With compassion for adopted individuals and adoptive and birth parents alike, Adam Pertman explores the history and human impact of adoption, explodes the corrosive myths surrounding it, and tells compelling stories about its participants as they grapple with issues relating to race, identity, equality, discrimination, personal history, and connections with all their families. In this updated edition, Pertman reveals how changing attitudes and laws are transforming adoption, and thereby American society in the twenty-first century. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Dealing with a parent who has an addiction can be emotionally overwhelming and even dangerous. Teens write about what it was like to grow up with an addicted parent, and what they did to protect themselves. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

These teens have plenty of reasons to be angry: parental abuse, street violence, peer pressure, feeling powerless, and more. The writers give honest advice and talk about their anger management skills as they struggle to gain control of their emotions and stop hurting others and themselves. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

This practical, daily application handbook is helping parents, teachers, and caregivers all over the world to understand sensory signals and cues from a child rather than jumping to the conclusion of behavior driven. Enjoy the simple, organized format to give you the essential and useful information to respond to the child's sensory needs right on the spot! The handbook provides simple every day sensory strategies and techniques to help ALL children; including SPD, autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, APD, and developmental disabilities. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

This book empowers parents of autistic young people aged 11 to 20 to help them promote resilience in their child. Full of suggestions and simple activities, this easy-to-use resource will help guide parents on how to build the foundations of resilience and independence for situations such as negotiating sexuality and relationships, entering employment or living away from home. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Social Stories provide REAL social understanding! Carol Gray developed the Social Story in 1991 to promote social understanding in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Now, nearly twenty years after their inception, Social Stories have become a standard approach for teachers and parents all over the globe, and the stories are more effective than ever! Includes CD of printable, editable Social Stories! Selected Reading Questionnaire.

This 15th Anniversary Edition of her best-selling book offers ready-to-use stories that parents and educators have depended on for years―with new sections added! Additions include how to most effectively use and apply the stories, how to improve the lives of younger children, and Social Stories for teens and adults with autism. Developed through years of experience, these strategically written stories explain social situations in ways children and adults with autism understand while teaching social skills needed to be successful at home, school, work, and in the community. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Ellen’s personal experiences as a parent of children with autism and ADHD, a celebrated autism author, and a contributor to numerous publications, classrooms, conferences, and websites around the world coalesce to create a guide for all who come in contact with a child on the autism spectrum. This updated edition delves into expanded thought and deeper discussion of communication issues, social processing skills, and the critical roles adult perspectives play in guiding the child with autism to a meaningful, self-sufficient, productive life.

A bonus section includes ten more essential, thought-provoking "things" to share with young people on the spectrum as they cross the threshold of adulthood, and an appendix of more than seventy questions suitable for group discussion or self-reflection. This new edition sounds an even more resonant call to action, carrying the reader farther into understanding the needs and the potential of every child with autism. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Amid a bewildering range of treatments that promise to alleviate or even cure autism, even the leading researchers can’t predict what will work for your child. As a parent, you are in a unique position to become the practical expert on your child’s needs and strengths. Parenting Your Child with Autism will equip you with family-tested and science-based approaches for meeting the challenges ahead.

You’ll learn how to get a diagnosis and navigate the health care and educational systems, make sense of your child’s treatment options, and tap into expert opinions and your own observations to find a treatment program that works. Perhaps most importantly, you will learn how to become your child’s best advocate, and build a better life for your child.

This book focuses on the processes and decisions parents of children with autism face every day. To help you build an everyday life that works for your child with autism and other family members, this book shares suggestions that range from practical and educational to philosophical, closing with some personal and professional advice for your journey ahead. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Growing an In-Sync Child provides parents, teachers, and other professionals with the tools to give every child a head start and a leg up. Because early motor development is one of the most important factors in a child's physical, emotional, academic, and overall success, the In- Sync Program of sixty adaptable, easy, and fun activities will enhance your child's development, in just minutes a day. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

5 powerful essays from adults and those who love them with autism, mental illnesses, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, OCD, ADHD, and other “invisible disabilities. Life with an invisible disability is often shrouded in isolation, shame, and judgment. The stories in this book lift the veil and let readers know they are not alone — that there is a community of strong, passionate, smart, funny, and exceptional people walking beside them. Instead of putting on appearances, readers are invited to celebrate and connect with who they really are. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Written in simple, straight-forward English, this little book contains a great deal of information aimed at educating parents who may suspect that their child has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Leading experts show how you can work with your child's unique impairments - and harness his or her capabilities. Vivid stories and real-world examples illustrate ways to help kids with ASD relate more comfortably to peers, learn the rules of appropriate behavior and succeed in school. You'll learn how ASD is diagnosed and what treatments and educational supports really work. Updated with the latest research and resources, the second editions clearly explains the implications of the DSM-5 diagnostic changes. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

The 3-5-7 Model is a child-driven practice approach to prepare children/youth, families and professionals to assist children and youth in doing the work of grieving the many losses they have experienced through traumatic family environments and numerous placements living in the child care placement system.

* The three (3) tasks of the model engage children and youth in clarification activities (Life Books, Loss Lines) to recognize the events and losses of their lives; integration activities (Life Books, puzzles) to assist them in building and rebuilding relationships through the attachment process; and, actualization activities to assist them in visualizing future.
* The five (5) conceptual questions support the work of the three tasks addressing the issues of identity formation, loss and grief, attachment and relationship building, and feelings of safety as they move towards belongingness and permanency with others. These questions are: Who am I? What happened to me? Where am I going? How will I get there? When will I know I belong? By answering these questions, the answer to why will reveal itself and guide the planning and decision making process.
* Seven (7) skill elements assure the work of professionals and parents to engage, listen, be truthful, validate, create safety and recognize that the work for children and youth is to resolve and heal the pain of the past. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

This book is written for birth, foster, or adoptive parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, or anyone who may be raising a child who has experienced attachment loss and trauma. Their severe behaviors can often leave caregivers feeling confused, frightened, hurt, and overwhelmed, as they struggle to make sense of a massive amount of information―and misinformation―that exists on attachment issues. The authors explain their innovative model of “team” treatment that includes an EMDR therapist and a family therapist. Best used in conjunction with therapeutic help, it walks readers through an array of parenting strategies that will lead them to a deeper understanding of their traumatized child, and better enable them to calm their behavior and improve their attachment security so they can heal. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Grounded in theory and research on complex childhood trauma, this book provides an accessible, flexible, and comprehensive framework for intervention with children and adolescents and their caregivers. It is packed with practical clinical tools that are applicable in a range of settings, from outpatient treatment centers to residential programs. Rather than presenting a one-size-fits-all treatment model, the authors show how to plan and organize individualized interventions that promote resilience, strengthen child–caregiver relationships, and restore developmental competencies derailed by chronic, multiple stressors. More than 45 reproducible handouts, worksheets, and forms are featured; the large-size format facilitates photocopying. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

A much-needed tool that parents of children with O.D.D. can use to identify the source of this turmoil and take back parental control. Dr. Douglas Riley teaches parents how to recognize the signs, understand the attitudes, and modify the behavior of their oppositional child. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Such experiences inevitably leave traces on minds, emotions, and even on biology. Sadly, trauma sufferers frequently pass on their stress to their partners and children.

Renowned trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he transforms our understanding of traumatic stress, revealing how it literally rearranges the brain’s wiring—specifically areas dedicated to pleasure, engagement, control, and trust. He shows how these areas can be reactivated through innovative treatments including neuro-feedback, mindfulness techniques, play, yoga, and other therapies. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score offers proven alternatives to drugs and talk therapy—and a way to reclaim lives. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

When you have bipolar disorder, it can sometimes seem like mood swings are keeping you from being the person you want to be. You may alternate between feelings of depression and overexcitement even though what you really want is to find a healthy balance between the two. This easy-to-use workbook presents a set of skills you can learn that will help you find that balance, become more independent, and stay focused on the big-picture goals that are most important to you.

The Bipolar Workbook for Teens includes exercises and worksheets that will help you learn skills drawn from a special technique called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT skills can help people with bipolar disorder improve their relationships with friends and family and calm themselves when their emotions get really overwhelming. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

You may not know anyone else who suffers from repetitive “stuck” thoughts and compulsive rituals, but plenty of other teens experience symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): the need to repeatedly wash their hands, check to make sure everything’s okay, count possessions, put things in order, or even repeat thoughts over and over. Rituals like these may calm you down when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, but you know all too well that the relief is temporary and you’ll have to repeat the ritual when you start feeling uneasy again. This cycle can make you feel trapped, but also may seem impossible or even frightening to break. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Help teens open up in group and individual counseling sessions. These 49 first-hand perspectives show teens how their peers have managed mental health challenges and benefited from mental health supports. The questions that accompany each story help teens identify their strengths and supports. Topics include: Cutting, depression, bereavement, substance abuse, and more. Also includes 10 teen-friendly interviews with mental health professionals. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

This book provides a pragmatic, empathetic guide for parents raising a child who identifies as LGBTQ. From coming out narratives to navigating the public sphere, the book covers significant ground. Backed by research and accompanied by personal narratives, Unconditional offers a big-hearted, much-needed approach. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Let’s Get This Straight reaches out to young people with one or more gay, lesbian, bi, or trans parents to provide them with the tools to combat homophobia, take pride in their alternative family structures, and speak out against injustice. This short but thorough book profiles forty-five diverse youth and young adults, all of whom voice their opinions and provide advice for other youth living in LGBTQ households. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men explores the gamut of historical, legal, sociological, psychological, social casework, and personal issues related to adoption by sexual-minority individuals and couples. Leading experts in a variety of fields address--and often shatter--the controversies, myths, and misconceptions hindering efforts by these individuals to adopt and raise children. What makes this book all the more valuable is that it provides insights and specific recommendations for establishing empirically validated best practices for working with an important sector of our society, for treating all prospective and current parents fairly and equally, and, perhaps most importantly, for increasing a still largely untapped resource for providing families for children who need them. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Change is difficult for everyone. It's especially hard for youth, like those in foster care, who've already dealt with a lot of loss and upheaval. This program is designed to help. Managing Transitions for Teens is a 16-session workshop to help youth deal with change. The Leader's Guide contains step-by-step instructions for teaching teens about the stages of transition and the tools they can use to cope, including how to apply those tools to a real transition they are trying to make in their lives right now. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

This handbook helps caregivers teach ages 8-15 how to prepare for their future by learing about money and how to save. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Teens write about how foster parents, group home staff, caseworkers, social workers, and teachers help them thrive. Their stories show how communication can be improved on both sides, and provide insight into what kinds of approaches and styles work best. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

The Foster Parenting Manual is a comprehensive guide offering proven, friendly advice for novice and experienced parents alike. Distilling many years' experience into one book, John DeGarmo combines his own wisdom with that of fellow foster parents. He describes what to expect from the process, how to access help and how to ensure the best care for your child. He tackles thorny issues such as children's use of the Internet and social media, managing contact with birth parents and how to support your child at school. Most importantly, he provides advice designed to help your child feel safe, secure and loved. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

It is a guide to surviving the lifestyle of a foster parent filled with personal stories, practical tips and advice, and even humor and emotions. It's an essential guide for both novice and experienced foster parents. Selected Reading Questionnaire.

Life Story Work is one of the key therapeutic approaches to working with adopted or fostered children. While it stands simple, there is more to this work than producing photo albums or memory boxes for children. This accessible book is full of tested techniques and creative ideas for professionals who may have little time and few resources, but who need to carry out life story work that works. The author describes the conditions needed to carry out life story work and feature activities to accompany each of the stages covered: emotional literacy, building resilience, exploring identity, sharing information and looking to the future. This book will be a vital tool for social workers, foster carers, students and any front line practitioner involved in working with traumatized children. Selected Reading Questionnaire.