Teens

How to Make an Adoption Plan for Your Newborn Child

JuliaFuller — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:15:04 -0600

It occurred to me that we at Adoption Under One Roof are committed to covering adoption from every angle, yet we have not addressed the pregnant woman considering an adoption plan for her unborn child. If you mention to anyone that you are considering placing your unborn child for adoption, people start coming out of the woodwork begging you to consider them to parent your child. Typically, the pregnant woman feels scared, unsure of her decision, unready to parent, or pressured to place. If you contact an adoption agency for advice, you will undoubtedly feel even more pressure to place your child for adoption, after all that is why they are in business and how they pay their bills. If you are a teenager, you may fear discussing your choices with your parents. You may expect them to be angry, kick you out of the house, or pressure you into placing, aborting, or parenting when you are not sure what you want to do.

We Need Respite Care

JuliaFuller — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:45:36 -0600

Hubby is not usually affected by the day-to-day special antics of our teenage daughter who has multiple problems. However, he had some time off from working 14 hours a day, seven days a week, over the holidays to spend with the family. Usually, he thinks I am overreacting to her little escapes. Since he was around a bit more, she targeted him with some of her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, behaviors. For an hour or so one of those days, he sounded just like me. Yesterday, he approached me privately and whispered, we need respite care, soon. He went on to say that, he thinks her medications are wrong and her behavior is wackier than ever. Of course, we just saw the psychiatrist on Monday for prescriptions, how timely.

Dear Adoption Maharishi: What Does Title IV-E Eligibility Mean?

Adoption_Maharishi — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:15:04 -0600

Dear Adoption Maharishi,

“While looking through profiles of available children on state websites some say, “Title IV-E Eligible.” What does that mean - is it important?

Signed,

Searching

Dear Searching,

Title IV-E Eligibility refers to an available child’s eligibility for the federal adoption assistance or subsidy program. Adoption subsidy is a monthly stipend to assist adoptive families in providing for children with special needs. Children who are not Title IV-E may or may not be eligible for state or county support subsidy, and may not be eligible for continuing Medicaid coverage. Subsidy agreements are negotiated prior to finalizing an adoption, although a few states allow later negotiations. Negotiations may include monthly payments, ongoing Medicaid coverage, therapy, and some states allow respite care as well.

Guest Blog: From Starry Eyed Foster Parent to Prisoner in My Own Home

GuestBlogger — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:45:41 -0600

Bettina is a licensed foster parent in Maryland who recently received her first foster care placement, a teenage girl with anger management problems. Bettina became very frustrated at the lack of empathy and assistance from her licensing agency. The foster child became so unstable that the placement had to end abruptly. Bettina is a 36-year-old mother of an 18-year-old daughter who is away at college. She was a teen mother and I did not want her daughter to become pregnant early and alter her education path. As her daughter prepared for college, Bettina started the foster care training and was excited to welcome children and sibling groups of all ages into her home. She was especially focused on teen girls to help them nurture positive self-esteem and body image concepts.

I was up until 3 AM after this dramatic event, searching the internet for someone who had a similar experience so I would have some sense of direction. I was not getting any support or feedback from the agency and finally found Adoption Under One Roof.

I am new to the foster care system and I am already having a hard time getting assistance with my foster child. I have a teenage foster child who has been in my home almost 3 months. She is diagnosed with ADHD but her behaviors are more consistent with Bi-Polar disorder. Her worker is unresponsive or slow in getting back to me about my concerns. I have even gone to her supervisor and still received no assistance.

Neurological Deficits Prevent FAS Child From Functioning at IQ Level

JuliaFuller — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:17:31 -0600

After the public school tested my daughter’s IQ and pronounced her to be of average intelligence and capable of doing regular eight grade school work, we pursued private testing. I explained to the psychologist that the school said my daughter can do eighth grade work and does not need services. However, at 15 she is failing fifth grade work, even though she is given three attempts to pass it. The psychologist suggested that he test her for neurological deficits that may be preventing her from functioning at her IQ level.

Special Needs Adoptive Parenting - Juvenile Diabetes

JuliaFuller — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:26:21 -0600

Would you recognize the early signs of juvenile diabetes? Many children are diagnosed because of a crisis, rather than because someone observed the symptoms. Crisis may involve coma, organ damage, or injury due to high insulin levels for an extended time. In hindsight, many parents say that some clear indicators of juvenile diabetes were present. Constant thirst is a big indicator. Is the child always thirsty, yet the thirst is never quenched? Another indicator is constant urination. If your child, who has been potty-trained for years, is suddenly, having accidents you should check blood sugar levels to rule out juvenile diabetes. For example, a child who suddenly cannot make it home from school without wetting might be an indicator.

Shifting Birth Order by Adopting Older Children

FosterMommy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:14:50 -0600

Many foster and adoptive parents believe that parents should not shift or disrupt the birth order by adopting children who are older than the children already living in the home. Unfortunately, this thinking prevents many older children from finding foster or adoptive homes. Sadly, this thinking contributes to the many teenagers who age out of foster care without ever finding a forever family. As with other forms of prejudice, this thinking may be born from fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of dealing with a person who is already thinking, talking, and expressing opinions. Fear of the possible influence this older child may have on younger children in the home. Rather than addressing our fears, it is much easier just to stick with the status quo and say that we cannot consider shifting the birth order by adopting older children.

Homeschool Resources for the Academically Superior Child

JuliaFuller — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:27:29 -0600

Most public schools will allow homeschool students to enroll in one or two classes. This allows the public school to earn some income from a homeschool student; otherwise the public school would receive nothing. Usually the homeschool student chooses band, chemistry, or other hands-on science classes. There are even some public schools that provide all of the educational materials to the parent and then grade the homework so the school continues to receive the funding. Another option is the area vocational or technological training center. Again, the school enrolling the child in the program will get to claim the student and receive tax dollars. The student can ride the school bus to the training center, studying welding, electrical wiring, nursing, or cosmetology for some examples. Local Math and Science centers may also have programs for the advanced homeschooled student. Ask your local school about testing your child for the program. One of our homeschooled children studied electrical wiring for a year in the morning and was homeschooled in the afternoon. The school was easy to work with and we never had any problems.

Aging Out of Foster Care to Homeless Shelter

FosterMommy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:28:29 -0600

I hate to be cynical but it seems like the same old story. Child ages out of foster care, child returns to birth family, child is homeless. The foster care system only allows foster children to stay in foster care until they graduate from high school, turn 18, or 19. Then they are booted out on their own. Research consistently demonstrates that children in the foster care system are emotionally behind their same age peers. Yet, the states who are their legal guardians expect them to fend for themselves at 18 or 19. Yet, most children who have suffered early trauma are not ready to fend for themselves at 18. Of course, the children always want to return to the parents from whom they were removed. In their minds, it was the system’s fault, or the foster care worker’s fault that they were not returned to their parents.

Adopted Child Sleepwalks

JuliaFuller — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:49:29 -0600

Do you have an adopted child who sleepwalks? Sleepwalkers make life a little more interesting for family and friends. Of course, forgetting to mention that your child is a sleepwalker before a sleepover with a friend can cause real trouble, for your child that is. Research suggests that sleep deprivation may be a cause of sleepwalking. In fact, some Canadian researchers used forced sleep deprivation to diagnose sleepwalkers referred to a sleep disorder clinic. While only 50 percent of the patients in the study had episodes of movement without sleep deprivation, 90 percent had episodes after forced sleep deprivation.