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Adoptive Children and High-Risk Behavior in Kansas

Adoptive Children and High-Risk Behavior in Kansas
November 24, 2013 James Greenier

Children who experienced adoption later in life are more often prone to suffer emotional pain and confusion, and may also exhibit adverse behavior as a result of the adoption process. Some adopted children may deal with issues of abandonment, fail to fully understand their emotions, and when it becomes too much to handle, they lash out at others.  This type of behavior, especially repetitive, can become overbearing for adoptive parents to manage.  After some time, under the more challenging circumstances, adoptive parents may feel over-burdened, to the point where they feel they have exhausted all options.  It may not be the end of the road for dealing with an adopted child’s high-risk behavior. The following are a few options to consider:

  • Respite care: One of the prevalent negative behavioral characteristics associated with adopted children is anger.  Typically, adopted children dealing with anger have the tendency to lash out at members of the family. Acquiring some distance and space between the adopted child and immediate family members, has proven to be an effective way to deal with such circumstances, allowing everyone to take a break from each other to refuel and regroup.  Even if it is for only one weekend a month or a day every two weeks, it may be beneficial to the parents, the child, and everyone else in the household.  If possible, consider arranging for an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or family friend to provide some time of respite care. When the child returns from the break, you may discover that you and your child are rejuvenated, and the child more responsive.
  • Counseling: A professional may not only provide insight into what an adopted child is going through, but may also guide you and the child towards better understanding and communication between each other.  Oftentimes, children can be reluctant to discuss their feelings with a parent for fear of rejection. In such scenarios, counseling may be a benefit to learning why your child feels and behaves the way they do. Counseling also helps to address parenting, and how it can be improved or changed for the better. Professional help may be significant in facilitating a better relationship between an adopted child and adoptive parents.
  • Therapeutic Boarding Schools:  If you feel as if you are running out of options, but still committed to being involved in your child’s recovery, enrollment of your child in therapeutic boarding school is a great alternative to consider.  Throughout this process, it is important the child believes their parents are still supportive, and there is no fear of abandonment. The easiest way for a parent to accomplish this is by maintaining regular contact with the child. To learn more about therapeutic boarding schools, and how they can be of benefit to an adopted child, contact local adoption agencies for more information.
  • State Intervention: This is generally the last option recommended as a last resort if all else fails.  If a parent is unable to make progress with the issues they are dealing with their adopted child, and have made a genuine effort to exhaust all other possible options, placing a child in state custody may be the only way to get the situation under control. Although this seems like a highly undesirable option for everyone involved, the truth is, there are times when an adoptive child has been placed with an adoptive family, and it simply is not an overall good fit. In cases where an adopted child has too many emotional issues to address on their own, and the family cannot do anything to help or intervene, the most important thing to consider is what the best environment is for the adopted child in terms of dealing with their issues and making progress. Unfortunately, sometimes this means the adopted family needs to step away and give the adopted child the necessary space and freedom to do better and move forward. This arrangement does not necessarily have to be a permanent one, the state may agree to keep the child temporarily or indefinitely in a foster care program if and until they are willing and ready to go back to the adopted family and a more traditional family environment.

If you live in the state of Kansas and have questions or concerns regarding the mental health of a potential adoptive child, call McDowell Chartered legal services at 316-269-0746 for more information today. Our firm of experienced adoption attorneys can assist you with all aspects of the adoption process, and make sure you receive the outcome you deserve!