Siblings in Adoption and Foster Care: Traumatic Separations and Honored Connections PDF
Preview Siblings in Adoption and Foster Care: Traumatic Separations and Honored Connections
Siblings in Adoption and Foster Care http://avaxhome.ws/blogs/ChrisRedfield This page intentionally left blank Siblings in Adoption and Foster Care Traumatic Separations and Honored Connections EDITED BY DEBORAH N. SILVERSTEIN AND SUSAN LIVINGSTON SMITH Foreword by Adam Pertman LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData Siblingsinadoptionandfostercare:traumaticseparationsandhonoredconnections/ editedbyDeborahN.SilversteinandSusanLivingstonSmith. p.cm. Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex. ISBN978–0–313–35143–3(alk.paper) 1. Adoptedchildren—Familyrelationships.2. Fosterchildren—Familyrelationships.3. Brothersandsisters. I.Silverstein,Deborah,1947–II.Smith,SusanLivingston. HV875.S54 2009 362.73085’5—dc22 2008033668 BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationDataisavailable. Copyright©2009byDeborahN.SilversteinandSusanLivingstonSmith Allrightsreserved.Noportionofthisbookmaybe reproduced,byanyprocessortechnique,withoutthe expresswrittenconsentofthepublisher. LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:2008033668 ISBN:978–0–313–35143–3 Firstpublishedin2009 PraegerPublishers,88PostRoadWest,Westport,CT06881 AnimprintofGreenwoodPublishingGroup,Inc. www.praeger.com PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica Thepaperusedinthisbookcomplieswiththe PermanentPaperStandardissuedbytheNational InformationStandardsOrganization(Z39.48–1984). 10987654321 Toallthechildren,who,throughnofaultoftheirown,wereseparatedfromtheir siblings.Andtoalltheparents,socialworkers,therapists,childadvocates,legis- lators,anddecenthumanbeingswhotrytopreventthatheartbreakortrytoright thatwrong. This page intentionally left blank Contents ForewordbyAdamPertman ix Preface xiii Acknowledgments xv ListofAbbreviations xvii 1.Full,Half,Step,Foster,Adoptive,andOther:TheComplexNature 1 ofSiblingRelationships DianeF.Halpern 2.SiblingsinFosterCareandAdoption:WhatWeKnow 13 fromResearch SusanLivingstonSmith 3.SiblingConnections:TheImportanceofNurturingSiblingBonds 27 intheFosterCareSystem MaryAnneHerrickandWendyPiccus 4.TheExperienceofSiblingLossintheAdjustmentofFosterand 43 AdoptedChildren DavidBrodzinsky viii Contents 5.TheRightsofSiblingsinFosterCareandAdoption: 57 ALegalPerspective WilliamWesleyPatton 6.SiblingIssuesinOpenAdoptionArrangements:Non-biologically 69 RelatedAdoptedSiblings’ExperienceswithBirth-FamilyContact JericaM.Berge,KevinM.Green,HaroldGrotevant, andRuthMcRoy 7.KeepingSiblingConnectionAlive 83 SharonRosziaandCynthiaRoe 8.TheCreationofaFalseSelf:ASurvivalStrategyforSiblingsof 95 WoundedAdoptedorFosterChildren MichaelTrout 9.‘‘Suddenly,Sisters!’’:SiblingAdjustmentinReunion 109 SusanThompsonUnderdahl 10.PracticeStrategiestoPreserveSiblingRelationships 123 DeborahN.SilversteinandSusanLivingstonSmith 11.MentalHealthStrategiestoSupportSiblingRelationships: 139 NonverbalInterventionstoProcessTraumaandMaintainthe SiblingBond MargaretCreek 12.PermanencyforSiblingsinKinshipFamilies 153 CarolBiddleandCarolJ.Bishop Conclusion:WhatHaveWeLearned?WhereDoWeNeedtoGo? 165 SusanLivingstonSmithandDeborahN.Silverstein References 167 Index 183 AbouttheEditorsandContributors 191 Foreword Astheheadofanorganizationthatconductsresearch,Ifeelcompelledto beginthisforewordbyextollingtheinestimablevirtuesofresearch.Itpro- vides knowledge we never had before; it shatters myths and offers insights; and perhapsmostimportant (whenwe’re payingattention), it empowersustomakebetterdecisionsbothinourpersonallivesand in our society. Sometimes, it even serves the simple but vital function of affirmingtheobvious. Thisthoughtful,challengingbookaccomplishesallofthoseobjectives and,insodoing,strivesforaloftyyetachievablegoal—tohelpreshape policiesandpracticesinourcountrysothattheybetterservethetensof thousandsoffosterandadoptedchildreneachyearwhoaredeprivedof relationshipswiththeirbrothersandsisters. Itturnsoutthatsiblingconnectionsaresignificant,astarkaffirmation of the obvious that runs through virtually all the studies cited between these covers. More pointedly, a growing body of research makes it increasingly clear that separating siblings can have detrimental effects on them, while maintaining their bonds can yield developmental, psy- chic,andsocialbenefits. Allthoseconclusionsseemsointuitivelyevidentthatonemightreason- ably ask whether they need to be stated at all. They do indeed, as evi- denced by the simple fact that thousands of siblings are placed into different families every year;are oftennot enabled toseetheirbrothers andsistersevenwhenitispossibletodoso;aresometimesnoteventold thereareboysandgirlsouttheretowhomtheyarerelated;and,inareal- itythatismoredifficulttoaccept,areplacedintothesesortsofsituations
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