- Community Connection
Adoptee Restoration: “Adoptees and Trust Issues with Spouses and Significant Others”
Summary: From Adoptee Restoration, this narrative article shares the author’s experiences in how she overcame trust issues with her spouse. The center of the story is about how she worked through the decision to give her husband access to her medical information. This source can apply to and most benefit other adoptees who are figuring out their trust issues with their spouse.
- Community Connection
Adoptee Restoration: “Trusting & Fully Loving Your Spouse or Significant Other (10 Important Choices adoptees Can Make)”
This narrative article shares the author’s experiences and gives a list of ten choices an adoptee can make in their relationship. It is important to understand that this article is faith based. This source can apply to and most benefit other adoptees who are figuring out their trust nd attachment issues with their spouse.
- Community Connection
Adoption Reconnect
The Adoption Reconnect Facebook page focuses on partners of adoptees. It validates the feelings of partners of adoptees, explains an adoptee’s feelings/differences, and how one should support their adoptee partner. This source can apply to and most benefit spouses of adoptees who want to understand/support their partners.
- Community Connection
Transfiguring Adoption: “A Spouse’s Love for an Adoptee”
This narrative article shares the author’s experiences and perspectives on what it is like to be a spouse of an adoptee. He emphasizes with his wife’s feelings, explains the reasoning of his own feelings, and how he chooses to support her. This source can apply to and most benefit spouses of adoptees who want to understand another spouse’s perspective.
- Community Connection
Adoption.com: Spouse of adoptee issues/support
This forum thread is to support spouses of adoptees. It deals with attachment issues, self-blaming, and biased personal opinions. It is important to understand that these perspectives are not universally true and may be triggering. This source can apply to and most benefit spouses of adoptees who want to connect with others and want new perspectives.
- Community Connection
Colorado Marriage Retreats: “Do People Who Are Adopted Have Trouble Loving?”
This article answers the question “Do People Who Are Adopted Have Trouble Loving?” from the partner of an adoptee — a licensed marriage and family therapist’s perspective. The response is empathetic and gives recommendations on what the partner should do. This source can apply to and most benefit other adoptees or spouses who are interested in improving a relationship that might be affected by adoption.
- LGBTQ+
Talkspace: “The History of the LGBTQ Community and Mental Health Treatment”
From TalkSpace.com, this source will most apply to and benefit those who are seeking information about the history of the LGBTQ community and mental health treatment. The article goes over an abbreviated history, how the LGBTQ identity came to be designated as a mental illness, conversion therapy history, ongoing conversations about gender, and current issues.
- LGBTQ+
LGBT National Help Center: LGBT National Youth Talkline
The LGBT National Youth Talkline will most apply to and benefit LGBT youth (age 25 and younger) who need free and confidential peer-support. On the webpage you can find the talklines hours and information on what to expect on a call.
- LGBTQ+
PFLAG NYC: API Parents & Caregivers Group
This group meets twice a month for a lunchtime discussion for API parents and caregivers whose children are part of the LGBTQ+ community. They are based in New York City but have virtual meetings on zoom. They also have an events calendar for anyone who can or wants to attend. This is a parent resource for API parents who have LGBTQ+ children.
- LGBTQ+
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Parents and Families/Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a source that can apply to and benefit the LGBTQ+ community. It is the “first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families.” On the webpage you can find support, information, and resources. There is also the PFLAG Chapter Network that has over 400 chapters across the country with 200,000 + members.
- LGBTQ+
Free Mom Hugs
Free Mom Hugs is a source that can apply to and benefit the LGBTQ+ community. It is an organization that encourages education, visability, and conversation. On the webpage you can learn more about their education opportunities for everyone through speaking engagements, webinars, interactive discussions, and other programs. You can also search by state to find a chapter in your area.
- LGBTQ+
The Real Mama Bears
Mama Bears is a source that can apply to and benefit the LGBTQ community. The organization supports, educates, and empowers families with LGBTQ members through its programing. It offers private online communities, resources, opportunities to advocate, regional Mama Bear groups, and numerous other methods of support.
- LGBTQ+
The Trevor Project: “Behaviors of Supportive Parents and Caregivers for LGBTQ Youth”
From the Trevor Project, this article will most apply to and benefit the parents who have LGBTQ+ children. In the article it explores the behaviors of supportive parents and caregivers for LGBTQ youth and explains that supportive behaviors are associated with lower suicide risk among LGBTQ kids.
- Mental Health
Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI)
The Asian American Health Initiative’s services can most apply to and benefit AAPI in Montgomery County. As a part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, AAHI assists with many programs, projects, and activities. Within the webpage, you can find a good resource page with documents in many languages, a mental health provider directory, and information on their many other programs
- LGBTQ+
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World)
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) is a source that can apply to and most benefit those who who are part of the queer community. The organization supports LGBTI civil society worldwide through “advocacy and research projects, and gives grassroots movements a voice within international organizations.” The website has information about their world’s network, events, annual report, latest news, and a list of researched resources/reports.
- Mental Health
CDC: Children’s Mental Health
From the CDC, this article can most apply to and benefit parents who are interested in learning about therapy for their children. In this article, you learn what therapy is, get an overview of child mental illness, learn benefits of certain types of therapy, and a list of resources to help find a healthcare provider.
- Mental Health
Medical News Today: “8 of the best online therapy programs for kids”
From Medical News Today, this article can most apply to and benefit parents who are interested in learning about therapy for their children. This article covers some different types of child therapy and child therapy techniques, how to know if a child needs therapy, how to explain therapy to a child, how to find a child therapist, child therapy costs and options, and more.
- Mental Health
Nemours Children’s Health: “Taking Your Child to a Therapist”
From KidsHealth, this article can most apply to and benefit parents who are interested in learning about therapy for their children. In this article you can learn what therapy is, what problems they help with, how it works, and can answer other popular questions related to therapy for children.
- Mental Health
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP): Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder
From the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, this therapist locator can most apply to and benefit parents who are interested in searching for a therapist for their child. After agreeing to the website’s terms, you can search by location. On the brief profile, you can find possible candiate’s names, location, and contact information.
- Mental Health
William James College: “Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents”
From William James College Center of Excellence for Multicultural and Global Mental Health (CMGMH), this guide will most apply to and benefit parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents. The guide and accompanying video is available in six languages. The guide covers the history of Asian-American Discrimination in the U.S, history of Asians fighting discrimination, why it’s important to talk about it, how to talk about it, and further resources.
- Literature
The Primal Wound
This book is a “seminal work which revolutionizes the way we think about adoption. It describes and clarifies the effects of separating babies from their birth mothers as a primal loss which affects the relationships of the adopted person throughout life”. This book also discusses pre-and perinatal psychology, attachment, bonding, and loss and gives adoptees, whose pain has long been unacknowledged or misunderstood, validation for their feelings, as well as explanations for their behavior. Additionally, it lists “the coping mechanisms which adoptees use to be able to attach and live in a family to whom they are not related and with whom they have no genetic cues”. The hope is that this book will “contribute to the healing of all members of the adoption triad and will bring understanding and encouragement to anyone who has ever felt abandoned”.
- Trainings
Adoption Support Alliance
The Adoption Support Alliance offers an Adoption 101 course designed for anyone considering growing their family through adoption. The class discusses different aspects surrounding adoption, including the logistics of both domestic and international adoption, how to deal with grief and trauma, birth family relationships, and more. The ASA also offers classes on ‘Race, Culture & Adoption’ and ‘Adoption Training for Church Communities.’
- Trainings
Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Preadoption Training”
“Different types of adoption training are available to help prospective and adoptive parents learn more about the different aspects of adoption. The Child Welfare Information Gateway has compiled a list of different trainings that may be required and are useful for parents looking to understand more about their child and their development.
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- Trainings
Holt International: “Parenting Adoptees”
Holt International is a Christian organization that offers programs including Post-Adoption Coaching & Education (PACE) and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). Both programs help parents to work with their children. Holt also provides resources on racial and adoptee identity, birth parents, and privilege and international adoption. All of these sections have links and videos designed to help parents understand their child.
America World Adoption: “Adoption Training”
America World Adoption is a Christian adoption agency offering ‘Anchored in Hope: Strengthening Adoptive Families’ which is designed to help families prepare for the placement of a child and to equip them to meet the unique needs of their child in a 10 hour curriculum. They also offer courses for preparing for after adoption with shorter training around 1 ½ hours. AWAA’s other resources include webinars and individual appointments.
- Trainings
Adoption Training Online
From the Children’s Aid Society of Alabama, several paid trainings are offered. There are Hague approved bundles. Trainings are various- spanning from domestic adoption, medical courses, and mental health
- Trainings
Gladney Center for Adoption: “Why Are Foster Care and Adoption Training Required?”
This article explains why foster care and adoption training is required. It discusses pre-service training, foster parent in-service training, post-adoption training, kinship-specific training, and more. The author also provides general advice about learning through parenting experience and how it is a journey.
- Mental Health
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: “Adoption”
This article explains how adoption, and the attitudes surrounding it have changed over the years. It explains different reasonings behind the decision to adopt, and how adoptive parents, like biological parents, love their children and want the best for them. The difference is that adopted children face different challenges that family therapy can help resolve or manage.
- Mental Health
North American Council on Adoptable Children: “Therapy Plays an Important Role in Adoptive Families’ Lives”
This article discusses the important role family therapy plays in adoptive families’ lives. It describes why therapy is important, and urges the reader to choose a therapist that is right for them.
- Mental Health
No Hands But Ours: “Preparing for Adoption: A Family Therapist’s Perspective”
An article on preparing for adoption by Ashley Yeager, a family therapist and Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner. She incorporates a spiritual feel, and explains different steps for prospective adoptive parents to take.
- Media
The Dark Matter of Love (2012)
A documentary on the psychological aspects of growing up with and without parental love. The story centers around the Diaz family, who chooses to adopt three orphans from Russia, and how their new and old kids handle family together. It also covers their work with individualized family therapy that helps them to begin communicating more effectively.
- Mental Health
Therapist Locator
A search engine that locates marriage and family therapists. Users can search using zip codes or a city name for therapists in the US, Canada, and other countries.
- Mental Health
Healthgrades: Family and Marriage Counselors Near Me
A search engine that allows users to search for family and marriage counselors by state, and view therapists profiles including ratings, testimonials, location, options for virtual therapy, background checks, and more. Users are also able to filter by doctors, conditions, or procedures.
- Mental Health
OnlineTherapy: “Marriage and Family Therapist Online”
An article and search directory, this source discusses the decision to find a marriage and family therapist online and also links to a directory that allows users to filter by state. It is possible to search through 50 states and view profiles listing: years of experience, language, specialization, and bios.
