by Steve York

Adapted from the NAIC Fact Sheet, "After Adoption: The Need for Services"

As adopted children grow they sometimes need help sorting through the sadness they feel about the loss of their birth family. Children who were adopted when they were older, or who were adopted after experiencing abuse and neglect, or who were adopted from another country often times have other feelings and behaviors that families may not be able to address on their own.

Needing and asking for help after adoption is perfectly natural and should not be viewed as a flaw in the adoptive family's ability to function. Instead, post-adoption services should be seen as a necessary component of helping the adoptive family flourish. This article will address the various types of post-adoption services that are offered and provide information regarding how to access those services.

The agency through whom the child was adopted will likely provide at least a minimal amount, if not a full range, of post-adoption services. If not, the agency should be able to refer families to appropriate resources in the community. Another alternative is to contact the local (county) Community Mental Health (CMH) Agency. CMH agencies will often have their own staff who provide post-adoption services, or will be able to make referrals to other service providers in the community. The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Community Health, is in the process of compiling a state-wide directory of post-adoption service providers. It is our hope that this directory will help "tie together" the various (and sometimes informal) networks of post-adoption service providers throughout the state into a comprehensive resource book for adoptive families and adoption professionals in Michigan.

Post-adoption services can generally be classified by the following categories:

• Outpatient therapy
• Treatment away from home
• Support groups
• Educational/Training Services

Outpatient Therapy is generally the most common source of professional help that families use. It is very important to locate a therapist who understands and is sensitive to the unique aspects of adoptive families. If the adopted child has spent time in the foster care system, it will be helpful to find a therapist who is familiar with the development of a child who is coping with separation, loss, and rejection.

Finding a therapist who has experience with adoption issues may be as simple as contacting the agency through whom the child was adopted. Parents can also seek recommendations from other adoptive parents, local or national adoptive parent support groups, or the local Community Mental Health office.

It is also important that the family feel comfortable with any therapist with whom they choose to work. Not every competent therapist will be a good match for every family. The bottom line for families is to trust their instincts; however, it may be helpful to keep in mind these questions to ask when seeking a therapist:

• What kind of education/training does the therapist have?
• Does the therapist have experience in treating children with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse?
• If the therapist is not a doctor, does he/she have an affiliation with someone who can prescribe medication, if necessary?
• Does the therapist have a commitment to a particular method of treatment?

The cost of therapy varies and may be covered in part by insurance or subsidies. Some therapists/agencies have a sliding fee scale based on income. Families should be sure to ask what the costs and payment policies are before beginning treatment.

Treatment away from home may become necessary if issues escalate to the point that they cannot be adequately addressed through outpatient therapy. In general, there are two options for out-of-hone treatment: a psychiatric hospital or a residential treatment facility.

Most children's problems are not serious enough to warrant hospitalization; however, there are occasions when serious emotional problems are best addressed through an intensive, structured treatment environment. It will be critical (and will most likely be a requirement) for parents to be actively involved in the treatment process, usually through family meetings and/or therapy.

When a child's problems are not serious enough to require hospitalization, but the child would benefit from firm limits in a highly structured environment, a residential treatment facility may be the best option. Residential treatment may come in the form of a larger, institutional setting or smaller group homes. Children may go to school run by the residential facility of a regular school in the community. Again, it will be essential for the parents to be actively involved in the treatment process.

Support groups may be the most popular kind of post-adoption services in which families choose to participate. Children's support groups and groups for adoptive parents are the most common type of adoption-related support groups. These groups function on the belief that people with shared experiences can often provide the most help and support to each other. Adolescent/Children's support groups may be run by social workers, mental health professionals, adult adoptees, or a combination of these. The groups can help reduce a child's or adolescent's feelings of isolation by providing an opportunity to meet with other adoptees and discuss mutual concerns. These support groups can sometimes be issue-specific, for example, groups for survivors of sexual abuse or children adopted from other countries.

Groups for adoptive parents usually offer a variety of social, educational, and support activities. The focus of the group is generally determined by the interests and needs of its members. An outgrowth of parent support groups may be telephone "warm lines" staffed by parents, offering other parents a special phone number to call for advice and support. Other parent groups may offer a "buddy family" system to a new adoptive family seeking support and advice.

Educational/training services offer families the opportunity to learn more about specific issues of adoption or to simply gather the most current adoption information. Local adoption agencies, family service agencies, hospitals, and parent groups often have workshops on various issues such as Attention Deficit Disorder, survivors of sexual abuse, attachment disorder and others. Books and videotapes addressing adoption and related issues are also another educational resource for families. The MARE office has several books and videos available for loan to families and agencies.

There are also many local, state, and national conferences on adoption held each year. The Michigan Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (MFAPA) has its annual conference in February or March, and the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) sponsors a national training conference each August. These are just two examples of training opportunities for adoptive families. The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC) also publishes a National Training Directory which lists many regional and national conferences held each year. Information on ordering the National Training Directory can be found at the end of this article.

Post-adoption services are designed to help adoptive families address the many unique issues they face and therefore should not to be considered "extras." Rather, post-adoption services are one of the many necessities of a successful adoption. Parents should be encouraged to use these services at any point in their child's development.

The directory of post-adoption service providers is still being compiled by MARE with an anticipated publication date in early 1998. It will be sent to all agencies who are listed and will also be available to any interested families. Phone Steve York of MARE at (517) 783-6273 if you wish to be put on a waiting list to receive this publication.

The Michigan Adoption Resource has a number of books and videos in its lending library related to post-adoption issues. For a listing of available titles and/or to request a loan of these resources, phone MARE at (517) 783-6273.

The National Training Directory is published by the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse and can be ordered by calling (301) 231-6512 or writing to the NAIC at 5640 Nicholson Lane, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852.