Resources

Thriving on Your Adoption Journey

On your journey of adoption, consider the following resources to help you learn and grow.

Pre-adoption

Ask your agency for resources available to prepare your family. We also recommend these resources from Christian ministries:

Loving Shepherd’s Adoption Assessment Forms
Hope for Orphans’ If You Were Mine, 7-part adoption exploration workshop used by hundreds of churches and thousands of families investigating adoption from a biblical and practical perspective.

Group studies

Fellowship and encouragement on the adoption journey are very important. If possible, try finding an older adoptive couple or parents who are ahead of you in their parenting to mentor and encourage your family. Additionally, consider starting a group for couples/moms/dads/prayer & fellowship, etc., so you can build relationships with other like-minded families. Finally, consider reading and/or leading a Created to Connect study along with reading The Connected Child book.

Books

This is not an exhaustive list of books, but here are a few we recommend–

The Connected Child – Karyn Purvis
Parenting Is Your Highest Calling: And Eight Other Myths — Leslie Leyland Fields
Adopted for Life – Russell Moore
Anatomy of the Soul — Curt Thompson
Nurturing Adoptions — Deborah Gray
Attaching in Adoption — Deborah Gray
The Whole-Brain Child — Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
The Out-of-Sync Child — Carol Kranowitz

Wounded Children Healing Homes — Jayne Schooler, Betsy Keefer Smalley, Timothy Callahan
The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control – Heather T. Forbes
Orphanology – Tony Merida & Rick Morton
Parenting the Hurt Child – Keck & Kupecky
Parenting your Internationally Adopted Child – Patty Cogen
Thriving as an Adoptive Family – David & Renee Sanford
Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft – Mary Hopkins-Best

DVD & Video Training

Trust-Based Parenting DVD or digital download from the Karyn Purvis Institute

Empowered to Connect videos

Podcasts

Adopting Hope by Christianity Today
The Defender Podcast by Lifeline Children’s Services

Around the World with the Archibald Project by The Archibald Project
The Honestly Adoption Podcast by Mike and Kristin Berry

Blogs

Our team has curated a collection of helpful “Adoption 101” blogs, covering everything from how to choose an agency to dealing with primary and secondary trauma. See the collection.

Conferences & Training Opportunities

Post-Adoption

Empowered to Connect has an amazing online library covering a wide variety of topics for adoptive and foster parents.
Wait No More is a ministry of Focus on the Family offering a free post-adoption phone line, 1-800-A-FAMILY
Show Hope offers medical care grants to help offset healthcare expenses once an adoption has been finalized.
Lifesong Post-Adoption Care & Counseling Financial Assistance Upon completing your adoption, you may apply for our post-adoption financial assistance, awarding grants and loans to help you access useful resources like counseling, training, trauma care, and neurofeedback.

Adoption Tax Credit Info & Travel Resources

Becky Wilmoth at Bill’s Tax Service, 501 W. Broadway, Centralia, IL 62801, phone: 618.532.7223 will be glad to answer your questions regarding the Adoption Tax Credit.
Research information on the Federal Adoption Tax Credit.
Learn about courses available through Adoption Learning Partners.
Adoption Airfare – Serving families with adoption airfare discounts for their international adoption travel.