Creating A Family: Talk About Infertility, Adoption & Foster Care

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How old is too young for a phone? Is gaming harmful to our kids? How much technology is too much. We talk with Dr. Jay Berk, a licensed psychologist and an expert in working with children and families. He is the author of two books: “A Parent’s Quick Guide to Electronic Addiction” and “Codeswitching: Social Skills in the Screen-Age”.In this episode, we cover:Parents from time immemorial have worried about the impact of the “new technology” and this goes back to our great great great grandparents worrying about the influence of novels to parents of the 50’s worry about too much time on the phone, to parents of the 80s worrying about too much TV, and on to the present where we worry about screen time, texting, and gaming. We parents are digital “immigrants” while our kids are digital natives. How does this dynamic present challenges?How to keep up with what our kids are doing?What are the general best practices for elementary aged kids using digi

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Q: We have 3 children by birth and want to adopt a child that really needs a home. Given our kids' ages, this will probably mean that we will disrupt the birth order of at least some of our kids. The agency we have talked with is definitely against this idea. Is this something that is harmful to kids?Resources:Disrupting Birth Order ResourcesSuggest Books for Kids on Preparing Children for the Adoption of a SiblingThis podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.Creatin

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Are you thinking about stopping infertility treatment and trying to adopt or foster? Join us to talk with Carole LieberWilkins,a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has specialized in reproductive medicine, adoption, and family-building options since 1986, and is the co-author of the book, Let’s Talk About Egg Donation. Carole serves on the Advisory Board of the US Donor Conceived Council, and is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine Mental Health Professional Group. She is also a mom through adoption and egg donation.In this episode, we cover:Adoptive parenting is the same as, and very different from, genetic parenting. Ways in which raising adopted children is different. Ways in which it is the same.Fostering has some significant differences from genetic parenting, including adopting from foster care.What are the losses of infertility?How to know when you are ready to stop fertility treatments and move to ad

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Q: My wife and I plan to adopt a child under the age of 9 from foster care. We have just started taking the classes. My wife has a 9-year-old from a previous relationship, and we want to do everything we can to prepare him in advance for this adoption. Any help is appreciated.Additional Resources:Blending Children by Birth and AdoptionSuggested Books for Preparing Your Child for the Adoption of a SiblingFree Course: The Impact of Fostering & Adopting on Kids Already in the FamilyThis podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease le

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Do you worry about what is normal in your child's sexual development? Join us to talk with Roy Van Tassell , a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oklahoma and Director of Trauma and Evidence-based Interventions for Centene Health. He co-chairs the National Child Traumatic Stress Networks’ subcommittee on children with problem sexual behaviors.Warning: We will be using anatomically correct words and talking about sex, so if this offends you or triggers you, you may want to skip this podcast.In this episode, we cover:Typical Sexual Development / PlayWhat is typical sexual development in children as they age?What type of sexual play is considered “normal?”How should parents manage a child’s natural sexual development?Problematic Sexual BehaviorsWhat are Problem Sexual Behaviors in Children?What causes kids and youth to act in socially unacceptable or destructive sexual ways? What factors influence the development of these behaviors?Child vuln

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Q: I’ve applied to adopt a waiting child from foster care. We are open to all races, kids up to age 13, and sibling groups up to 3 kids. We applied and then heard nothing. We also applied through AdoptUSKids and also heard nothing. I know the social workers are busy, but this is getting to be ridiculous. How do I get their attention without making them angry at me?Additional Resources:Adopting from Foster CareWorking as Part of the Foster Care TeamThis podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podca

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Are you considering adopting a baby? Join us today to learn more. Our guests will be Karlee Wagner, a Program Supervisor for Infant Adoption and Birth Parent/Pregnancy Services at Children’s Home and LSS in Minnesota (CH/LSS); Erin Quick, the Founder and CEO of PairTree - the organization dedicated to helping families navigate private adoption in the healthiest way possible and mom of two through adoption; and Courtney Lott, the owner and founder of Faithful Adoption Consultants, a consulting service that seeks to walk adoptive families through the adoption process from beginning to end. She is a mom to eight children: six through adoption and two biologically. In this episode, we cover:How many domestic private infant adoptions happen in the US each year? Average cost of adopting a baby in the US. Average length of time prospective parents wait for an adoption match. Creating a Family article: Adoption in the US: How Many? How Much? How Long?W

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.There are several ways to adopt a baby in the US.Adopt a newborn or young infant through private adoptions.Adopt a baby in the US through the foster care system.Additional resources on infant adoption:How to Adopt in 2023Adoption in the US: How Many? How Much? How Long?Cost of AdoptionDomestic AdoptionFoster Care AdoptionThis podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, fost

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Are you considering adopting or fostering? Or taking in a relative's child? Do you suspect or know that the birth mom used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy? Join us today to learn how these substances might impact the child and how you parent. Our guest is Dr. Lisa Prock, a Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician, Director of the Developmental Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital, Boston, and Clinical Director of the Translational Neuroscience Center at Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.In this episode, we cover:Foster, adoptive, and kinship parents and caregivers often need to consider whether they are the right family to parent a child with prenatal alcohol and drug exposure.The US government estimates that about 10% of children born in the US have been prenatally exposed to alcohol, drugs, or both. How common is prenatal substance exposu

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.This is a perennial question that is often asked: Help, I have an older child moving in. How do I make them comfortable and make the transition as easy as possible for us all? We offer 3 tips to help you welcome a new young person into your home.6 Parenting Tips for Older Child AdoptionSuggested Books on Older Child Adoption for Adoptive ParentsWelcoming a New Foster ChildSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Are you expecting the placement of a newborn? Don't miss our conversation about the latest information on baby care with Kristen O’Dell, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with almost two decades of working with over 10,000 newborns and their families in her hospital practice of Neonatology and Newborn Medicine.In this episode, we cover:FeedingThe vast majority of adoptive parents will bottle-feed their baby. How to choose a formula.Is liquid or dry formula better for the baby?How to sterilize the dry formula?Do you need to sterilize bottles?What type of bottle is best?Does the bottle type differ if the baby is born premature or has Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome?Does the temperature of the formula matter?Can you make the bottles up once a day, or do you have to make it fresh for each feeding?When should you consider a specialized formula, and what options do you have?How often should a baby eat?Other feeding options: adoptive mothe

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Are you raising an internationally adopted child or a child of another race? Join our fascinating discussion with Dr. Hollee McGinnis, an Assistant Professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work. She focuses on mental health and identity for internationally adopted people. She is also an intercountry adoptee from South Korea.In this episode, we cover:How are racial, ethnic, and cultural identities different for international adoptees?Why is racial, ethnic, or cultural identification important for the emotional development of a child adopted internationally? At what age does cultural and racial identity develop?For children adopted internationally, what are some of the acculturation and assimilation issues that these children face? Including those issues arising from factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, and culture.Does this differ by race?Does international adoption itself potentially create acculturation or assim

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Do you suspect your child has ADHD? Don't miss today's show with Dr. Tamara Rosier. She is the author of “Your Brain’s Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD.” She runs the ADHD Center of West Michigan and is president of the ADHD Coaches Organization.In this episode, we cover:Understanding ADHDWhat is ADHD? What are the symptoms? Are foster, adoptive, and kinship kids more prone to ADHD?How to tell if our child’s behavior is ADHD or caused by the trauma they’ve experienced? Treating ADHDImportance of early diagnosing and intervention. To medicate or not?Should you take a medication break/holiday? Parenting Challenges with Raising a Child with ADHD: Managing expectations.Emotional management is key.Stop comparing your child and yourself to other parents and their “perfect” kids.Self-control/Impulsiveness.Sticking to an activity - the challenge of finding the balance between encouraging a child to persis

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Do you have a child receiving special education services or one that you think may need these services? In this podcast, we talk about navigating this process. Our guests will be Lisa Eisenberg and Gaile Osborne. Lisa Eisenberg is a social worker, education advocate, and consultant. She is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, an organization whose goal is to secure high-quality educational services for all and to promote excellence in advocacy. Gaile Osborne is the Executive Director of Foster Family Alliance, the foster, kinship, and adoptive parent association in North Carolina. She has her masters in special education with certifications in five areas, including emotional disabilities. Gaile and her husband are parents of children adopted from foster care and have fostered over 28 children. Foster Family Alliance provides educational advocacy support for NC foster, adoptive, and kinship families.In this episode, we cove

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How can parents help their transracial adoptees transition to college, and why can this transition be hard for both teens and parents? We talk with Dr. Amanda Baden, a Professor in the Counselor Education Program at Montclair State University. She is an active researcher and currently leads their Adoption Research Team. She is also a transracial adoptee and a member of the Creating a Family board.In this episode, we cover:Acknowledge that this will likely be a strange year for preparing anyone to go to college.What are the major developmental milestones for all adolescents that happen during the 15-20 age frame?What are some of the additional developmental milestones for adolescent adoptees?What are the additional developmental milestones for transracial adoptees during the late teen years?Why is the transition to college sometimes a difficult one for transracial adoptees?What do you mean by “honorary whiteness”?Is the experience of transitioni

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Everyone connected to adoption needs to listen to this show. We talk about a new research report on how birth parents experience adoption. The results will surprise you! Our guest are the two main authors: Ryan Hanlon is the Executive Director of The National Council for Adoption, the national adoption organization providing resources and education for all people and organizations in the adoption world and advocating for sound adoption policies; and Laura Bruder is the Executive Director of Brave Love, an organization dedicated to changing the perception of adoption by acknowledging birth moms for their brave decision.In this episode, we cover:The Birth Parent Experiences report is based on the responses of 1,160 birth mothers and 239 birth fathers.Were these all domestic infant adoption rather than adoptions from foster care?Birth mothers who placed their child for adoption in 2010 or later were much more likely to report satisfaction with the

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Are you thinking about adopting internationally? Don't miss this interview covering the common health, developmental, and emotional issues found in kids adopted internationally. Our guests are Dr. Kimara Gustafson, M.D., M.P.H., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School, a Faculty Member in the Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience, and a pediatrician at the Adoption Medicine Clinic at the University of Minnesota. We will also talk with Dr. Katie Stone, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Minnesota Medical School. She is part of the Psychology team at the Adoption Medicine Clinic.In this episode, we cover:The best place to get information on the country-specific laws and the adoption process is your agency and the US State Department website on intercountry adoption, in the country information section.Each year the US State Department p

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Join us to talk with Angela Tucker about her new book You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race Identity, and Transracial Adoption. Angela is a black woman adopted from foster care to white parents. She was the subject of Closure, a documentary that chronicles her search for her biological parents. Angela has consulted with NBC’s "This Is Us", supported the lead actor of Broadway musical "Jagged Little Pill", has over 15 years of experience working within adoption and foster care agencies, and has mentored over 200 adoptees, leading her to found the Adoptee Mentoring Society.In this episode, we cover:The Adoptee ManifestoWhat adoptee centrism. What do you mean by that?The complexities of loving your adoptive parents and wishing you weren’t adopted.Why is the spoken or unspoken “you should be grateful” so hard on adopted people?How to share the hard parts of our child’s story?What is the Ghost Kingdom that adoptees create about

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Do you sometimes feel like screaming because you can't keep up with all that you think is expected of being a mom? If so, you're in good company. Join us to listen to our interview with Jessica Grose about her book Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood. Grose is an opinion writer at the New York Times. She writes a popular newsletter on parenting and was named by Glamour Magazine as a Game Changer in 2020 for her coverage of parenting during the pandemic.In this episode, we cover:What brought you to write this book?The pressure to feel a certain way and do everything right feels inherent in modern motherhood, but is it new? Have things changed? In what areas are moms in America struggling? ExpenseWork and Role of Fathers:Our society’s views of working motherhood from the 1990’s to now. “There is the expectation for working women to want to become moms. Then when we do become parents, we are expected to b