Because of the profound impact that the parents’ attachment style has on a child’s emotional well-being, we as adoptive parents need to understand our own attachment style if we are to help our children, especially those with difficult histories.

Fortunately, as a child’s environment changes and the neurotransmitter levels become normal, the child’s behavior changes, further changing the brain chemistry. This then affects the brain structure and operation, helping the brain, which is malleable, to then return to a more normal state.

Before you adopt a child—any child—it is only natural to consider what the response of friends and family will be. After all, this is one of the steps in the adoption process—telling others.

Adopting a child from another country who is HIV positive requires no special visa beyond the usual IR-3 or IR-4 visas. However, you will want to be prepared for the adoption, getting through the process of bringing a child home, and the care of a such a child. We will next discuss the day-to-day issues of raising an HIV+ child.

Below are some details that I received from the IRS relating to the adoption tax credit. Documents substantiating the adoption or attempted adoption are required to be attached to the taxpayer’s return. Acceptable documents are identified in the September 2010 guidance and in IRS publications. In addition, the IRS may ask for proof of expenses [...]

Many families are now choosing to adopt children who are HIV positive. The children can come from any country, but the majority of HIV positive children come from Africa.  About 3 million children in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with the HIV virus, and 90% of all children with HIV come from this region. Because of [...]

Saturday, May 7th, the day before Mother’s Day, is National Birthmother’s Day, a day to honor the millions of brave and loving women placed their babies and children for adoption. So how we can as adoptive parents honor our children’s birthmothers? It need not be very complicated. Just talking about the birthmother, sharing her name [...]

This year’s World Malaria Day theme—”Achieving Progress and Impact.” According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/Features/WorldMalariaDay/ , the goal is to reach zero deaths by 2015. That is quite a goal to reach in just 4 years because every 45 seconds a child dies from malaria. In Uganda alone, malaria kills about [...]

Spina Bifida Occulta occurs in 10-20% of the population. Many people have no symptoms, but for those who do, these can vary widely. Surgery and treatment can also be effective.

Adopting out of the birth order can be done, but certain considerations should be acknowledged for the sake of your children in the home and the child you are adopting.

Welcome to the first in a 6-part series on Spina Bifida. In the following posts we will discuss each of the types of Spina Bifida (SB); making the decision to adopt a child with SB; and the treatment and prognosis for these children. SB is a condition that occurs during the first month of fetal [...]

The  China Centre for Children’s Welfare and Adoption released some new homestudy and post-placements requirements. These new guidelines and regulations for the homestudy go into effect as of October 1, 2011; and those regarding post placement visits and reports apply to families who receive Notice of Coming to China for Adoption after August 1, 2011. [...]

If you are in the Greenville, SC area, and your church has or is interested in starting an orphan ministry, then you will want to attend this lunch sponsored by the Carolina Christian Alliance for Orphans.

Meeting the challenges of a child with clubfoot is most likely very doable. You must also consider the other adjustment issues the child will also be having. To learn more about waiting children with clubfoot and other special needs, do register to receive information through Constant Contact.

When you are referred a child, you will want to have the child’s condition evaluated. Nightlight provides an extensive list of health care providers who can evaluate your child and those who provide services once your child is home. If your child has clubfoot, you may want a specialist in this area to evaluate a child’s file so that you can be very well-prepared for the types of treatment the child may need.