Parent Training (original) (raw)

A Different Kind of Parent Training

Through the Parenting Adoptees training, we hope to raise your awareness about the racism that many adoptees face, and to provide information and resources to help your child develop a positive adoptee identity. Through academic research and our professional work, Holt has learned that previous generations of adoptive parents lacked adequate preparation around issues of racism and the importance of adoptee identity. These can be uncomfortable topics to discuss. But if you hope to develop a strong and intimate relationship, it’s vital that you talk openly and honestly with your child about these challenging aspects of being an adoptive family.

This section of the curriculum is set up differently than other chapters of Holt’s Parents in Process pre-adoption education. Through webinars, videos and articles, you will learn about issues related to race, adoption and language. Each section of this curriculum has a worksheet to complete after you have read through the materials. Each parent is required to complete their own worksheets, which are fillable PDF documents that you can complete on your computer and print, or print and complete by hand. If you prefer, you can save and email the completed forms as attachments. All worksheets must be forwarded to either the Holt branch director or to the Holt home office. Once the branch director or program director has reviewed your completed training materials, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.

This portion of the curriculum is intended to challenge you — and perhaps take you outside of your comfort zone — in the hope that at the end, you will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of being a family created through international adoption. Please let your social worker know if you have any questions, or would like additional information as you prepare for your child’s arrival into your family.

Racial and Adoptee Identity

Many adoptees have shared the challenges they’ve faced growing up regarding racial and adoptee identity development. This section explores some of those challenges and how adoptive parents can support their child as they develop their unique ethnic, racial and adoptee identities.

Privilege and International Adoption

Privilege is easy to recognize when you don’t have it, but it often goes unseen when we benefit from it. Most of us benefit from some type of privilege, whether due to our gender, race, socioeconomic class privilege, age, religion or abilities. This section explores the concept of privilege and how it may affect your internationally adopted child.

Birth Parents

Whether your child’s birth parents are known or unknown, they will always be a part of your child’s life in one way or another. This section will help you think about the role your child’s birth parents will have in their life and in yours, as well as give you tools and resources for how to talk with your child about their birth parents and their history.

Adoptive Parent Resources

Our post adoption services team is here to help. We provide support and education and can answer any questions you may have about important issues facing adoptive families.

Holt Post Adoption Services

Holt offers lifelong support to all adoptees, adoptive families, birth parents, caregivers and others whose lives have been touched by adoption.