Often times when families are considering a stepparent adoption, the abandonment of the child by the non-custodial parent is a factor, and a driving force for the adoption of the child by the stepparent. But many families are left wondering just what is considered to be child abuse in the eyes of the law. Below are the current definitions of child abuse and neglect, so that families can see if their current circumstances fall into the category of abuse.

Current through January 2005

You may wish to review this introductory text to better... more

The Internet can be a great resource for parents during the research phase, as most facilities have a website which explains their treatment programs, tuition costs (it applicable) as well as which insurance providers they accept. With the convenience of the Internet, parents have the opportunity to browse the web, and learn about the different facilities prior to placing any phone calls, leaving the parent to only have to ask the questions which were not answered on the website.

Websites also give parents to view a few pictures of the different facilities,... more

Even with all the love, stability, support, and encouragement that a loving, and understanding adoptive family can give, some children, unfortunately are not able to overcome the grief and trauma of past events in their lives. Children can become so emotionally destroyed that they truly can no longer function in a family environment.

If a family finds themselves thinking about residential care, it is important to begin investigating the local facilities as soon as possible. Most centers have a list of prerequisites that must be completed before they will... more

It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in manic-depressive illness as a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe depression, which shades into moderate depression; then come mild and brief mood disturbances that many people call "the blues," then normal mood, then hypomania (a mild form of mania), and then mania.

Some people with untreated bipolar disorder have repeated depressions and only an occasional episode of hypomania (bipolar II). In the other extreme, mania may be the main problem and depression may occur only infrequently. In fact, symptoms of mania and depression may be mixed together in a single "mixed" bipolar state. Below are examples... more

Bipolor Disorder, also known as Manic Depression or Manic-Depressive Illness effects the lives of millions of children and adults throughout the world. This mental illness can be extremely hard to cope with, both for the individual who is suffering from it, as well as those who live with and care for that individual. Knowing the signs and symptoms of mental illness is the first step towards healing the illness. Printed below are the signs and symptoms that are associated with bipolar disorder.

RECOGNITION

Bipolar... more

Below is an article on bullying that I found to be quite interesting. My adopted stepson has had to deal with bullies in school almost the entire time that he has been in school. The instability that he faced growing up, coupled along with the abandonment issues he has from his mother choosing not to be in his life, have taken their toll on his self esteem as well as his self-worth. This has made him an easy target for bullies, and he is never at a school more than a week before he has a circle of vultures around him doing their best to break down what little bit... more

Introduction Despite the efforts of the child protection system, child fatalities remain a serious problem.1 Although the untimely deaths of children due to illness and accidents have been closely monitored, deaths that result from physical assault or severe neglect can be more difficult to track. Intervention strategies targeted at resolving this problem face complex challenges.

Unless otherwise noted, statistics in this fact sheet are taken from Child Maltreatment 2002 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004).

How Many Children... more

I checked this book out of our local library when we were having trouble getting and I.E.P for my adopted stepson. Once we had been turned down, I was more determined than ever to get him the help that he needed. This book helped me in so many ways, and made me aware of rights that I never knew that I had. With some of the knowledge that I was able to learn from this book, I was able to go up against the board again, who already didn’t like me for not simply ‘going away.’ Even with their prejudices that they had against me from my constant fighting and not giving into... more

Even those stepparents who know in their heart that they did the right thing for their child, they still find themselves asking this question when they see their child going through the emotional issues that go along with adoption.

Adoption is a complicated affair and each member in the situation has to somehow figure out their own identity as well as their own place. While it can be tough on a parent to watch their child suffering, as he or she goes through the different stages and emotions of adoption, the parent must also remember that pain is part of... more

Almost every parent of a toddler has experienced the frustration of dealing with a child throwing a floor-thumping, hair-pulling temper tantrum. Even though this can be embarrassing and challenging for parents, this is normal behavior for most young children.

Why do they do it? Toddlers are not yet able to use words to express their feelings and emotions. When they are tired, frustrated, or angry and unable to express themselves with words, they may throw a temper tantrum. Some children throw tantrums because their emotions run out of control, and they aren't... more