Unlike most surveys, we asked several open-ended questions. There were hundreds of helpful comments. Here is a representative list of recommendations by adoptive parents and issues that still need to be addressed.
• The need to give parents a list of what type of interventions are available, what issues kids have and the order/timing .Screens need to continue throughout several years.
• Sensory issues, speech/language, dietary/toxin, psychology/attachment, infant reflexes and sleep issues screening in first year with learning assessments in subsequent years.
• Pre-adopt and post-adopt education of all of these assessments.
• Concern for cost of therapies.
• Speech screening in native language within first month.
• Respite care as an option in the first few months after gaining custody of child to ease transition.
• Educate pediatricians on possible issues in adopted children.
• Audio and sensory screens before child begins school.
• Older children need counseling immediately for how to function in family setting.
• Details about behavior issues after being in orphanage.
• Specifics on how to address sexual abuse prior to joining family.
• Alcohol related Neurological Disorder (ARND) what to look for, early assessment.
• Break down of disorder frequency by country.
• Dental issues.
• Missed/delayed diagnoses of Post traumatic stress disorder/assume child has PTSD.
• Not enough education about Post-Adoption Depression (PAD).
• Insurance not covering developmental therapy.
• Achieving educational success.
• Want advocate or case manager to go to for customized explanations for child.
• Figuring out agency’s honesty/accountability/getting money back for failed adoption.
• Better list of parent support groups.
• Assertiveness training for parents since they need to advocate for their child.
• Legal issues, such as falsely being accused of abuse.
• Helping the parents, not just the children.
• Support in navigating birthfamily relationships.
• Handling serious attachment issues.
• All aspects of dealing with older children.
• Vaccine scheduling for the internationally adopted child.
• Continued support (including financial) from adoption agencies.
• Issues stemming from child’s history of sexual abuse.
• Trauma from adoption and life before adoption.
• Central website for post-adoption resources.
• Finding/connecting with birthfamily in international adoptions.
• Parental stress/depression post adoption.
• Post adoption subsidies, grants for issues that are not detected immediately after adopting.
• Dealing with situation where it has been found that your child was trafficked/sold into adoption.
• Developmental stages post adoption for kids of all ages.
• Identity issues, especially in transracial adoptions.
• Peer mentors for adoptive parents.
Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/
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