Synopses & Reviews
Adoption is a life-long process that brings both joy and sorrow to those whose lives have been forever changed through its experience. The personal and intensely emotional stories related in this book realistically illustrate both the positive and negative aspects of adoption. Collected into chapters entitled joy, loss, family, process, career, justice, and journey, the characters and events of each story address many of the unique situations presented by adoption. This inclusive and honest portrayal of adoption includes stories of children of all ages, in a variety of situations, with different needs and challenges, and the stories of the families and individuals who adopt them for reasons as numerous and varied as the children themselves. The stories also encompass the dedicated professionals who work in adoption to support the children and families involved in all stages of the journey.
Anyone who has adopted, has been adopted, has planned an adoption, or has worked in adoption will recognize and appreciate the variety of challenges and successes illustrated in these heartfelt stories. The realistic and honest voices of each unique situation bring to life the emotional and legal complexity of adoption.
Review
The overall message of the book is one of hope: that adoptive parents are ordinary people who arrive at adoption in many ways, and that parenting by adoption requires commitment but is rewarding.Adoption Quarterly
Synopsis
The personal and intensely emotional stories related in this book illustrate the experiences of children, their families, and dedicated professionals from the field of adoption.
Synopsis
Adoption is a life-long process, forever changing those it touches. The personal and intensely emotional stories related in this book illustrate the many aspects of adopting--the positive and the negative. The narratives include the experiences of children of all ages, their families, and the dedicated professionals who work in the adoption field, supporting them through every stage of their incredible journey.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [196]) and index.
About the Author
TIM O'HANLON is a former adoption assistance policy specialist, and is author of Adoption Subsidy (1998), Accessing Adoption Assistance After Legalization (1995), and Adoption and Financial Assistance (Bergin &Garvey, 1999). In addition to committee work with AFA, training parents, consulting, speaking and writing magazine articles about special needs adoption, he maintains an adoption advocacy Web site called the Adoption Policy Resource Center. As a NACAC representative, Dr. O'Hanlon has helped many families understand the bureaucracy and their rights as they advocate for their children.RITA LAWS, Ph.D., is the co-author of Adopting and Advocating for the Special Needs Child and Adoption and Financial Assistance (1997, 1999, Bergin &Garvey, 1997, 1999). She writes about adoption for various print and online adoption periodicals and trains chat room moderators for the National Adoption Center's AdoptNet Web site. Dr.Laws has been an adoption advocate and activist since 1979 and a NACAC and NAATRIN Representative since 1990.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Adoption as Joy
Adoption as Loss
Adoption as Family
Adoption as Process
Adoption as Career
Adoption as Justice
Adoption as Journey