Adoption Crisis

Navigating Challenges in Adoption

Adoption is a major undertaking that involves a number of legal, financial, and personal decisions. It is often portrayed as a joyous and fulfilling experience, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a child’s life and offering them hope for a better future. However, the reality is that adoption journeys can be complex, and not all adoption stories unfold as expected. In some cases, adoptions don’t work out, leaving both children and families struggling with complicated emotions and uncertainties. Several factors can contribute to the breakdown of an adoption:

• Trauma and Attachment Issues: Children who have experienced trauma or have an attachment disorder may have trouble forming secure bonds with their adoptive families. Parents might have difficulty bonding with their child because they don’t understand his or her behavior.
• Incompatibility: Sometimes, adoptive families and children just aren’t a good match. They might have conflicting personalities, the child may exhibit behaviors that parents cannot manage or tolerate, or there may be religious or cultural differences that cannot be overcome.
• Unforeseen Circumstances: Adoptive families may encounter a change in circumstances that shift their focus and change their outlook on the future. A sudden death, health issues, or an unplanned pregnancy can put a strain on the family.
• External Stressors: Stressful conditions, such as job loss, relationship issues, or financial problems, can affect an adoptive family’s ability to care for a child, particularly one who has behavioral challenges or special needs.
• Lack of Support and Resources: Adoptive families may feel isolated or unsupported, especially if they encounter challenges that they are ill-equipped to handle. Children from international adoptions often require extra support and care due to special needs, trauma, or behaviors that make it difficult for them to integrate.

Whatever the reason for disruption in the adoption, TCM can be a place of hope and healing for these children and their adoptive families. We recognize and respect the difficulty of the decision to place an adopted child and the emotional and psychological impact it can have on everyone involved. TCM believes that supporting children and families through this process requires a compassionate and holistic approach that can include

• Counseling and Therapy: Counseling and therapy can help children and families process their emotions, build resilience, and develop coping strategies.
• Education and Resources: Connecting adoptive families with opportunities for education, training, and resources can help them better understand and address the needs of the child.
• Advocacy: TCM has social workers and case managers on staff who can help advocate for the rights and best interests of the child. We ensure their voices are heard, and their needs are met.
• Transition Planning: Supporting children and families through adoption disruption requires forethought and clear communication. TCM welcomes children from both domestic and international adoptions and strives to meet the unique needs of each child as they transition to TCM. This planning includes establishing a permanency plan for the child that identifies the level of ongoing interaction and involvement that adoptive family will have with the child.

By understanding the causes and impact of disruptions in an adoption and providing children and families with adoption support and resources, TCM endeavors to help each child and family heal, thrive, and find stability in their lives.