- Race Education
ChildTrends: “Resources to Support Children’s Emotional Well-Being Amid Anti-Black racism, Racial Violence, and Trauma”
This article discusses how to talk to children about racism, racial violence, and trauma. It also features books and other resource compilations for parents and caregivers about how to discuss race and racism with children.
- Race Education
American Psychological Association RESilience – “Resources for Parents: Uplifting Youth Through Healthy Communication About Race”
This website features tip tools, books, blogs, and other resources about creating healthy and safe conversations about race between children and parents. This initiative focuses on RES (racial and ethnic socialization), the process by which children learn about race.
- Race Education
Online MSW Programs with edX: “How to Teach Kids About Race”
This article discusses how to teach children about the concepts of race, privilege, and racial and ethnic socialization (RES). Though this resource is primarily for social work students, it may be relevant to any adults that would like to start discussing race with children.
- Birth Family Search
CCI Birth Parent Searching and Reunion Group
This Facebook group aims to provide information, resources, and encouragement for adult Chinese adoptees who are seeking to find their birth family or are currently in reunion. They also have a confidential discussion forum for any questions or experiences that are wanting to be shared.
- LGBTQ+
Creating a Family: “Adopting or Fostering a Child Who Identifies as LGBTQ”
This is a $20 course for adoptive or foster parents on providing a healthy environment to discuss emotional topics with LGBTQ+ youth. It is hosted by the Clinical Director of the Modern Family Center at Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children. It covers topics such as cultural sensitivity, mental health and some issues for the LGBTQ+ community that parents need to be aware of.
- LGBTQ+
Movement Advancement Project (MAP): “Child Welfare Nondiscrimination Laws”
This is a map of child welfare nondiscrimination laws in the United States. You can click on it by state and it will provide quick facts as well as laws and policies. These policies concern foster care, adoption, second and stepparents, and LGBTQ youth in child welfare. This can be used for anyone in the United States who are looking to foster or adopt and is curious to know about the laws of certain states.
- LGBTQ+
National Library of Medicine: “Achieving permanency for LGBTQ youth”
This is an article that talks about achieving permanence for youth in out-of-home care and meeting the needs of LGBTQ youth. It offers models of permanence and practices to facilitate permanence with LGBTQ youth and their families. It also provides resources for those who cannot return home as well as cultural issues that affect permanency. This is a great article for those raising LGBTQ youth.
- LGBTQ+
Taylor & Frances: Online Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services
This is an online journal that publishes empircal knowledge and conceptual information related to sexual minorities and their social environment. It’s filled with innovative ideas and resources for the design, evaluation, and delivery for social services for these populations at all stages of life. All articles in this journal have undergone anonymous double-blind peer review.
- LGBTQ+
APA PsycNet: “Basic premises, guiding principles and competent practices for a positive youth development approach to working with gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths in out-of-home care”
This article explores a youth development perspective for working with LGBTQ youths in out-of-home care. The article discusses 5 core premises defining the practices to promote youth development. A model is also offered for creating an environment where LGBTQ individuals can meet their personal and social needs and develop competencies.
- 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+
Creating a Family: “Tips for Raising an LGBTQ Foster or Adopted Child”
This website provides ten tips on raising LGBTQ foster or adopted kids, such as using your child’s preferred pronouns, using gender-neutral language, and letting them know you are willing to listen and talk about anything. This is a great resource for adoptive or foster parents of 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+
University of Michigan Center for Sexuality & Health Disparities: “All About Gender”
From Henry Ford, this guide can apply to and most benefit parents who have transgender, questioning, gender expansive, gender nonconforming, or non-binary kids. The guide explains terms, answers common questions, addresses transitioning, and gives additional resources
- LGBTQ+
PA Parent an Family Alliance
The PA Parent and Family Alliance LGBTQ+ Tip Sheet is a great resource that can most apply to and benefit parents who have a LGBTQ+ child. The guide goes over tips on what to do immediately following your child coming out, how to use terminology, and some reputable resources to continue your research.
- LGBTQ+
healthychildren.org: “Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBTQ Teens”
From Healthy Children. Org, this article will most apply to and benefit parents who have LGBTQ+ teens. The article gives explanations and tips to common questions. It also gives recommendations on what parents and families can do, along with more resources that are linked.
- LGBTQ+
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): “Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents”
From the American Academy of Pediatrics, this source will most apply to and benefit pediatric providers or those who are interested in how pediatric providers are changing their approach to their LGBTQ+ patients. This academic article reviews “relevant concepts and challenges and provide suggestions for pediatric providers that are focused on promoting the health and positive development of youth that identify as TGD while eliminating discrimination and stigma.”
- LGBTQ+
Rise Magazine: “Resources for LGBTQ Parents and Parents of LGBTQ Children and Youth”
From Rise Magazine, this article will most apply to and benefit the parents who are either LGBTQ+ or have LGBTQ+ children. The article explains the importance of acceptance and provides a list of resources
- LGBTQ+
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
The Human Rights Campaign’s services can apply to and most benefit those who are part of the queer community or those who are strong allies that want to support. The mission of the organization is to “end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.” The webpage offers information on their campaigns/projects, articles and a resource page.
- LGBTQ+
American Civil Liberties Union
ACLU (American Civil Liberites Union) can apply to and most benefit those who are part of the queer community and allies. The organization advocates for equality and has a long history of defending the LGBTQ+ community. On the website you can explore recent news, court cases, press releases, podcasts, reports, and more.
- 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
Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents
This is a comprehensive guide for prospective and current adoptive parents on ways to understand and care for the adopted child and promote healthy attachment. It provides “practical parenting strategies designed to enhance children’s happiness and emotional health” and explains “what attachment is, how grief and trauma can affect children’s emotional development, and how to improve attachment, respect, cooperation and trust”. The listed parenting techniques are “matched to children’s emotional needs and stages, and checklists are included to help parents assess how their child is doing at each developmental stage”. This book covers a wide range of issues including international adoption, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and learning disabilities. It is also geared as an important resource for adopted professionals.
- 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”.
- Medical Needs
Family Resource Center on Disabilities
The Family Resource Center is dedicated to “Providing Parents of Children with Disabilities with Information, Training, and Assistance.” Their resource page contains 20 categories on varying subjects for parents of children with disabilities and is available in Spanish.
- Medical Needs
Supportiv: “Mental Health Resources For Disabled People”
This is an ever-growing menu of free resources and ideas for maintaining health with a disability. It discusses insurance, therapy, government programs, and nature programs.
- Community Connection
NACAC: Find a Parent Group
The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) offers a search directory that allows people to filter by many different categories in order to find support groups in both the US and Canada. There are around 26 categories that include but are not limited to single parent, birth parent, pre-adoption, and post-adoption. The directory can also be searched alphabetically.
- Community Connection
Adoption Network: “How to Find Support Groups for Adoptive Parents”
This article explains the benefits of parent support groups for parents of adoptees. It includes a section on single parents as well as on couples, and provides a few starting links for those looking.
- Community Connection
Capital Adoptive Families Alliance (CAFA): Support Groups
Capital Adoptive Family Alliance (CAFA) provides a page on the importance of support groups and links to their own support group. The CAFA Support Group offers general support to parents and caregivers raising their adoptive (or soon to be adoptive) children. The support group meetings are free, parent-led, and meet every 4th Thursday.
- Medical Needs
NCFA: “A Guide to Adoption Subsidies and Assistance for Adoptive Parents”
This article discusses subsidies that provide additional support for adoptees and their families. It explains what they are, who provides the, who is eligible, the process, and tips for the process.
- Medical Needs
Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Adoption and Guardianship Assistance by State”
This article answers the questions “Does your State provide additional finances or services for medical or therapeutic needs not covered under your State medical plan to children receiving adoption assistance?” It proceeds with a state by state breakdown of whether or not each state does.
- Medical Needs
The Special Needs Parent Handbook – 2nd Edition
The book provides practical and useful advice for parents of children with special needs or other disabilities. It includes sections on: Hiring babysitters and free respite help, Finding the best and kindest doctors, Keeping the family together, taking care of your health and more.
- Medical Needs
Wrightslaw Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities
Yellow Pages for Kids is a directory for resources for kids with disabilities across the United States. It lists consultants, psychologists, tutors, therapists, coaches, and other professionals who serve children with disabilities. Their search tool allows the user to narrow by state, and control+f for a nearby zip code.
- Medical Needs
Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Parenting Your Child With Developmental Delays and Disabilities”
A basic overview on identifying a disability in children, the first steps parents can take to address their child’s needs, and strategies for parenting.
- Medical Needs
Love Without Boundaries: “Adopting a Child With Special Needs”
Love Without Boundaries’s website contains reference information about common special needs including craniofacial conditions, digestive system conditions, infectious diseases, and more. On the website there is also a family stories page, a resource page (extra packed with info with more information on medical resources and post adoption resources), and a page for the adoption process.
- Medical Needs
No Hands But Ours
No Hands But Ours focuses on the children currently being abandoned in China with special medical needs. The organization contains resources for those in the process of adopting a child from China, already home with their adopted child, or just researching special needs. It was founded and is maintained by adoptive parents that specifically focus on special needs adoption from China. The website comprises information regarding specific special needs, family stories, resources (such as before travel and the first year at home) and also opportunities to connect locally and virtually.
- Medical Needs
Utah’s Adoption Connection: Children with Special Needs
This is digital Lending Library allows prospective adoptive families, foster parents, and adoptive parents to rent books for free. Users can check out up to three items at a time for up to six weeks. Within the Children with Special Needs category there are further categories focused on specific special needs, as well as other categories on general adoption, children’s titles, for parenting, for professionals, and LBGTQ focus.
- Medical Needs
Gladney Center for Adoption: “How We Decided Which Special Needs Boxes to Check on Our Preference Checklist”
This article by an adoptive mother talks about considerations that go into the preference checklist adoptive parents complete. She gives advice on how to not feel overwhelmed while approaching this initial list in sections.
- Medical Needs
RainbowKids: “Special Needs in Children”
Rainbow Kids Adoption & Child Welfare Advocacy section on special needs is a resource for families considering special needs adoption. With thirteen main categories, each has subcategories that explains different information and considerations for adoptive parents. The site itself also houses a list of children waiting to be adopted that prospective parents may visit after creating an account.
- Medical Needs
Medical Home Portal: “Adoption of Children with Special Needs”
An article covering general preparation advice for parents adopting a child with special needs. It covers adoption of children with special needs, getting ready for adoption, choosing an adoption agency, the outline of the adoption process, and a resource section.
- Medical Needs
Gladney Center for Adoption: “Special Needs Adoption Guide: What you need to know when considering special needs adoption”
An article on what parents need to know when it comes to special needs adoption. Different sections explain what special needs adoption is, the medical conditions checklist, having a file reviewed, setting up your support system, facing reality upon arriving home, navigating the medical system, and more.
- Medical Needs
U.S. Department of State-Bureau of Consular Affairs: “Health Considerations”
An article by the U.S Department of State-Bureau of consular affairs. It establishes the difference between convention adoption requirements which normally have an Article 16 requirement, and non-convention requirements. It also establishes reasonable expectations for accredited adoption service providers and visa requirements for a medical examination.
- Medical Needs
CDC: “International Adoption”
A CDC article on vaccinations and disease for parents seeking to adopt internationally. It gives recommendations and information for before overseas travel, the overseas medical examination process, vaccinations, finding a medical provider in the U.S, Class A Conditions, and the Waiver Process.
- 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.’
- Medical Needs
lowcosthealthinsurance.com: “Will my health insurance cover an adopted child?”
This article explains how health insurance works with adopted children. It states most insurance plans covering biological children must cover adopted children; however, it cautions some exceptions exist. It also discusses these exceptions and what parents can do to ensure their child is covered with either Medicaid or through other ways.
- 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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- Medical Needs
U.S. Department of Labor: “Protections for Newborns, Adopted Children, and New Parents…The Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of 1996”
An article by the US Department of Labor on protections for newborns, adopted children, and new parents in the context of a health protection act passed in 1996. It explains how the healthcare operates in relation to adoption and the different technicalities involved in securing health surance when adopting.
- 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.
- Medical Needs
Gladney Center for Adoption: “Adopting a Child With Special Needs and Disabilities”
This article discusses considerations potential parents must evaluate prior to adopting a child with special needs and/or disabilities. Subsections include understanding children with special needs and disabilities, what must be done before adopting a child with special needs, choosing an adoption agency, and more.
- 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.
- 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.
- Media
Stuck (2013)
A documentary that follows four children from three different countries on their individual voyages from orphanages to their new homes with families in the United States. It explores the corruption and greed behind the adoption process as parents try to adopt kids but are blocked by outside efforts.
- Media
NCFA: Internships
A link that brings you to the NCFA Internship application. This is an unpaid internship located in Virginia.
- Trainings
NCFA Intercountry Adoption Journey
“Held through the National Council for Adoption, this 10-hour course fulfills the training requirements of countries that are party to the Hague Adoption Convention and provides a solid foundation for all prospective parents pursuing intercountry adoption.”
- Trainings
NCFA: “Educational Webinars for the Adoption Community”
These webinars by the National Community for Adoption cover a wide range of topics: post adoption, school based support for adoptees, Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), LGBTQ competency for adoption professionals, as well as financing adoption. They have a library of on-demand webinars designed to meet the needs of today’s adoption professionals and offer supportive education to adoptive families.
- Trainings
Adoptive Families Association of BC: Adoption Education Program Online
“The AEP-Online program is designed to provide prospective adoptive parents with a strong foundation of knowledge for caring for their adopted child. This program fulfills the legal requirements for adoption education in British Columbia. The AEP-Online Foundations takes place over 15 weeks and covers the legal, social, and emotional aspects of adoption. Because the program is online, lessons are taught through a variety of media and assignments can be completed at your convenience.”
