Adopting Older Children. Stephanie Bosco-Ruggiero

Adopting Older Children

Gloria Russo Wassell, MS, LMHC, and Victor Groza, PhD

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, including electronic, mechanical or any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher.

Requests for permission should be addressed to:

New Horizon Press

P. O. Box 669

Far Hills, NJ 07931

Stephanie Bosco-Ruggiero, MA, Gloria Russo Wassell, MS, LMHC, and Victor Groza, PhD

Adopting Older Children:

A Practical Guide to Adopting and Parenting Children Over Age Four

Cover design: Charley Nasta

Interior design: Scribe Inc.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014938451

ISBN-13 (eBook): 978-0-88282-483-3

New Horizon Press

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DEDICATION

Dedicated to all the children waiting for their forever families.

— SBR

Dedicated to my parents, Edmondo and Assunta Russo, for opening their hearts to any child in need beyond their own. Through their example they taught me the value of caring for all children.

— GRW

Dedicated to Adoption Partners families who teach us about older child adoptions and to the staff who work with me and our families, Becky Bernstein and Holli Camelio Rizenthaler.

— VG

AUTHORS’ NOTE

This book is based on the authors’ research, personal experiences, interviews and real life experiences. In order to protect privacy, names have been changed and identifying characteristics have been altered except for contributing experts.

For purposes of simplifying usage, the pronouns his/her and s/he are sometimes used interchangeably. The information contained herein is not meant to be a substitute for professional evaluation and therapy with mental health professionals.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the following individuals for their time and effort in reviewing all or parts of this book:

Diane E. Lang, PhD,

Director of Instructional Support Services, Orange-Ulster BOCES, New York

Beth Brindo, MSSA, LISW,

Case Western Reserve University, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Susan Hansen, PhD,

Consultant, National Center for Social Work Trauma Education and Workforce Development, Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service

Dianne M. Jandrasits, PsyD,

Matilda Theiss Child Development Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Tonia M. Safford-McClure,

MAEd in School Psychology, PsyD in Educational Psychology, School Psychologist in California

Lenore Strocchia-Rivera, PhD,

Founder, Learning Insights, and Visiting Adjunct Assistant Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University

Judy S. Schwartz, LMSW,

Adoption Specialist

I would like to thank my parents for all the support they have given me throughout my life; I wish every child could be blessed with such loving parents. I also would like to thank my husband, Joe, for supporting me in so many ways during the writing of this book and my son, Michael, for letting Mommy write while he watched his shows. I am thankful to Dr. Virginia Strand for bringing me into the field of child welfare and child trauma research. Finally, thanks to all the incredible adoptive families who took time out of their busy lives to talk to us about their experiences and to New Horizon Press for publishing our book on older child adoption.—SBR

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: The Adoption Process

Chapter 1: Deciding to Adopt an Older Child

Chapter 2: Who Can Adopt an Older Child?

Chapter 3: Adopting Within the United States

Chapter 4: Intercountry Adoption

Chapter 5: Post-Adoption Services

Part II: Adoptive Families

Chapter 6: Welcoming Your Child Home

Chapter 7: Adoptive Families are “Real” Families—Educating Friends and Family about Older Child Adoption

Chapter 8: Multicultural and Multiracial Adoptive Families