A Foster-Adoption Story: Angela and
Michael’s Journey: A Therapeutic Workbook
By Regina M. Kupecky, LSW and Christine Mitchell
Books are a great way to open a dialogue
with children about adoption, but there are very few books that reflect older
child and foster care adoption. It was this gap in children’s adoption
literature that inspired me to write my first two books, Welcome Home, Forever Child and Family
Day. Each project represented the type of books I wish I could have found
for my daughter (adopted her at age four from foster care). My latest book,
co-written with Regina M. Kupecky, is no different.
The inspiration for A Foster-Adoption Story: Angela and Michael’s Journey came from
conversations I had with my daughter, in which I would often say “You know, a
lot of children who have been through _________ (fill in the blank) feel scared
(or worried/sad/ angry). Is that how you are feeling?” I realized that it was
reassuring to her to know that other kids had experienced the same things she
had. So the idea for the book was to help normalize foster care adoption, as
well as creating a tool to help children talk about difficult feelings.
I approached Regina M. Kupecky, LSW
about collaborating on the book, because I admire her tremendously, and am a
big fan of her books Adopting the Hurt
Child and Parenting the Hurt Child, co-authored with Gregory
C. Keck, PhD. As a nationally recognized expert in older child adoption (with
thirty years of experience working with traumatized children), her viewpoint as
a therapist complemented my perspective as an adoptive parent. Although the
project took more than two years to complete, as Regina and I would get
side-tracked with other things, we are thrilled with the end result of our
collaboration.
The book follows a brother and sister
who navigate the world of foster care, from removal from their birth family
through their eventual adoption. Originally written as a standard story book,
it eventually evolved into a workbook. This format helps children look at their
own lives and how their feelings affect their behavior, as they observe Angela
and Michael struggle with difficult circumstances and emotions.
A Foster Adoption Story touches on themes such as loyalty issues,
visitation, loss of foster parents, separation of siblings, birth parents,
reasons for being in care and connections to people from children’s past. Their
adoptive family promotes and permits connections, helping the children to heal.
Each page has questions (and blank lines) to help children express their
feelings concerning these issues, allowing the children to make the book their
own. The questions will help the adult working with the child discuss the
child’s history and feelings. The illustrations are in coloring book format so
that the children can color as they like.
Whether used as a part of a life book,
in therapy, with parents, or in support groups, this book provides a way to
discuss sensitive subjects as we go along with Angela and Michael on their
journey to permanence. It is a journey filled with many people and many
feelings.
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