Adopting the Older Child

Adopting older children can be rewarding and challenging. Debbie Riley, Executive Director of The Center for Adoption Support & Education (CASE) talks about who is considered an older child and how you can help your child transition into your family.

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Hit the Highlights

What age qualifies as older?
How much information is given to foster-to-adopt parents?
How much information is typically known about a child’s early life in domestic adoptions? International adoptions?
What is the best way for an older internationally adopted child to learn English and how does that affect their schooling?
What are the pros and cons of homeschooling older adoptive children?
What are the differences between domestic and international older child adoption?
How can perspective parents find an older child to adopt?
How can parents find an adoption competent therapist?
What issues do older adopted children face?
Is adopting out of birth order advisable?
How can parents prepare older children from the adoption of a child?
Sexual abuse in orphans and what issues do sexually abused children face?
Adopting older children in sibling groups
Staying in contact with the birth family
Is it advisable to change a child’s name after adoption?
Attachment issues and older children
What can parents do to help their adopted child adjust to their new life?