Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

Adopting a Relative from Abroad


Listen Later

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.

What issues should parents think about when adopting a relative (niece, cousin, sibling) from abroad. We talk with Mary Beth King, who has a Master of Science in Social Administration and is Frank Adoption Center’s Executive Director, and with Katie Schultz, an International Adoption Specialist with Madison Adoption Associates.

In this episode, we cover,

  • What level of genetic relationship is required to call it a kinship adoption as well as what circumstances make a child eligible for an international kinship adoption, especially in the eyes of USCIS.
  • At what age is a child no longer eligible for international kinship adoption?
  • Changing relationship for both adopter and child – to go from the “cool, exotic US visitor” to everyday caregiver.
  • Relationship with bio family in home country.
  • Helping children navigate (and choose) the language of family – will they continue to refer to you as “aunt” or will you be “mom,” etc.
  • Blending children by birth and this newly adopted child.
  • Understanding that trauma and loss are still a part of the child’s story even though they are remaining in their biological extended family.
  • It can take a long time for relative adoptions to come to fruition, the child can be much older than when the family started the process and so helping families adjust to the fact that they may be bringing home an older child can be challenging.
  • Helping families embrace pre-adoption education as necessary even though they have experience in parenting or they know this child and therefore don't need education on how to parent.
  • Recognizing that the child’s immigrant experience will be different than your own and how to separate the two.
  • One parent not related and maybe not been an immigrant.
  • Navigating two identities, for example - Preparing your child to embrace their identity not just as a Cameroonian, but also as a Black American.
  • Managing expectations of cultural changes – Understanding that these children are very likely to take on cultural norms of America kids and teens which may be different than the parent-child relationship expectations of your country of origin
  • Understanding the importance of hobbies, sports, extracurricular activities, play time, etc. in addition (and sometimes even as backseat to) academics, especially as kids adjust to these big changes, make new friends, and heal from trauma and loss
  • Navigating the American school system and understanding that grade levels don’t always translate internationally. Accessing services to help the child transition.
  • Adjusting to parenting as an older parent. Things may have changed since they parented last.

This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following tr

Support the show

Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

  • Weekly podcasts
  • Weekly articles/blog posts
  • Resource pages on all aspects of family building
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship CareBy Creating a Family

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

290 ratings


More shows like Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

View all
Read-Aloud Revival ® by Sarah Mackenzie

Read-Aloud Revival ®

3,360 Listeners

Life with Sally by Sally Clarkson

Life with Sally

2,983 Listeners

Simply Charlotte Mason Homeschooling by Sonya Shafer

Simply Charlotte Mason Homeschooling

522 Listeners

The Lazy Genius Podcast by Kendra, The Lazy Genius

The Lazy Genius Podcast

6,614 Listeners

EmPowered Couples with The Freemans by Aaron & Jocelyn Freeman

EmPowered Couples with The Freemans

590 Listeners

Calm Parenting Podcast by Kirk Martin

Calm Parenting Podcast

1,459 Listeners

Raising Boys & Girls by That Sounds Fun Network

Raising Boys & Girls

1,863 Listeners

Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness by Kim & Penn Holderness

Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness

3,378 Listeners

Connected Families Podcast by Connected Families

Connected Families Podcast

416 Listeners

She Reads Truth Podcast by She Reads Truth

She Reads Truth Podcast

2,814 Listeners

The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma} by Robyn Gobbel

The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}

247 Listeners

Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy

Good Inside with Dr. Becky

4,538 Listeners

This Is So Awkward by Peoples Media, This Is So Awkward

This Is So Awkward

329 Listeners

Tiny Theologians by Training The Church

Tiny Theologians

832 Listeners

The Wirecutter Show by The New York Times

The Wirecutter Show

1,152 Listeners