First Steps for Strengthening Adoptive Families: Tools and Techniques for Meeting the Needs of Your Adopted Child

Building on the foundation of attachment theory this DVD program presents information, tools and techniques to help strengthen adoptive families. Over 5 hours long, this program can be used to educate parents, adoption agency and mental health professionals, and child welfare workers. The program features video clips of families sharing their experiences with their adopted children. Ron and Christine describe the joys and challenges of parenting their son Aaron. Born in Slovakia, Aaron was adopted from an orphanage at age 2½. Walt and Cary detail life with their four adopted children, all born in the US. The DVD also includes more than 2 hours of video clips from actual therapy sessions of families using Family Attachment Narrative Therapy and telling stories to their child. There are a total of eight video examples, including two for each narrative type (claiming, developmental, successful child and trauma). These clips will illustrate the narrative concept and provide rich learning material for parents and professionals alike. A study guide for this DVD is available separately. Whether a child was adopted abroad or domestically, early in life or as an older child, recently or several years ago, the material on this DVD can help parents strengthen connections with their adopted child.