Training

Unlocking the Heart of Adoption is a training tool for adoption professionals and college instructors. The package includes a Workbook with a Viewer’s Guide, which lists in sequence from the beginning of the film, each segment with a brief description, beginning time on the video and length of the segment, ranging from 1 to 7 minutes.  This will make it easy for trainers to highlight specific issues using excerpts from the film.  And a three-section Discussion Guide, for each perspective of the adoption triad and includes quotes from the people in the film with thought-provoking questions.

Please take a few minutes to reflect on the people you have seen in the film. What is your immediate impression of their concerns about the adoption experience? How did these stories expand or change your knowledge of adoption? If you have a relative, or friend who is in the adoption triad, do these stories help you to understand them better?

The people in the film candidly reveal their feelings about loss, identity, self-esteem, ethnicity and the need to know the truth. How do you see these issues reflected in their stories?

If you are an adoptee, birthparent, or adoptive parent can you relate to any of these issues through your personal experiences? Adoption happens to families, not just to individuals. Do these stories help you understand your birth or adoptive family members better? Do you think the film will give you a better basis for communication with your birth and/or adoptive family members? Are there others you hope will see the film?

If you are thinking of adopting a child, or considering relinquishing your child for adoption, do the people in the film give you insight into the lifelong process of adoption?

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Loss and Identity in the Lifelong Process of Adoption is part of 
The Dynamics of Shared Parenting In-service Training Series
with the Child Welfare Institute.

Understanding Loss and Identity Issues for Foster and Prospective Adoptive Parents - 3 hour Curriculum includes one hour to screen film.

$79.00 includes shipping and handling

Lifelong Process of Adoption represents core issues that are important to address in the foster and adopted child’s life.  Recognizing the complexities of the life situation of adoptees – every adopted person has two families, one by birth and one by adoption – the Lifelong Process of Adoption emphasizes acknowledgement of the losses and questions of identity that will surface over time, rather than denial that these issues exist.

Within the Lifelong Process of Adoption framework, foster and prospective adoptive parents work to understand the issues surrounding loss and identity for themselves, as well as for foster and adopted children, and birthparents.  This is seen within the context of bridging the gap between foster and adoption triad members, as they become aware of the commonalty of their experiences.

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