Category - Resources

11
Jun

Dr. Boris Gindis Focuses on Unique Learning & Social Needs of Internationally Adopted Children

Internationally adopted children often have unique academic struggles. Unfortunately, many schools are not prepared to address the a-typical needs of these kids. Therefore, adoptive parents often must become their child’s best advocates in school. It becomes up to the parents to educate themselves, to the best extent that they can, on the needs of their ...
19
Mar

Orphanology: A Perspective on Evangelical Adoption

I love to hear what motivates people to adopt, how they come to the decision to pursue their unique roads to becoming parents or adding to their families. It is with this curiosity that I read Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care by Tony Merida and Rick Morton. Merida and Morton are passionate ...
4
Mar

Adoption Fundraising is About More than Money

Finances are among the most pressing concerns for families pursuing international adoption. Many other relevant topics such as legal challenges, racism and emotional development are covered on this blog and others like it, but nothing makes the blood pressure rise quite as quickly as pondering what this process will do to the old bank account. ...
28
Feb

Building Attachment Using the Five Love Languages

In the book The Five Love Languages, Dr. Gary Chapman’s explains that each of us gives and receives love in different ways. Everyone has a primary love language and it is how you communicate love with others. Dr. Chapman explains that everyone has an "emotional tank" waiting to be filled with love. When a child ...
14
Feb

Creating Valentine’s Day Traditions

Today is Valentine’s Day and I have been thinking about ways that I can make this year special for my kids by creating new traditions. I am constantly trying to find new ways to show my husband and children that I love them and Valentine’s Day provides a perfect opportunity for me to express my ...
6
Feb

Kisses from Katie: A Book Review

Wow! That’s the first thing I thought when I finished reading Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption. I started reading the book on a Friday evening and could not put it down for the remainder of the weekend – I had to finish it. The message really hit me the next ...
26
Jan

Six Strategies For Building Attachment

Healthy attachment is crucial for children to be able to grow into adults that can successfully navigate their world. Healthy attachment allows for appropriate trust, self control and problem solving skills. Attachment theories provide that all babies have needs and they each provide signs to their caretaker regarding what those needs are. When the need ...
18
Jan

Trauma and the Brain: What It Means for Adoption

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network defines trauma as something that may occur when a child feels intensely threatened by an event in which he or she is involved or witnesses, and it is often followed by serious injury or harm (National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2005). Being separated from one’s birth family, culture of ...
6
Dec

Familiarizing Yourself with the Adoption Tax Credit Part II

Picking up where we left off yesterday, this is the 2nd part of Familiarizing Yourself with the Adoption Tax Credit. You will need to read Part I so that you will understand today’s blog. Expenses connected with a foreign adoption (the child was not a U.S. citizen or resident at the time the adoption process ...
5
Dec

Familiarizing Yourself with the Adoption Tax Credit Part I

It’s difficult to write an “all-inclusive” article on something as complex as the adoption credit. So, as we approach the end of the tax year, you are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the adoption tax credit, its benefits and requirements as pertaining to your individual situation. With the enactment of the Affordable Care Act the ...
25
Nov

5 More Ways to Celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month! (Part III)

There are many ways to celebrate National Awareness Adoption Month this November. Here are just a few examples: Plan a Fundraiser or Attend an Adoption Fundraiser: There are many ways to support the cause of orphan care and adoption. November is a great month to bring your community together for the cause raising funds to ...
17
Nov

5 More Ways to Celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month! (Part II)

There are many ways to celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month this November. Here are five more ideas: Cooking for Culture – There is just something about cooking that brings a family together. It’s a great time to try a new recipe that celebrates your family’s diversity. While preparing the meal together make sure to talk ...
7
Nov

Celebrating National Adoption Awareness Month! (Part I)

Every year the month of November is recognized as National Adoption Awareness Month. It’s a time to celebrate all types of adoption and raise awareness for the need for adoption in our world. It’s a time that government, communities, businesses and advocates celebrate adoption as a positive way to build a family. MLJ will be ...
26
Oct

Fall Celebrations

Halloween is just around the corner! Youngsters prepare in anticipation for the day when they can dress up as ghouls, goblins or princesses and receive an overabundance of sugar filled treats! For many of our families who have adopted children, this will be their first Halloween and these parents can watch as their newly adopted ...
19
Sep

Book Review: Lifebooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child

In high school and college I was an avid scrapbooker, so when I heard the term “lifebook” for the first time I thought it was just a fancy term for adoptive parent’s scrapbooks. When I inquired more information from friends in my adoptive parents group I quickly learned that it is not a common term ...
31
Aug

How I Will Prepare for My Child’s Arrival

Preparing to welcome an adopted child is an incredible gift, much like preparing to welcome a birthchild. But the waiting is also a challenge, which inevitable questions like, • When will we receive a referral? • How are we going to pay for the adoption AND be able to afford having a child? • Am ...
25
Jul

How to Raise Money for an Adoption

There are many different ways to alleviate the financial stress of adoption. Here are just a few ideas to get you started on the road to fundraising for you adoption. Garage sales and yard sales – They are a popular way to raise money for adoption. Families can go in together to have larger scale ...
11
Apr

Why Is Adoption So Expensive?

We hear this question all the time. It seems logical that when a person wants to adopt and add to their family, the cost to the family should not be $25-40,000 (average international adoption). It seems unreasonable to have high expenses associated with such a loving process. Some find adoption expenses appalling while others come ...
27
Feb

Beyond Rosa and Martin

Deesha Philyaw is a freelance writer and adjunct professor in the Master of Professional Writing Program at Chatham University. She is a black co-parenting mom of two girls, ages 7 and 12, one of whom is adopted, and stepmom of two girls, age 12 and 14. Deesha has written a series of blogs for us ...
24
Feb

Empowered To Connect Conference Recommended

Last September, I had the privilege of attending the Empowered to Connect Conference in Nashville, TN. The conference was full of insights and “ah-ha” moments. Although my daughter had been home for over a year, I had many eye opening moments listening to Dr. Karyn Purvis speak. Dr. Purvis truly understands children who have come ...
15
Feb

It’s Okay To Be A Token. Really. Part 2

Deesha Philyaw is a freelance writer and adjunct professor in the Master of Professional Writing Program at Chatham University. She is a black co-parenting mom of two girls, ages 7 and 12, one of whom is adopted, and stepmom of two girls, age 12 and 14. Deesha has written a series of blogs for us ...
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