Families formed by adoption almost always experience unique and stressful challenges. That reality highlights the importance of post-adoption support services.
At DePaul Community Resources, we believe that every child is adoptable and deserves to grow up in a permanent, loving family. Our adoption program’s mission is to provide the services and support necessary for each waiting child to achieve permanency through adoption and continue to thrive after permanency is realized.
Post-adoption support involves understanding and addressing issues related to a child’s history and the effects that history can have on an adoptive family. Based on their needs, families can receive services ranging from case management and outpatient therapy to support groups and parents’ night out activities.
“Consistent and regular activities have allowed me (as the mom) to network with other adoptive parents and our children have been able to do the same with adoptive peers. Monthly support meetings have been beneficial as I am able to share experiences of being an adoptive parent in a safe and understanding environment,” said the Morgan family.
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"Post-adoption support services events offer our kids a safe place to have fun while we experience an evening out, providing our family with the space needed to feel recharged and healthy. They have also provided our family with opportunities to connect with other adoptive families, who share openly and listen earnestly,” said the Gill family.
Post-adoption support services can be life-changing for many families. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, the services help address the effects that separation, loss, and trauma can have on children and youth who have been adopted, help children and their families address special needs, and help family members strengthen their relationships and deepen their attachment and bonding.
"If families don't have that support, they start to falter, and when that starts to happen children end up coming back into care and the process starts all over again," said Oma McReynolds, adoption supervisor.
At DePaul, post-adoption support services are available for families who have adopted or are in the process of adopting. Families may have adopted via any avenue (foster care system, internationally, or private adoption). The only requirement is that the family has signed an adoptive placement agreement or has a legal, finalized adoption. Services can be accessed at any time until the youngest adopted child in a home turns 18.
Services are provided at no cost, thanks to state grants. While outpatient counseling and community-based clinical services are covered by grant funding, referrals for psychiatric assessment and treatment do require that the child’s insurance be billed.
To learn more about post-adoption support services at DePaul, please visit our website, depaulcr.org.
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