This new book from life work expert Joy Rees explains the value of effective and meaningful life work with children who are fostered and adopted, and how best to carry this out. This book will help social work professionals, foster carers and adopters to understand the many aspects of life work and to consider the important contributions they can all make to this task. Life work is about helping children to know and to understand their personal stories and the life experiences that have shaped them. Enabling children to reach their potential and achieve the best possible outcome is the common goal, and this is best achieved by using the collaborative approach to life work advocated in this book

The number of traumatized children in foster care and adoptive families is on the rise every year. In times like these, social work practitioners rarely have sufficient time to plan out each of their sessions. This book makes it possible. Life Story Work with Children who are Fostered or Adopted: Creative Activites and Ideas is a brief and accessible resource guide to life story work. Focused on methods and activities that have been tried and tested by social workers and therapists, these are simple activities that require minimal resources that range from how to build the foundation to Life Story Work to boosting a child's self-esteem and identity. The chapters are categorized in a way that makes it easy for the practitioner to identify which method will be appropriate for the stage of the work they are undertaking. This book will be a vital resource for social workers, foster caregivers, students and any frontline practitioner involved in working with traumatized children.

Many adopted or foster children have complex, troubling, often painful pasts. This book provides parents and professionals with sound advice on how to communicate effectively about difficult and sensitive topics, providing concrete strategies for helping adopted and foster children make sense of the past so they can enjoy a healthy, well-adjusted future. Approximately one of every four adopted children will have adjustment challenges related to their separation from the birth family, earlier trauma, attachment difficulties, and/or issues stemming from the adoption process. Common complicating issues of adopted children are feelings of rejection, abandonment, or confusion about their origins. While many foster and adoptive parents and even many professionals are reluctant to communicate openly about birth histories, silence only adds to the child's confusion and pain. This revised and significantly expanded edition of the award-winning Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child equips parents with the knowledge and tools they need to communicate with their adopted or foster child about their past. Revisions include coverage of significant new research and information regarding the importance of understanding the child's trauma history to his or her well-being and successful adjustment in his foster or adoptive family. The authors answer such questions as: How do I share difficult information about my child's adoption in a sensitive manner? When is the right time to tell my child the whole truth? How do I obtain more information on my child's history? Detailed descriptions of actual cases help the parent or caregiver find ways to discover the truth (particularly in closed and international adoption cases), organize the information, and explain the details of the past gently to a toddler, child, or young adult who may find it frightening or confusing.

Through words, pictures, photographs, certificates and other 'little treasures', a Life Story Book provides a detailed account of the child's early history and a chronology of their life. Fully updated, this clear and concise book shows a unique family-friendly way to compile a Life Story Book which promotes a sense of permanency for the child, and encourages attachments within new families. Joy Rees' influential model works chronologically backwards rather than forwards, aiming to reinforce the child's sense of belonging and security before addressing the child's past and early trauma. The book contains simple explanations of complex concepts, practical examples, helpful suggestions and includes some simple checklists. This new edition has been expanded to include fostered children and those living in kinship care or with a special guardian. Perfect for social workers, adoption agencies, adoptive parents, foster carers and kinship carers, Life Story Books for Adopted and Fostered Children is a refreshing, innovative and common-sense guide.

Just because children have been fostered or adopted, it doesn't mean they can't grow up to be happy, healthy and successful. In Building Self-Esteem in Children Who Are Adopted or Fostered, Dr. Sue offers simple and practical advice to those supporting children aged 7+ to help them move beyond their trauma and build healthy self-esteem. The book explains how self-esteem develops, why adopted and fostered children often have low self-esteem and how this can affect them. Dr Sue describes proven techniques to help traumatized children gain confidence, showing how you can play a powerful role in your child's happiness. Full of useful advice and effective techniques, this book is ideal for foster and adoptive parents, social workers, counsellors and therapists, as well as other professionals working with children who are fostered or adopted.

Opening Hearts, Changing Lives: The Beauty of Foster Adoption Are you considering foster adoption? Do you want to learn more about the process and the benefits it can bring to your life? Look no further than "Opening Hearts, Changing Lives: The Beauty of Foster Adoption." This short read book is a comprehensive guide that will take you through every step of the foster adoption journey, from preparing for the process to building a brighter future for your family. Table of Contents Chapter 1: The Foster Adoption Process In this chapter, you will learn about the steps involved in foster adoption, including home studies, background checks, and the legal process of finalizing the adoption. Chapter 2: The Benefits of Foster Adoption Discover the many ways in which foster adoption can positively impact your life and the life of a child. From providing a loving home to experiencing the joy of parenthood, you will be inspired by the transformative power of foster adoption. Chapter 3: Creating Forever Families Learn about the importance of creating a sense of permanency for children in foster care and how you can build a strong and loving family through adoption. Chapter 4: Supporting Adoptive Families Explore the various support services available to adoptive families, including counseling, therapy, and support groups. Discover how these resources can help you navigate the challenges of foster adoption. Chapter 5: The Challenges of Foster Adoption This chapter addresses the unique challenges that adoptive families may face, such as managing trauma and behavioral issues. Gain valuable insights and strategies for overcoming these challenges and providing a nurturing environment for your child. Chapter 6: Accessing Post-Adoption Services Discover the post-adoption services available to you and your family, including educational resources, counseling, and support networks. Learn how these services can help you and your child thrive after the adoption is finalized. Chapter 7: Preparing for Foster Adoption Get practical tips and advice on how to prepare yourself and your family for the foster adoption process. From educating yourself about adoption to building a support network, this chapter will guide you every step of the way. Chapter 8: Building a Support Network Learn the importance of building a strong support network of friends, family, and professionals who can provide guidance and assistance throughout your foster adoption journey. Chapter 9: Financial Considerations Understand the financial aspects of foster adoption, including adoption subsidies and funding options. Discover resources that can help alleviate the financial burden of adoption. Chapter 10: Preparing This title is a short read. A Short Read is a type of book that is designed to be read in one quick sitting. These no fluff books are perfect for people who want an overview about a subject in a short period of time. Table of Contents Opening Hearts, Changing Lives: The Beauty of Foster Adoption The Foster Adoption Process The Benefits of Foster Adoption Creating Forever Families Supporting Adoptive Families The Challenges of Foster Adoption Managing Trauma and Behavioral Issues Accessing Post-Adoption Services Preparing for Foster Adoption Educating Yourself and Your Family Building a Support Network Financial Considerations Navigating Adoption Subsidies Exploring Funding Options Preparing Your Home for Foster Adoption Childproofing and Safety Measures Creating a Supportive Space Building Relationships with Birth Families Open Adoption and Contact Agreements Supporting Birth Family Connections Sharing Your Adoption Story Advocacy and Education Supporting Other Families Celebrating Foster Adoption Success Stories Building a Brighter Future Frequently Asked Questions Have Questions / Comments?

This book makes a compelling case for placing the social and legal practices of inheritance centre stage to make sense of fundamental questions of our time. Drawing on historical, literary, sociological, and legal analysis, this rich collection of original, interdisciplinary and international contributions demonstrates how inheritance is and has always been about far more than the set of legal processes for the distribution of wealth and property upon death. The contributions range from exploring the intractable tensions underlying family disputes and the legal and political debates about taxation, to revisiting literary plots in the past and presenting a contemporary artistic challenge of heirship. With an introduction that presents a critical mapping of the field of inheritance studies, this collection reveals the complexity of ideas about 'passing on', 'legacies', and 'heirlooms'; troubles some of the enduring consequences of 'charitable bequests', 'family money', and 'estate planning; and, deepens our understanding of the intimate and political practices of inheritance.

Children who are cared for in an out of home placement are in need of support and stability. This classic text offers information and advice for professionals and carers on how to help these children, who will often have attachment difficulties. Vera I. Fahlberg, M.D. shares her experience and expertise, outlining the significance of attachment and separation, the developmental stages specific to adoptive children and providing guidance on minimizing the trauma of moves. The book also features practical advice on case planning, managing behavior and direct work with children, and throughout are case studies and exercises which provide opportunities for further learning. A readable, compassionate and practical text, A Child’s Journey Through Placement provides the foundation, the resources, and the tools to help students, professionals, parents and others who care to support children on their journey through placement to adulthood.