With National Adoption Month coming to a close in 2011, hundreds of children in Texas will officially belong to a family through adoption. Adoption finalizations have been characterized as a time of great joy for children and families; an infant or an older child now has a mother and father to call their own along with siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. While standing before the judge and smiling relatives, Adoptive Parents are happily overwhelmed knowing that from now on, this child whom they achingly longed for will always be theirs.
After the Decree of Adoption has been filed in the courts and the child goes home with their new parents, a new leg of the adoption journey begins. So often we forget about the challenges that are presented down the road as the child grows up and begins to process their dual identities as an adoptee. It’s also easy to gradually forget about what might happen to the birth parents and birth families…although their legal rights to their child have been terminated, it doesn’t mean their hearts stop beating for them. As adoptive parents are faced with the challenge of navigating the unknown, they need guidance and support to aid them and their children during the difficult times. Adoption is a lifelong journey for all members involved. To learn more about common themes that impact the lives of adoptees, click on the link provided by the Child Welfare Information Gateway at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_adimpact.cfm.
With that being said, AdoptionWorks and CounselingWorks have recently collaborated together to fill a longtime need in the adoption community. Now members of the adoption triad: Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Adoptees can access low-cost, adoption-related counseling through licensed professional counselors and social workers who make up a combined 45 years of professional and personal experience in adoption. If you are interested or know someone who would be interested in accessing this unique service, please call us at (972) 960-9981. We are very excited to serve children and families in the adoption community and look forward to hearing from you soon!
