Internationally Adopted Children Presentation
Population overview
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50% of adopted children will seek mental health services at some point in their life
o 10% of the general population receive mental health services
Only 50% of adopted children who utilize mental health services find them helpful
o Many families deem the services they receive to not be adoption informed and potential
harm was caused to the child
Trauma Experienced
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Many families are only required to go through 4-20 hours of education before adoption
Of these trainings very few discuss trauma and adoptive trauma experiences and how to
recognize symptoms/address the symptoms
Trauma can cause chemical changes in the brain
Reduces the rate of which neurons grow and form
Treatment
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Involves helping caregivers understand the trauma experienced and the needs of the child
Helping caregivers respond to the needs of the child in a healthy manner
o Managing transitions
o Establishing routines/rituals
o Creation of structure within the caregiving relationship
o Healthy touch creation
o Teaching playful interactions
o Teaching ways to shape behavior in the child
Why
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Strong capacity to make changes and sustain them
Family connection is greatest indicator of future success
Association between preadoptive services and positive adoption outcomes