Pre-Adoption Book List

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Pre-adoption Books

Here are some books that we consider basics when considering adoption or in the adoption process.    

Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft by Mary Hopkins-Best (1997) This book discusses the precious gifts and consuming frustrations of parenting toddlers.  After reading Toddler Adoption, you will feel more prepared and have a resource in which to turn.  

Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self by David M. Brodzinsky, Ph.D.; Marshall D. Schechter, MD & Robin Marantz Henig (1992) I recommend this book often.  I find it can benefit parents and professionals.  It overlays potential adoption tasks on Erik Erickson’s developmental tasks.    On the down side this is an older book and I find some of the language a bit archaic.  

Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents by Deborah D. Gray (2002) Attaching seems to be “the” issue in adoption.  Of course attachment in adoption is critical, it is important to know what it means, more importantly, a parent needs to know how to foster attachment and signs that a child has problems attaching.  Deborah provides valuable vignettes, task checklists and techniques.  This book has become a classic in a very short time, and deservedly so.    

Adoption is a Family Affair by Patricia Irwin Johnston (2001) A helpful book when friends or family have questions about adoption or your decision to adopt.  

 

Pre-adoption Websites

Websites that are helpful when deciding to adopt or in the adoption process.    

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html
You will find the latest news about the adoption tax credit.  

http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/whdfs28.htm
Family Leave and Medical Act—the 1993 Federal law that requires employers that fit certain criteria to provide time off for employees when they have had a child placed with them for adoption.  

http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/adoption_485.html
A great site to keep up to date on international adoption and changing practices.  

http://adoptioninstitute.org/index.php 
Conducts and summarizes research with the goal of educating the community in best practice and ethical practices.  A great way to keep up with what research is coming out around adoption and adoption issues.  

http://tapestrybooks.com
A site devoted to books on adoption.  This site is updated often and provides books for children and adults; parents (adoptive and birth), adopted people, and professionals.  

http://nacac.org
The North American Council on Adoptable Children acts as the coordinating agency for groups and agencies that find permanent homes for children in the child welfare system.  

http://jcics.org
The Joint Council on International Children’s Services is an association of child welfare agencies that serve children in international adoption and relief work.  Keeps up to date on the changes in international adoption in the various countries.