Parents adopting children from foster care face unique challenges, as do the professionals supporting them. Understanding the professional’s role in providing effective support and to explore how trauma, attachment, identity development, and systemic factors influence the adoptive family experience is critical to the family’s success. Examining these factors, along with the barriers adoptive parents may encounter when navigating complex service systems and advocating for their children, may can insight into the clinical approaches and resources that best promote family well-being. In addition, culturally competent, trauma-informed, and empowerment-based practices may strengthen professionals’ ability to support adoptive parents in addressing the emotional, psychological, and social complexities of adoption.[Elective Adoption Certificate Program]
To earn CE credit, social workers must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire course and complete an online course evaluation. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
At the conclusion of the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify common psychosocial challenges experienced by parents adopting from foster care, including parenting stress, vicarious trauma, attachment-related concerns, and barriers to accessing trauma-informed and adoption-informed services.
- Describe key clinical approaches and resources for supporting adoptive parents, including evidence-based interventions, peer support, and strategies for navigating medical, educational, and other systems on behalf of their children.
- Apply culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and empowerment-based practices to case conceptualization, treatment planning, and interventions that promote resilience and self-efficacy among adoptive parents and families.
9:30 am - Welcome/Course Overview
9:40 am - Understanding the Adaptive Family Experience
Overview of the unique psychosocial challenges faced by parents adopting from foster care, including parenting stress, grief and loss, vicarious trauma, attachment-related concerns, and the impact of children’s early adversity on family functioning. Discuss common misconceptions about adoption and the importance of adoption-informed practice.
10:10 am - Trauma Attachment and Identity Development
Explore how childhood trauma, attachment disruptions, identity development, and developmental needs may influence the parent-child relationship and family adjustment. Examine the emotional and relational experiences of adoptive parents and the importance of understanding behavior within a trauma-informed framework.
10;40 am Clinical Approaches and Resources for Supporting Adoptive Parents
Review evidence-informed, trauma-informed, and attachment-focused interventions; parent education; peer support; and strategies to strengthen parental coping, resilience, and self-efficacy. Discuss resources that support adoptive families across developmental stages and family transitions.
11:20 am - Navigating Systems and Advocating for Adoptive Families
Examine barriers to accessing adoption-informed and trauma-informed services. Discuss strategies for navigating medical, educational, mental health, and other service systems; collaborating with multidisciplinary providers; and supporting parents in advocating for their children’s needs. Address systemic inequities and the importance of culturally responsive and culturally humble practice.
11:50 am - Case Application: Culturally Responsive and Empowerment-Based Practice
Apply course concepts to a case example involving an adoptive family. Identify psychosocial stressors, consider trauma and attachment-related factors, and develop culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and empowerment-based approaches to case conceptualization, treatment planning, and intervention. Discuss ways to promote family resilience, collaboration, and parental self-efficacy.
12;15 pm - Conclusion/Q&A