The Basics of Adoption: A Guide for Building Families in the U.S. and Canada

(Hardback)

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Description

With about 70,000 domestic and international adoptions each year in the United States and Canada, adoption remains a major means of building families in both countries. Its continued success can be inferred not only from the yearly statistics, but from a report issued in 2003 by the U.S. Census Bureau. To the surprise of many, the report announced the existence of 1.6 million adopted children in the U.S. under the age of eighteen. Written by a former social worker who has placed hundreds of children in foster and adoptive homes and a clinical psychologist who has counseled adopted children and parents, this book offers a comprehensive look at the adoption process by merging the best of social work with the best of psychology. Adoption can be a frustrating and intimidating undertaking for the unprepared. This guide provides prospective adoptive parents with the insider information that they need to navigate the process-and it provides students with the sort of expert opinion that they need to grasp the academic theory they receive in the classroom.

Reviews

This guide for parents considering adoption walks them through the process. Dickerson, a writer and former social worker in charge of foster care and adoptions, and Allen, a psychologist, wanted to provide a book that was based on their career experience. Focusing on the US and Canada, they address parenting challenges, how to choose an agency, information needed, and home visits, in addition to international adoptions and guides to the policies of 15 countries. Also covered is advice on raising an adopted child, and single parent and gay and lesbian adoptions. An extensive list of agencies (by state) in the US and Canada is included, with contact information. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

James L. Dickerson is a professional writer. He is a former social worker who was in charge of foster care and adoptions. Mardi Allen is a psychologist. She was the 2002-2003 president of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), an alliance of state, provincial, and territorial agencies responsible for the licensure and discipline of all psychologists throughout the United States and Canada.