Adopting
older children internationally:
making a decision and coping with post-adoption difficulties
Meet your instructors
Boris
Gindis, Ph.D.
Jody
Sciortino, LCSW
Part
I. Before adoption: Will it work for me?
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Unit 1. Older
internationally adopted children as a group |
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Life before
institution: the impact of neglect, deprivation,
and trauma
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Life in
institution: survival skills and behavior
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The consequences:
developmental delays in cognitive, language, and
academic domains
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The consequences:
behavioral issues
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The consequences:
emotional and attachment issues
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Unit 2. Making
a decision to adopt internationally |
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Examining
your motivation and expectations for adoption of
an older child
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Taking an
inventory: personal resources
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Analyzing
your own family history and dynamics prior to the
adoption
Part
II. After adoption: Helping your child settle in
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Unit 3. Building
the family together and resolving emotional issues |
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Dealing
with cultural differences and institutional background
of the child
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Developing
a concept of home and family with the child
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Claiming
your child
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Helping
your child learn to rely upon you
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Dealing
with separation anxiety
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Working
on developing mutual trust and understanding
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Unit 4. Managing
behavior and building new skills |
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Activities
of daily living
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Safety issues
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Setting
the limits and introducing the structure
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Changing
institutional behavior patterns
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Avoiding
over-stimulation
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Building
self-control and ability to delay gratification
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Managing
child's anger and resolving conflicts
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Unit 5. Addressing
educational issues |
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The causes
of rapid loss of the native language by an international
adoptee
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The therapeutic
value and negative consequences of rapid loss of
the first language
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The dynamics
of English language acquisition by an internationally
adopted child
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Pros and
cons of preserving the native language
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The childs
school readiness and school placement
-
Cumulative
Cognitive Deficit (CCD) in international adoptees
-
English
as a Second Language (ESL) program: opportunities
and limitations
Part III. Parental
skills:
Updating your parental techniques and reaching out
for help
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Unit 6. Parental
survival skills |
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Managing
relations: a story of a family
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Dealing
with your own anger
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Adjusting
expectations
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Post adoption
depression: taking care of yourself
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Unit 7. Professional
medical and psychological help for your child |
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