Planning Ahead for the New School Year Ideas for Students in Adopted and Foster Families
QIC-AG Adoption Fact Sheet for Teachers
The QIC-AG has developed a fact sheet about adoption tailored for teachers and those who work in school. Designed to raise awareness about the unique needs of children who have been adopted, the fact sheet provides concrete tips on how educators can effectively work with children who are adopted. They can also be used by adoptive parents as tools for engaging their child’s teachers or health care providers. Click here or on the link in the blue box below to download the PDF.
What Teachers Need to Know About Adoption
Adoption can be a wonderful outcome for children who are not able to live with their birth parents. However, when adopted children join their new family, they bring life experiences that might include maltreatment and/or trauma. As a result, during the time leading into adoption and after the adoption is finalized, these children might exhibit some unique behaviors in the classroom. Therefore, it is important for educators to understand the reasons underlying the behaviors versus solely focusing on the behaviors. Common emotions and issues among children who have been adopted include the following:
grappling with issues related to identity, belonging, or attachment;
managing complex and/or non-traditional relationships and roles with their birth family;
experiencing loss and grief; and
figuring out how to be in a family of a different culture or ethnic group.
Outside of the family network, teachers and other school personnel play the largest role in children’s development. Because children spend a great deal of their daily lives in school settings, it is important for teachers to be aware of adoption and the behaviors that some children — both pre- and post-adoption — might exhibit in the classroom. Many teachers have found it extremely beneficial to develop a relationship with the adoptive parents and work with them to determine a classroom routine that works well for their child.
Getting a Good Start in School Ideas for Students and Families
Start the new academic year on the right foot. Establish regular bedtimes. Additionally, healthy meals, time outdoors, and a balance between school and downtime also should become routine.
In addition to the physical medical exams that are required for participation in sports, the State of Michigan also requires that all children entering school are caught up on their immunizations.
Remember also to make a date for an eye exam. Kids may not tell you – or even know – what they’ve been missing.
Tips for a Great School Year
Hold a Family Meeting to discuss schedules, priorities and goals for the year. This is crucial in order to accomplish multiple goals.
Create a place and a time for daily study. Make it a part of the family’s daily routine. Every day. Turn off the screens and make the time count.
Ask for help early before your children (or you) have a chance to get behind. Ask teachers, counselors and advisers if there is any tutoring or after school study programs or find a tutor.
Attend all your school welcome events and teacher conferences. It’s important that your children know their school life is important to the entire family. It’s important to stay up to date on deadlines, meet the teachers and learn all the new policies.
Thank You to Everyone Who Contributed Supplies to Start the Year Ready
We still would love to be able help even more. You can help with a donation of backpacks, paper, pens, pencils, pencil cases, lunchboxes, notebooks, crayons, folders, etc. for the coming school year. Drop them off at our office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Our address:
Spaulding for Children
16250 Northland Drive, Suite 120
Southfield, Michigan 48075
Thanks to all who contributed and thanks to all who will contribute school supplies. Your kindness and generosity are helping get children start off their school year ready to learn.
@ Parents Empowerment Group
Big Digital Surprise Given Away
Foster parent, Deonne Delk, was the first winner of a gently used laptop raffled at the Parent Empowerment Group (PEG) Meeting on Aug. 12 at Spaulding for Children. Mrs. Delk’s foster children will enjoy access to games, social media and research for their homework on their computer.
“It was like an early birthday present!” Ms. Delk said. “I have three kids in my home right now. This will help them with reports and projects for school. Last year, our high school junior and I struggled in the evenings, sharing my desktop which I need to work on at night. Now, we can both get all we need done.”
Each second Monday of the month, from August through May, Spaulding staff members, and foster and adoptive parents in the Spaulding family, conduct professional team-building sessions to provide training and to share information on relevant topics. In addition, the PEG training sessions help Spaulding develop future resources to support families and their children.
“I have been with Spaulding for Children for 20 years and find these parent meetings very helpful,” Ms. Delk said. “This was a real treat!”
Please join us next month to learn from our families on Monday, Sept. 9. Call Stacey Oakes, Resource Family Development Supervisor, at (248) 443-0300 for details.
Staff Profile: Kate Pogany Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruitment Specialist
One caring adult can make all the difference in the world to a child in search of a “Forever Home.” Kate Pogany believes that and loves working on behalf of each child. Working in the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) program at Spaulding for Children, she helps find the caring people and families who can give a waiting child permanence.
Ms. Pogany is a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruitment Specialist at Spaulding. One of two such positions sponsored and supported financially by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, the WWK program helps find permanent homes for children with special needs and older children awaiting adoption.
“The missions of Spaulding and Wendy’s Wonderful Kids are very much aligned,” Ms. Pogany said. “Both were founded with the belief that there are no ‘unadoptable’ children. And both do all they can to make that a reality.”
Many adopted teenagers have experienced some degree of trauma. Trauma is an emotional response to an intense event that threatens or causes harm. Potentially traumatic events include neglect, abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional), unpredictable parental behavior, and separation from a parent or other important relationships.
Trauma can affect how children and youth think, feel, learn, develop, and interact with others. Untreated trauma can interfere with physical, cognitive, emotional, and social health and development. Even after youth join safe and stable adoptive homes, their earlier world views can continue to influence how they think and behave. For example, they may have trouble trusting, overreact to certain situations, act aggressively, or seem to “shut down.” Sometimes, the effects of trauma don’t show up until adolescence; other times, the effects that previously seemed lessened may reappear.
What you can do:
Be available and predictable. Build trust by being physically and emotionally available, even if the youth tries to keep you at a distance. Spend time together in the home. Set consistent routines with your teen’s input and discuss expectations.
Identify trauma triggers. Certain noises, smells, actions, etc., may serve as reminders of traumatic events.
Try to notice what makes your youth anxious, and work with him or her to recognize triggers and learn how to manage them.
Let your youth express emotions without being judged. Remember that emotional outbursts and certain behaviors may be a natural and protective response given past experiences. Try to remain calm and reassuring.
Seek professional support, if needed. A trauma informed therapist can help with the healing process.
We hope these monthly newsletters provide information helpful to our professionals, parents and supporters.
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