabilities by:
• Understanding the nature of depression in children.
• Differentiating between depression and dysthymia disorder (a lesser degree of similar symptoms).
• Understanding bi-polar illness ( also known as manic-depressive...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) involves a persistent pattern of behavior which begins before age 7. Children with ADHD demonstrate difficulty in two major areas: attention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. They have short attention spans, are easily distracted and have difficulty focusing on, planning and completing routine tasks. They tend to be very active (hyperactivity) and to...
Attachment in Adopted Children
Attachment is the emotional connection that infants and children develop toward their parents and others who care for them. Attachment is often seen as an ongoing process. It is through attachment that children begin to develop a sense of who they are and what their place in the world will be. Mary Nervig, a counselor at Adoption Therapy Associates, adds that attachment “is the basis for...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
The Adoption Process and Children with Medical Needs This article helps pre-adoptive and post-adoptive families involved in the adoption of children with significant medical needs. It strives to:
• Introduce an empowerment model to help families manage all aspects of care.
• Help families determine what level of care they can handle.
• Encourage families to identify their strengths.
• Identify resources and form...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
The Adoption Process & Children With Cognitive Needs This article strives to assist pre-adoptive and post-adoptive families involved in the adoption of children with developmental delays and disabilities by:
• Helping them to determine what level of need they can handle.
• Encouraging families to identify family and individual strengths.
• Identifying resources and forming links to them.
• Facilitating family...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Acquired Substance Abuse Disorders This article strives to:
• Discuss the nature and scope of children affected by maternal substance abuse.
• Provide data on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in comparison to Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE).
• Present the often complex nature of cocaine abuse and its effect on children who were exposed to cocaine in utero.
• Consider frequently asked questions regarding maternal...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Abuse and Neglect in Children Children who have been victims of neglect usually have unmet dependency needs such as inadequate or sporadic attention and physical care. These children may have gone without basic necessities such as food and shelter, or they may have received minimal amounts of food, attention and shelter. At early ages, many of these children suffer from “failure to thrive.” They may have low weight...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Adoption Issues In Late Adolescence And Young Adulthood This article straives to assist families involved in adoption to deal with issues of late adolescence and young adulthood by:
• Identifying the psychosocial tasks necessary to development.
• Identifying barriers to healthy development of these tasks.
• Facilitating family involvement to develop independence, self-esteem and identity.
• Providing families with information...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Child Development Personality development occurs in a neurologically programmed sequence. Given a reasonably responsive environment, a child will develop the capacity to love and trust, express emotions, use symbols, think logically, develop self-control and a conscience, all occurring in that predictable sequence.
An abusive or neglectful environment can greatly effect a child's developmental process. This...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
The Adoption Process and Children with Life-Threatening Ilnesses Children with life-threatening illnesses bring complex psychological, physical and medical challenges to families. These children might suffer from cancer, heart disease, HIV or AIDS, or a myriad of congenital degenerative conditions. They need families who can deal with the psychological aspects of death and dying while acting as medical advocates to make decisions on care and treatment that...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Difficulty with Bonding—Developing Family Bonds through Adoption While adoptive families often develop strong ties and secure attachments, members of the adoption triad come to the adoption experience through loss. These issues remain in family relationships even when children are adopted at birth. Whether the adoption was an open adoption, a closed adoption, or multi-cultural or international adoption, issues surrounding this loss can be significant.
This...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
How Adoption and Foster Care Affect the Family System Just as in birth families, adoptive and foster families usually consist of a parent or parents, sometimes a sibling, and other times many siblings. If grandparents live nearby or are involved in the family, they may become an integral part of the acceptance process. The more involved grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are with the children, the more impact their response to adoption or foster...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
The Safety Net: Building Support Before You Need It Families who are considering adoption of children with special needs need to be aware of the intensively demanding challenges they may encounter. Coping strategies and safety nets need
to be established by caregivers before the children enter the new family. They need to feel that they can handle the demands, yet they need to know when to ask for help. Having “safety nets” in place...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
Single Parent Adoption Resource This article on single parent adoptions exists to assist single parents to:
• Learn more about single parent adoption.
• Learn techniques and skills related to the adoption process.
• Understand the challenges of being a single parent.
• Become an advocate for single parent adoptions.
• By providing them with a framework to acknowledge the impact on the entire
family...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Adoption Resources of Wisconsin |
When I Met You: A Story of Russian Adoption "A child's life doesn't begin at adoption, and neither should his adoption story. This charming, delightful narrative of a Russian adoption contrasts a child's life before and after adoption in ways that are respectful and insightful, explanatory and celebratory. From the first page: When I first met you, you lived in Russia, a country far across the ocean. Now, you live here, close to my...
Updated Orphan Care Resources and Events in Russian With many recent additions to our Russian directory of orphan care resources and events, we now have a great database full of key books, videos, articles, conferences, etc. We encourage you to send these links to your Russian partners as well:
Upcoming Events
http://risknetwork.ru/events/#doctitle
Adoption/Foster Care...
Russian Orphanage Offers Love, but Not Families This article from the New York Times brings a lot of clarity to the complexity of the modern Russian orphanage system and the need children have for families:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/world/europe/04adopt.html
Update on International Adoption Situation in Russia US adoptions from Russia have not yet been banned, but Russia is seeking additional protections in the adoption process, and meetings with the US will continue on May 12. The following articles are helpful for more detailed information:
May 5 - Official Says US Adoptions Have Not Been Halted
April 30 - Russia Wants Right to Prosecute Parents Who Abuse Adopted Russian Kids
Created to Connect Study Guide Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child is a study guide created by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Michael & Amy Monroe to help illuminate the biblical principles that serve as the foundation for the philosophy and interventions detailed in Dr. Purvis’ book, The Connected Child. This study guide is designed to help adoptive and foster parents...
| Type: Curriculum | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Father of the Fatherless Recently, adoptive father and pastor, David Platt, preached on the ‘Father of the Fatherless’ from Psalm 10. It is a great message expounding on God’s heart of justice for the orphan, our rescue in Christ, and the implications that has on our care for orphans and widows.
Click here to listen to this message:...
Dangerous Adoption This article by Paul and Robin Pennington shares both warnings and encouragement for potential adoptive parents:
"By now you no doubt have heard about the Russian 8-year-old adoptee sent by his American adoptive mom….alone…back to Russia with a note. The repercussions of this decision on hundreds of Russian children waiting for families are devastating to be sure. What many...
Embracing the Grief of Adoption This article by Michael Monroe shares both the joy and the grief of adoption:
"I was reminded last night of something I already knew, though I often try to forget it. It is one of the more sobering realities of adoption – the fact that there is no adoption without loss and pain . . . and grief.
As an adoptive dad, like all adoptive parents, my tendency is to focus on the miracle,...
Ransomed This novel by author Els Van Hierden tells "the story of the plight of abandoned children in Russia. The story of children left on the door steps of state orphanages; with little hope for the future.
This is David Valensky's story of personal loss, sacrifice, and the struggle he faces in choosing between the call of God on his life, in a mission to street teens in Russia, and a romance...
Ten Questions to Consider As You Explore Adoption These questions from Tapestry adoption ministry are designed to help people who are exploring adoption think through some important considerations and ideas relating to the adoption decision process. Please keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers to these questions.
After you have thought through your answers you are encouraged to discuss these questions and your thoughts with your...
Older Child Adoption Website This website is a great resource for anyone who wants to adopt an older child, or who has already adopted an older child. It offers everything from information on the homestudy process to information on post-adoption depression: www.olderchildadoption.com
Children's Books about Adoption Are you looking for good children's books about adoption to read to your adopted child? What about adoption stories to read to your biologic children? This is a great list of books about adoption for small children through teenagers:
Families are Different
by Nina Pellegrini, Holiday House, 1991
This books wraps together different-looking families, and different ways of creating...
Adoption Flap Not Expected to Last Long This is a great article from the Moscow Times which gives an update on the current adoption scandal in Russia:
"A U.S. government delegation will arrive in Moscow next week to discuss rules for American parents who want to adopt Russian children, setting the stage for a resolution of a years-long irritant in U.S.-Russian relations.
Adoptions, a hot-button issue after several Russian...
Caring for Orphans: Options Beyond Adoption You may not feel called to adoption, but there are other ways you can help care for orphan children. This program offers practical suggestions. You'll also be inspired to get involved as David Swoap talks about his ministry to street kids in Brazil and Wendy Perry discusses her childhood experiences in our nation's foster care system.
For more information or to purchase this CD, click here:...
| Type: Audio | | Related Organization: Focus on the Family |
The Adoption Network: Your Guide to Starting a Support System In The Adoption Network, Laura Christianson, founder and director of Seattle-based Heartbeat Ministries, walks you through the basics of planning and launching a support system for adoptive families, foster families, birth parents, or adoptees. Packed with practical pointers and worksheets, this handbook will equip you with the tools you need to create a vibrant adoption support network.
For more...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Focus on the Family |
The Adoption Decision: 15 Things You Want to Know Before Adopting Before you make the decision to adopt it's wise to know how adopting will affect your daily life. How will it affect your other children and your marriage? What will be the roll of the birth parents? Here are 15 important questions - and answers - to help you make the right choice in adopting. Includes questions for discussion and reflection - ideal for personal or group study - and additional...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Focus on the Family |
Successful Adoption: A Guide for Christian Families Have you felt there's an empty place in your family, but the process of adoption seemed too daunting? Find answers to demystify adoption and discover if it's right for your family, how to pay for it, where to find the right agency and how to make sense of the paperwork. It's just a few of the issues covered at length in this essential guidebook for bringing a little one to your doorstep.
For more...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Focus on the Family |
God's Heart for the Orphan Join Rick and Kay Warren from Saddleback Church as they share what you can do to help orphans in this four part video series.
Effective Discipline Strategies for Adoptive and Foster Families Watch this video from adoption and foster care expert Dr. Karyn Purvis:
Effective Discipline Strategies for Adoptive & Foster Families - Dr. Karyn Purvis from Tapestry on Vimeo.
| Type: Training | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Adopting for Life-- Conference Audio Files All the talks from the 2010 Adopting for Life conference are now available online! If you weren't able to attend the conference, then take advantage of this great opportunity to listen to the talks now from your own computer: http://www.sbts.edu/resources/category/conferences/adopting-for-life/
Adopting for Life Conference Video-- David Platt This talk by adoptive father and pastor David Platt is from the 2010 Adopted for Life conference.
"David Platt’s message on Ruth and Adoption was one of the most powerful messages I have heard. Period. There was a weight and joy in this message that is rare." -- Review by Jason Kovacs
Our Adoption in Christ: What It Means for Us and for Orphans This book was written to equip churches theologically in the areas of orphan care and earthly adoption. We believe that robust theology produces robust action. So, our writing objective was to put the gospel at the center of the global orphan crisis. If the church is to be mobilized to care for 143 million orphaned and vulnerable children, then the gospel must be the main thing. Our prayer is that...
Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control Rate:
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The Beyond Consequences Institute, LLC was created to educate and provide the resources for helping children with severe acting out behaviors. Many of these children have been previously diagnosed with such disorders as reactive attachment disorder, bipolar, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, depression, and the list goes on and on.
Most traditional techniques accepted amongst...
The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family Rate:
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The adoption of a child is always a joyous moment in the life of a family. Some adoptions, though, present unique challenges. Welcoming these children into your family--and addressing their special needs--requires care, consideration, and compassion.
Written by two research psychologists specializing in adoption and attachment, The Connected Child will help you:
-- Build bonds of affection and...
Building a Bridge of H.O.P.E. Resource Guide This resource guide is an introduction to the world of adoption and orphan care ministry for both pastors and laypersons seeking to help move their church community to care for orphans. The booklet includes simple steps to provide a framework for this process. The enclosed DVD includes videos such as the Building a Bridge video for use at a worship service to raise interest in adoption in a...
Looking at Ourselves to Help our Children Heal Watch as Dr. Karyn Purvis explains the importance of parents being willing to look at their own histories as well as their expectations as they seek to connect with their children.
Looking at Ourselves to Help Our Children Heal from Tapestry on Vimeo.
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Parenting Strategies That Connect Watch as Dr. Purvis provides practical insight to parents about how they can effectively correct their children while still empowering and connecting with them.
Parenting Strategies That Connect from Tapestry on Vimeo.
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Empowered to Connect |
Castaway Kid "Before you sit down to read Castaway Kid by Rob Mitchell, I would suggest that you obtain a box of tissues. This compelling story grabs from the first page and helps you to understand what real loneliness and rejection feel like. More importantly it puts into perspective the most important things in life, such as a relationship with God. This is a splendid example of how the hand of God can...
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew "As both an adoptee and president of Jewel Among Jewels Adoption Network, author Sherrie Eldridge brings an original approach to the topic of adoption. In an attempt to inform adoptive parents of the unique issues adoptees face, she discusses adoptee anger, mourning, and shame and adoption acknowledgment while using case studies to illustrate how parents can better relate to their adopted...
The Local Church and Foster Care Video This video by Cornerstone Church (where Francis Chan pastors) describes the need for the church to care for the modern day orphans. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, need to be concerned with those marginalized and forgotten by the rest of society.
Mark Richt’s Adoption Story Watch this video where UGA Coach Mark Richt and his wife talk about their story of adoption and how it has changed their lives.
New HIV Adoption Visa Laws This year the Obama administration put into effect a new law which will waive the former law which required HIV positive adoptees to receive a special visa. HIV positive orphans will now be able to be processed under the same procedure as orphans without HIV.
For more info on this new legislation, click here: http://chrisitianallianceblog.org/?p=236
Miracle in Franklin Watch this video which tells the amazing true story of one family's journey to adoption.
Ukraine Makes Progress in Placing Children in Homes This article shares about Ukraine's successful push for national adoption and fostercare. Learn more about the progress being made in this Eastern European country:
http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/51172
Wrapping Around Adoptive Families How to Provide Support to Those Called to Adopt:
"There are many different ways to minister to God's orphan children and to the adoptive families that have welcomed these children home. This booklet from Focus on the Family makes it clear that struggling adoptive families need their church families to support them during times of trials. While the suggestions in this booklet may not apply to...
Adoption is for a Lifetime Join author Nancy McCullough as she shares her fascinating story of how God orchestrated her adoption from Hong Kong. She relates her struggles related to the unknown reason for abandonment, which resulted in a wounded spirit and the inability to bond with her adoptive mother. God blessed her with wonderful parents, a loving husband, and two adopted girls from China. Take a...
Guide for Parenting Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Click the link below to read this helpful tip sheet for parents with adoptive or foster children who have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
http://www.wifostercareandadoption.org/library/966/fasd.pdf
Handbook on Thriving as an Adoptive Family Real-Life Solutions to Common Challenges
"Adoption is a high calling from God, and the Christian home is primary soil for planting seeds of faith. But how will post-adoption challenges affect this growth? Most agencies do not prepare you for unexpected challenges like an adopted child fighting with his new siblings, not wanting to be touched or showing signs of reactive attachment disorder...
The Connecting Link In The Connecting Link: What Parents Need to Bring Healing to Their Children, delivered at the 2009 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference, Dr. Purvis provides parents with a better understanding of why children from hard places use distancing strategies, and how they can help their children replace those strategies by giving them voice, empowering them to make choices and helping them...
Focusing on the Whole Child Watch as Dr. Karyn Purvis talks about the need for parents to focus on every aspect of their child’s wellbeing in order to help them heal and overcome their challenges.
Focusing on the Whole Child from Tapestry on Vimeo.
Children from Hard Places Watch as Dr. Karyn Purvis outlines the common characteristics of children from hard places and offers insight into what these children need most to help them heal and become whole:
Children from Hard Places from Tapestry on Vimeo.
The All Inclusive Handbook To Adopting A Child "This all-inclusive guide will take you throughout the entire adoption process, from beginning to the end. This book will give you information significant for helping you decide if adoption is right for you, how to prepare for it, how to speed up the adoption process, what to expect during the adoption process, how to handle drawbacks you might encounter, and how to handle sensitive...
While We Wait: Spiritual & Practical Advice for Those Trying to Adopt "Adoption is a beautiful event, and building a family through adoption is a loving and selfless act. But the decision to adopt and the many stages that follow are often pock-marked with tears, distress, anger, and disappointment. While We Wait, written by a mother while she struggled through the process herself, is a hope-filled collection of reflections on the everyday, practical aspects of...
Not Your Everyday Conversation: Talking With Children About the Difficult Realities of Adoption and Foster Care Along with the joys and blessings of adoption and foster care come some difficult and often painful realities – issues such as grief, loss, abandonment, past trauma and the need for forgiveness, just to name a few. It is important for adoptive and foster parents to be prepared to help their children navigate these emotional and complex issues, and to make sense of their own personal...
A Friend for Every Orphan Join Nikolai Kuleba, head of child and family services in Kiev, as he shares his dream that every orphan would find a believing friend (or, "one believer in the life of every orphan"). This video was taken at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church.
This video is only available in Russian. Please click the link above the title to view and encourage your...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
Mass Media - Reformation of the Mentality of a Nation Join Sergey Demidovich as he shares about ways to use media to influence national thinking about adoption and orphans. Sergey Demidovich is the Director of the TV studio TV-Together, as well as the representative for the TV channel TBN Ukraine. He is an adoption advocate and does training for nationals across Russia and Ukraine. This session was filmed at the 2009 Eastern European...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
Prayer Ministry—Breaking Generational Curses Many families fear adoption because they fear “genetics” – “is it true that as the child grows up, he’ll become like his alcoholic father or drug-addicted mother?..” This seminar, by Peter and Tamara Dudnik, addresses those fears and how to deal with them through prayer. This seminar was filmed at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
How to Start and Run a Training School for Foster Families Watch here as Mikhail Pimenov, the director of the foster care training school "Family" shares how individuals can start up their own training schools for adoptive and foster parents. This session addresses the following themes:
Types of training for potential foster parents
How to start a training school for foster families; training specialists and forming a team.
...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
Types of Family Care; Adoption, Foster Care, etc. Join adoption advocates Petr and Tamara Dudnik as they provide answers to frequently asked questions: what is the difference between adoption and foster parenting, does the government support families that take children – and if so, then how exactly, etc.
This session was filmed at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church.
This video is only available in Russian. ...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
Difficulties in Raising Adopted Children Join adoption advocate Tamara Dudnik as she shares about difficulties in raising adopted children, and how to overcome those difficulties.
Session was filmed at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church.
This video is only available in Russian. Please click the link above the title to view and encourage your Russian-speaking colleagues and friends to check it out as well.
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
How to Practically Help Adoptive and Foster Children Motivation/Filtration/Preparation/Support-- Join Mikhail Kozitsky and Dr. Susan Hillis as they share four steps towards helping adoptve and foster families:
Participants will be able to describe compelling magnitude of orphan problem and sure reward in caring for orphans
Participants will be able to describe profile of families who are likely to be prepared to care for orphans
...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
The Magnitude of the Orphan Problem Dr. Susan Hillis of the CDC shares the most up-to-date government statistics on the magnitude of the orphan problem, as well as offers hope for potential solutions. Video footage from the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church.
This video is only available in Russian. Please click the link above the title to view and encourage your Russian-speaking colleagues and...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
God's Heart for Orphans and Adoption Gennady Makhnenko speaks at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church. Gennady is the head of the largest rehabilitation center for street children in Eastern Europe.
This video is only available in Russian. Please click the link above the title to view and encourage your Russian-speaking colleagues and friends to check it out as well.
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
Theological Foundations of Adoption TV producer, Sergey Demidovich, shares the Biblical foundations for adoption. The video is taken from Mr. Demidovich's session at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church.
This video is only available in Russian. Please click the link above the title to view and encourage your Russian-speaking colleagues and friends to check it out as well.
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
Strategy for Church-Government Collaboration Nikolai Kuleba shares about key strategies for church/government collaboration at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church. Mr. Kuleba is the head of child and family services for the city of Kiev.
This video is only available in Russian. Please click the link above the title to view and encourage your Russian-speaking colleagues and friends to check it out as well.
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
Keys to Healing for Children Peter Kravchuk speaks at the 2009 Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church. Peter is the father of 21 adopted children, as well as a board member of Light of Love, an NGO that provides training for adoptive and foster families.
This video is only available in Russian. Please click the link above the title to view and encourage your Russian-speaking colleagues and friends to...
| Type: 2009 Summit | | Related Organization: CoMission for Children at Risk |
International Adoption: The Human Rights Position Great paper on UNICEF & International Adoption from Dr. Elizabeth Bartholet, Harvard Law Professor. Read her abstract here, or click the link below to read her entire paper.
"Abstract
International adoption is under siege, with the number of children placed dropping each of the last several years, and many countries imposing severe new restrictions. Key forces mounting the attack...
Creating a Healthy Adoption Culture in Your Church Watch this video where Dr. Purvis shares what it takes to create a healthy adoption culture in your local church:
http://vimeo.com/7528139
The Blind Side Movie Rate:
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"The Blind Side" depicts the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own.
Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set...
How to Start an Adoption Fund in Your Church Rate:
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While many families have room in their hearts and homes for a child, they all too often become discouraged and do not answer the call to adopt due to monetary concerns. Though we have assisted hundreds of families with financial grants and will continue to do so, the need for grants far surpasses any one organization’s ability to provide. We cannot do this alone and implore you to begin a...
Ten Ways Every Christian Can Care for Orphans Rate:
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143 million orphans and waiting children. Yes, it's a BIG number. And it can be difficult to know how one person can make a dent in a reality so daunting. However, one Christian -- every Christian -- can make a difference. There are many things believers can do on behalf of the orphan and waiting child. This full color brochure from FamilyLife's Hope for Orphans...
Gift of Adoption Video Rate:
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"The Gift of Adoption" is a free 10 minute video which encourages and inspires those considering international adoption. To view the video, go to http://ob.org/orphanspromise/ and then click the "Gift of Adoption video" link on the lefthand side of the page.
This video is available in Russian as well. For more information on how to order a copy of this video in...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Mission Emmanuel (CBN Ukraine) |
A Helper to the Fatherless: Orphan Summit Tackles Orphans and Adoption Issue Even on paper the statistics look appalling-- 103,000 orphans in Ukraine, 1,200 babies are abandoned at birth and left in maternity homes and 6,000-6,500 parental rights cases make their way to court each year.
Between the ages of 16-18, orphans in Ukraine graduate from state-run orphanages. Lacking the ability to find employment or to keep a job, these teenagers often live on the...
Database of all adoptable children in Russia This website is the official government database of all orphans in Russia who are eligible for adoption. The site is only in Russian, but can be translated using Google Translate here:
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usynovite.ru&sl=ru&tl=en
This site provides insight into the magnitude of...
Adopting the Hurt Child "Adopting the Hurt Child" by Gregory Kack and Regina Kupeckyaddresses the frustration, heartache, and hope surrounding the adoption of special-needs children. You will find value in the easy reading style, practical parenting strategies, and refreshing insights to the challenges you face. Revised and updated, this practical resource includes information on foreign adoptions.
To...
Adoption and Foster Care Resources in Russian Rate:
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This is a list of over 15 Russian resources on adoption and foster care, that are very useful for Russian-speaking believers ministering to orphans:
Legal help for Adoptive Parents
Þðèäè÷åñêàÿ ïîìîùü óñûíîâèòåëÿì
http://www.risknetwork.ru/resources/?id=90
Comprehensive Information about Adoption, Foster Care, and Gaurdianship
ïîëåçíûé ðåñóðñ ïî óñûíîâëåíèþ, îïåêå è ïðèåìíûì...
God's Heart for the Orphan...and Me! Hope for Orphans new childrens' curriculum "God's Heart for the Orphan...and Me!" is an exciting, interactive children's Bible study designed to expose the children at church and home to God's passion for orphans and waiting children. The material engages children to discuss what God calls His followers to do for orphans. It also offers tools to enable kids to take action and...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Hope for Orphans |
Welcome Home: Eight Steps to Adoption Rate:
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When it comes to making a decision about adoption, many people get stuck between thinking and doing. Fears, uncertainties, and doubts keep people from being able to make an informed adoption decision. That is why Hope For Orphans created this guide. They provide easy-to-use adoption information from a Christian perspective in this beautiful full-color 30-page guide that will equip you to navigate...
| Type: Booklet | | Related Organization: Hope for Orphans |
If You Were Mine (DVD Workshop) Hope for Orphans® If You Were Mine DVD workshop has helped thousands of families nationwide, inviting them to investigate adoption from a biblical and practical perspective. Now available as a video workshop, If You Were Mine is perfect for small groups, as a one-day event, or for individual families, encouraging them toward wise, loving decisions and healthy expectations about...
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Hope for Orphans |
If You Were Mine (Workbook) Hope for Orphans®, If You Were Mine Workshop has encouraged thousands of families nationwide to investigate adoption from a biblical and practical perspective.
This workbook accompanies the If you were Mine Workshop. It will help you make wise, loving decisions and have healthy expectations about adoption.
This comprehensive resource explores the following topics:
God's heart for...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Hope for Orphans |
HomeBuilders: Considering Adoption & Directory of Helpful Resources and Organizations Purchase HomeBuilders: Considering Adoption (Study Guide) and receive free Hope for Orphans Directory of Helpful Resources and Organizations (click here to purchase: http://www.shopfamilylife.com/hmb-considering-adoption-study---h4o-directory-so.html)
HomeBuilders: Considering Adoption (Study Guide)
Have you ever wondered if adoption is what God wants for your family? If so, this five-week...
| | | Related Organization: Hope for Orphans |
The Cry of the Orphan What is the church going to do about the world's 143 million orphans? This broadcast features speakers Kay Warren, Dennis Rainey, Paul Pennington, Benedict and Kathleen Schwartz, and Bob Coy. Hear their passionate pleas for action on the issue of suffering orphans, their call to Christians for justice, and their biblical model of how compassionate activism works—straight from the...
NavPress Adoption Book Kit According to recent research, over one-third of Americans have considered adopting. NavPress has put together a comprehensive resource kit of books that offer heartfelt encouragement, practical advice, and needed resources to those who may adopt.
This kit includes one of each title:
Questions Adoptees Are Asking
Parenting Adopted Adolescents
Parenting the Hurt Child Revised...
House Parents Needed in Vladivostok Hope For Life Home is looking for a Russian-speaking couple to be house parents in a home in Vladivostok for 8 orphan children. The house is set up to hold 8 kids and a set of house parents in the upstairs and 8 kids and a set of house parents in the downstairs. The upstairs has house parents and 7 kids. They are currently remodeling the downstairs and praying for a set of house...
Parenting Adopted Adolescents Adoptive parent, social worker, author, and speaker Dr. Gregory C. Keck offers support, new ideas, and suggestions on managing difficult family situations specific to adolescents, especially adopted adolescents. You will find humor and relief as you realize your role in your child’s journey. Also appropriate for teachers, youth pastors, and mental health professionals.
To purchase this...
The Whole Life Adoption Book Read this book for insights into every aspect of adoption, from vital issues to introductory questions, including updated information on the adoption process, both in the U.S. and internationally; an in-depth look at the developmental stages of adoption for families and children; the impact of adoption on birth children in the family; and practical parenting suggestions to handle the unique needs...
A Dress for Anna: the Story of the Redemption of the Life a Ukrainian Orphan "Every little girl loves a pretty new dress, and my daughter, Anna, was no exception. Trembling with emotion, she ripped open the department store bag that contained her new dress, tights, shoes and undergarments. Then, she pulled out the lavender floral print dress, caressing the silk lining and rubbing her face in the soft fabric.
“Platya,” She...
The Great Gilly Hopkins This book by Katherina Paterson tells the story of Gilly Hopkins, a determined-to-be-unpleasant 11-year-old foster kid who the reader can't help but like by the end. Gilly has been in the foster system all her life, and she dreams of getting back to her (as she imagines) wonderful mother. (The mother makes these longings worse by writing the occasional letter.) Gilly is all the more...
When Love Is Not Enough: A Guide to Parenting Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder Newly updated and expanded, this book is power packed with parenting techniques for guiding challenging children back on track! Part I includes understanding Reactive Attachment Disorder, it's causes and symptoms. Part II has the solutions! Praised by parents throughout the world as saving their sanity and their families. Used by many agencies and professionals to train parents to help emotionally...
When a Stranger Calls You Mom This book offers a child development and relationship perspective on why traumatized children think, feel, and act the way they do. It is a guide for foster/adoptive parents and professionals living and working with traumatized children.
Some reviews on this book:
"This book is a lifesaver!! We adopted a boy from Russia three years ago and have had attachment issues from the beginning. Been...
Building the Bonds of Attachment: Awakening Love in Deeply Troubled Children Katie, an abused, neglected, and poorly attached child, spent the first years of her life with parents who cared little about her. As a result she is an angry, unhappy, and manipulative kid. Is there any hope for her to grow up and become a healthy and happy adult? In BUILDING THE BONDS OF ATTACHMENT Dr. Daniel Hughes follows Katie through her life with abusive birth parents and many foster homes,...
Treating Attachment Disorders: From Theory to Therapy "This book couldn't be more timely. After three decades of developmental research establishing the importance of attachment processes in emotional regulation and stress responsiveness, therapists of many orientations are pondering how to apply these findings in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Previous books relating attachment theory to clinical concerns have been heavily...
Adoption Grants and Loans Adoption is our ultimate goal in caring for orphan children as it enables them to become a part of God's perfect plan…a family. While many Christian couples have the desire and resources to care for a child, initial costs keep many from following God's call to adopt.
Lifesong Legacy Fund
Interest Free Loans
The Lifesong Legacy Fund offers interest free loans to help couples overcome the...
Aggressive-Defiant Child: a tutorial for Teachers and Foster Parents Do parents, or teachers always like their child’s behaviour? Few kids are the model of perfection ( I haven’t met any yet, but there may be one or two!) and kids do things that disappoint or displease us. Sometimes they can behave in ways that really annoy us; the angry, defiant child is a good example. How do you change an angry, aggressive child into a cooperative child?
Firstly,...
Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today's Parents
Every year increasingly larger proportions of both internationally and domestically adopted children are arriving in their families not as newborns a few hours or days old, but at several weeks or several months or even several years of age. They arrive in loving, idealistic, but often ill-prepared families who may or may not have received all of the background information they need.
The...
Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self In BEING ADOPTED: THE LIFELONG SEARCH FOR SELF, author David Brodzinsky illustrates common developmental pathways of adoptees as they occur throughout the life span. It probes the complex issues that are involved in this ongoing life process. Five themes run throughout this book: the experience of adoptees; developmental perspectives; normality; search for self; and sense of loss.
Click on...
Child Abuse in Russia Thousands of Russian children die each year at the hands of their own parents
April 9, 2009
In January 2009 under a bridge outside of Moscow, the body of three-year-old Daniel Boiko was found. The boy was first starved, and then thrown alive into the river with a car battery tied to his neck. The child was killed by his foster parents. These same parents were accused of the...
List of Books on Adoption and Foster Care This site offers a good list of books on adoption, attachment issues, parenting adopted children, and children development.
Older Child Adoption Training Older Child Adoption Training Program
Adopting a child over the age of three is an incredible blessing to the child, living birth relatives and the adoptive family. But it’s often not easy to assimilate a child with life experiences into family life. Both children and adoptive families can feel overwhelmed with all the adjustments that are required.
The Lord has a...
Attach-- Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children Many children throughout the world do not benefit from adequate parenting during their early years. Their foundation for healthy development is damaged so they have difficulty in forming loving, lasting, intimate relationships. This condition, known as attachment disorder, can be triggered by abuse, neglect, abandonment, separation from birth parents, birth trauma, maternal depression, chronic...
Joint Council on Children's Services The Joint Council works to ensure that orphaned and vulnerable children can live, grow, and flourish in a family. Advocating for high standards, ethical practices, and child-centric policies, Joint Council educates governments, professionals and families all with a goal of finding a safe, permanent, and loving family for every child.
| Type: Partnership Opportunity | | |
Adoption Learning Partners Adoption Learning Partners provides the highest quality online adoption education. Our course list includes comprehensive training for parents preparing for an international adoption. The following online courses meet Hague training requirements for international adoption:
The Journey of Attachment
Attachment is an essential component of any healthy, happy family. Adoption, however, may...
Attachment Disorder Website We offer information on adoption / attachment and bonding issues, and Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) to families and professionals. We are also the official home of Families by Design providing educational materials and seminars.
The goal of this site is to provide help for each wounded child with attachment disorder, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)...
Hope Exists: Exploring Abuse and Its Effects: A Handbook for Young People If you are interested please contact me through the contact information below and I will be able to provide you ahead of time with details as of how we can make this resource available to you.
Please include:
Your name
Your organization
What groups or institutions that you work with
What age range of the children that you work with
How many copies that you need
...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Arts for Life International Inc. |
Mission Emmanuel (CBN Kiev) Mission Emmanuel is the CBN World Reach office located in Kiev Ukraine. A special orphan focuses project of Mission Emmanuel is The Gift of Adoption. Some of the focuses of The Gift of Adoption include adoption promotion, life skills training for orphan grads, summer camps for orphans and producing short films to promote adoption and work with orphans. Please contact us directly...
| Type: Curriculum | | Related Organization: Mission Emmanuel (CBN Ukraine) |
The Middle Mom: How to Grow Your Heart by Giving It Away ...a foster mom's journey Every foster parent knows how hard, yet rewarding, it can be to care for a child with a difficult past and an uncertain future. Christie Erwin has been a mom, in the middle, for countless children over nearly two decades. In this poignant and insightful book, she honestly shares the reality of making yourself vulnerable to the pain and indescribable delight of giving your heart away to...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Campus Crusade for Christ |
Juvenile Institution Material We have Bible study discussion sheets available in English and in Russian. These utilize a topical, discussion format that has been effectively used with kids in detention centers, prisons, orphanages and in aftercare situations in several countries. We also have discipleship booklets (English only for now) and a drug and alcohol recovery curriculum in English designed for the...
| Type: Curriculum | | Related Organization: Straight Ahead Ministries, Inc. |
"Staying Safe" Curriculum in Russian Staying Safe is a training curriculum designed to help leaders equip small groups of children (ages 6-14) to stay safe from potential sexual abuse and sexual assault, with lessons on Self Esteem, Personal Safety, Saying No!, and Being Safe. It was written to be used in orphanages or shelters for street children, but can be used in other settings for foster families or families in...
| Type: Training | | Related Organization: Arts for Life International Inc. |
In a Fairy-Tale Village, Russian Orphans Thrive Kitezh is an experimental orphan community about 190 miles southwest of Moscow that combines features of an orphanage with those of foster care. With its colorful wooden cottages, Kitezh appears as distant from the cruelty of the children’s frequently alcoholic and abusive parents as it is from the stale, often crowded government institutions where many Russian orphans still live.
Read the...
The Italian "The Italian" is a compelling slice-of-life drama that has a great deal to say not only about the appalling conditions faced by orphans in Russia today, but about the determination of the human spirit and the need for love that exists at the center of every human heart. "The Italian" is a film tuned to the realities of life in a harsh environment, where cruel and violent deeds...
Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds In many Bibles, Christ's words are set apart with a red font. It should be obvious, but this distinction helps remind us that when God becomes Man and that Man speaks it's probably something we cannot afford to miss.So why doesn't the church take these "red letters" to heart? Why aren't we doing more to be Christ's hands and feet to the poor, the disenfranchised, the weary, the ill, the...
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Children's HopeChest |
Celebrating Children Full of cutting-edge, practical information, this is a comprehensive reference book written by over 50 contributors from all around the world. Celebrating Children draws on the experience of both government- funded programs and small, sustainable community- based initiatives to address concerns of readers such as a holistic mission to children and the development, evaluation, and monitoring of...
Buckner Foster Parent Takes National Award in Latvia "Biruta Stepina earned the award by opening her home to deaf-mute Latvian children. She is the only foster parent in the country who knows sign language. According to Buckner, the children under her foster care are Dima, Ivo and Inga. All of them are between 7 and 8 years old, and two are deaf-mute. (Biruta has become Dima's guardian.) "Please read this article in its entirety here.
Running a Hotel in Montenegro : Real Jobs for Young People "...There are five youth care institutions, often dealing with mildly or severely disabled youngsters. Bijela boasts one large children’s home, Dom ‘Mladost’, with a whopping 170 children that we would call “normally abled children” between the ages of 0 and 18 years old. ....The main worry is that virtually all these children will have to remain in the...
Orphanages Stunt Growth, Families are Better The following is an excerpt from an article written by St. Louis (Reuters) By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent."Children raised in orphanages are stunted physically, emotionally and intellectually but good foster care can help orphans start to grow again, researchers said on Friday. An experiment in which foster homes were set up in Romania showed that children taken out of the...
The Big Book of Bible Games If you've ever questioned the spiritual value of "Duck-Duck-Goose" or "Wink'em", but still want to let kids have fun - here's the book for you. Active Bible learning games for children ages 6 - 12. To purchase this resource, please go to GLINT's online bookstore, search the title and scroll down to select the language of your choice.
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Gospel Literature International (GLINT) |
103 Questions Children Ask About Right from Wrong This book by Dave Veerman focuses on questions actual kids have asked about right and wrong. Fun cartoons help illustrate the questions, while simple answers, Bible verses, and related questions assist children ages 4-8 to understand each entry.To purchase this resource, please go to GLINT's online bookstore, search the title and scroll down to select the language of your choice.
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Gospel Literature International (GLINT) |
I Want to Enjoy My Children If you didn’t plan for them -- or even if you did, having kids may threaten to spoil the fun of marriage. This book shows how to make parenting a fascinating, pleasant journey, wherever it may leadTo purchase this resource, please go to GLINT's online bookstore, search the title and scroll down to select the language of your choice.
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Gospel Literature International (GLINT) |
Stomping Out the Darkness The powerful message of the best-selling book, "Victory Over Darkness" written especially for young people. Provides youth with the keys to their identities, worth and acceptance as children of God. To purchase this resource, please go to GLINT's online bookstore, search the title and scroll down to select the language of your choice.
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Gospel Literature International (GLINT) |
What the Bible is All About Young Explorers The classic Bible handbook has been revised and updated to make the Word of God even more accessible to children. To purchase this resource, please go to GLINT's online bookstore, search the title and scroll down to select the language of your choice.
| Type: Book | | Related Organization: Gospel Literature International (GLINT) |
Foster Care in the U.S. and Russia, the Same but Different A brief, general explanation of foster care as it is in the U.S. and in Russia.Read the article here.
Inside the Adoption Agency: Understanding Intercountry Adoption in the Era of the Hague Convention This exciting new book that targets the adoption community of professionals and prospective adoptive parents is titled Inside the Adoption Agency: Understanding Intercountry Adoption in the Era of the Hague Convention. The National Council for Adoption recommends this book and states, "The Erichsens are leading pioneers of Intercountry adoption. Part history lesson and part how-to guide,...
Foster Care Roundtable Round Table Discussion on Foster Care family support programsAn important aspect of these programs is the formation by foster parents of support groups. Such groups have been meeting for almost two years in the Volgograd region and play a central role in their overall efforts to prevent orphanhood. Features of the Volgograd model· Parents and children work together with other civic...
Family Centers and Foster Care Programs Family Centers and Foster Care ProgramsBy Ekaterina Vadimovna Celenina, Nadezhda Fund
Families for Teenagers at RiskOlder Orphans and Orphanage Graduates in Various Forms of Foster Care.Post-Institutional Adaptation
Extension of the child’s stay in the orphanage.
Social Adaptation Programs in technical schools and colleges.
Crisis centers for temporary housing and care....
| Type: 2006 Summit | | Related Organization: Children's HopeChest |
Financing Adoptions This website offers a list of adoption grants, loans, etc. to help families who would like to adopt but do not have the funds.
Christian Foster Care (Ukraine) Foster Care has been started successfully by New Hope Ukraine in the Lviv region, while caseworkers in the Volynska, Cherkaska and Odeska regions have been trained in recent months. Foster care training of caseworkers (who in turn are training foster families) is done by New Hope Ukraine's national coordinator, Oksanna. Training does not take place in a classroom setting, but on demand and on an...
| Type: Training | | Related Organization: New Hope International |
Papochka- Adoption Video in Russian This touching 10 minute video in Russian offers inspiration and encouragement for Russian families considering adoption. To get your own copy of the DVD, please contact Nataliya Khomyak (see below).
| Type: Video/DVD | | Related Organization: Mission Emmanuel (CBN Ukraine) |
Russian Govt Adoption Website This official government website provides a host of good information about orphans in Russia. It has everything from official orphan statistics to rules for international adoption. Unfortunately, the majority of the site is solely in Russian. The top right of the home page does have an English option, which will lead you to a few pages in English.
Sampling of Internet Resources on Children at Risk Editor's Note: For valuable lists of links to organizations and reports dealing with post-Soviet orphans and street children, visit the following Web sites: Beeson Divinity School Global Center:http://www.samford.edu/groups/global/links/childrenatrisk-ee
Rainbows of Hope:http://www.wec-int.org/rainbows/resources/links/index.phpEastern European Adoption...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: East-West Church and Ministry Report |
Our Family - Foster Care Program In Moscow, "Our Family" is a foster care program run by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). Up to 14 children live in a family-style home, where they receive professional support, as well as loving care, to prepare them for foster family placements. Based at the same site, the foster-care program services, recruits, assesses, and trains prospective foster parents. Both...
| Type: Training | | Related Organization: Christian Solidarity Worldwide |
Partner with International Orphan Foundation International Orphans' Foundation (IOF) promotes adoption by recruiting prospective adoptive families and creating a comfortable environment in which they can consider adoption through:
Child Sponsorship
Short-Term Missions Trips
Summer Hosting Program
IOF seeks mutually beneficial partnerships with Christian organizations that:
Offer year-round Christian...
| | | Related Organization: International Orphans Foundation (IOF) |
U.S. Ambassador to Russia Remarks on International Adoption #17 - JRL 9106 - JRL HomeRemarks - International Adoption Round TableAlexander Vershbow, U.S. Ambassador to RussiaMoscow, March 28, 2005
I would first like to thank Ambassador Lukin and the organizers of this round table for providing me the opportunity to express my views on the very important topic of the rights of a child to a family. For most of us, there is nothing more important in life...
How to Adopt Internationally Mesa House PublishingPress Release
New Book Aimed at Growing Number of Hopeful Parents Looking to Adopt Internationally
Numbers for 2002 show continued growth despite travel concerns and economic uncertainty
Fort Worth, TX - Despite a sagging economy and lingering nervousness over foreign travel, the popularity of international adoption seems to be holding tight.
Tight enough that authors...
Russian Adoption Handbook: How to Adopt a Child from Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan The Russian Adoption HandbookHow to Adopt a Child from Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstanby John H. Maclean
Now Available at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide!Adopting a child can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, yet complex policies, legal risks, and fewer available children make adopting domestically a difficult choice. International adoption offers a...
Adopting In Russia: Your Rights and the Law Adopting In Russia: Your Rights and the Lawby Irina M O'Rear
This is a book that contains clear and comprehensive information about adopting in Russia and the Laws that apply. These important Laws have been translated from Russian into English and provide the readers with true and accurate content in order to understand their legal rights as they apply to adoption in Russia. It is...
The Struggles and Successes of Trans-Racial, Cross-Cultural Adoptions JUST RELEASED OCTOBER 2004
The Struggles and Successes of Trans-racial, Cross-Cultural Adoptions
Nineteen years in the making, Butterflies in the Wind: The Truth About Latin American Adoptions, by Jean Nelson-Erichsen, LSW-MA, spans the lives of three children adopted at infancy and elementary school age. With sensitivity and humor, this personal record tells of their development, along...
How Well Do Children Adopted from Eastern Europe Fare? Prospective adoptive families frequently ask how well adopted children adjust. The myriad of adoption stories families hear by word of mouth, on the Internet, or in other media run the range from wonderful to nightmarish. Anyone who is considering adoption wants to know that they are doing the right thing and that adopted children are doing well in their new families.
Rainbow House...
| Type: Article | | Related Organization: Holt International |
