[An_A_Frame_House]

Attaching in Adoption by Deborah D. Gray

After checking this book out at the library I had to purchase it to add to my home library! I am sure that I will reference this book a lot in the future.

This is a must-have for parenting children coming from the foster system, orphanage, or from a birth parent. I highly recomend this book for foster parents whether or not you plan to adopt.

Topics include:

• trauma
• grief
• attachment disorder
• emotional age vs chronological age
• culture changes
• race
• prenatal exposure to acohol and drugs
• getting diagnosis
• identifying family challenges
• interviewing and working with mental health providers

This book gives parents techniques and information so they can provide children with a home life designed to bring out the best in every family member. Meathods to improve attachment, respect, cooperation, trust, and caring in the family are constant themes in the book. Effective tools are provided so that parents have the assurance of working preventatively.

I have a much better understanding of the effects of abuse, neglect, and grief on children in foster care and can identify clearly what my role is in bringing about positive change.

[hopefulmom2be]

I completely agree. I'm actually reading it right now. I was actually scared to death when I first started reading it because the first 125 pages or so are completely focused on the problems of special needs kids and the thought that came to mind was "Oh, god, is every single child in the system going to be like this". But after that the author really gets into the solutions and suggestions of how to deal with these types of kids. Great book