When disaster strikes in a troubled family situation and parents are unable to properly care for the children, the state is obligated to step in and protect the children until the emergency or trouble ends. Taking a child out of the home and...
Gay adoption is also referred to as same-sex adoption. It allows couples of the same gender to be legally recognized as parents of a minor. In some situations, the child may be the biological child of one of the parents. This situation can occur...
Finding a child you gave up for adoption can have you feeling like you're on a raft in the middle of the ocean with no clear view of the shore. There are more than six million adopted persons in the United States, according to Adoption.com, but...
Unfortunately, sometimes families are broken up when siblings are in foster care. There might not be a single family available that can adopt multiple children. As a side effect, sibling relationships often get lost in the shuffle, and many...
The federal Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 was written into law in an attempt to upgrade child welfare services and improve the lives of displaced American children in the state-run foster care program. Recognizing the need for...
According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway division of the Department of Health and Human Services, "1-2-3 Magic" is an evidence-based system for disciplining children. Using this system, you can encourage good behavior and control...
According to AdoptUSKids, 123,000 children in the U.S. await adoption. Most are described as "special needs" children, meaning they are from racial minorities, are past infancy, are disabled or health-impaired, have emotional problems, have abuse...
The child welfare system considers alcohol use and abuse among caregivers of children to be a serious problem that tends to fuel abuse, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Children whose parents have problems with alcohol are more...
Foster parenting is a charitable commitment that involves giving your time, effort, finances and love to raise a child who does not have a permanent home. Foster parents provide many benefits to society as well as to the children they raise. Not...
If you are searching for your real father, you are not alone. For example, the federal Child Welfare Information Gateway, in a 2004 booklet, "Searching for Birth Relatives," estimated that 50 percent of all adoptees may search for birth relatives...
According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, when a child is born she has nearly all of the neurons she'll ever have. A newborn's brain has a well-developed brainstem and midbrain, which enable the newborn to carry out the bodily functions...
Americans seeking lost family members are usually adult adoptees, adults who grew up in foster care, birth parents seeking children given up for adoption and adoptive parents who need more information about their adopted children's background,...
Most adoption information is confidential. It is not openly given to anyone in the public, and the amount of information that can be given varies by state. Withholding information is meant to protect the safety, privacy and well-being of the...
Parents who are addicted to drugs and alcohol are more likely to abuse their children through methods of physical violence or neglect. The Child Welfare League of America explains that over 8 million children live with parents who are substance...
Divorce, legal separation and paternity are types of court cases in which child custody is an issue. But these are not the only types of cases that involve child custody issues. Abuse and neglect proceedings, also known as child in need of care...
Child abuse does not only refer to physical harm, but encompasses emotional harm as well. Recognizing emotional abuse within a child requires careful observation and investigation into the child's home life and parental relationships. Suspicion of...
Hair conditioner is a vital aspect of a healthy hair care regimen. Apply conditioner after shampooing to provide your hair with a dose of moisture and nutrients that help limit the damage caused by everyday stresses. Some manufacturers infuse...
When a couple decides to adopt a child, they must determine whether they would rather adopt a child from their home country, called a domestic adoption; or from another country, called an international or foreign adoption. If a couple feels...
The Child Welfare Information Gateway reports that adopted children usually have lives that are similar to those who are raised by their birth parents. Adopted children do, however, have certain experiences that are unique to those who are adopted...
Adopting a child is an involved process. Although adoption guidelines can vary from state to state, the Child Welfare Information Gateway reports that most people qualify as prospective adoptive parents with the exception of some foreign countries...
When an infant is exposed to substance abuse through his parents or caregivers, he is at risk for physical, mental and developmental delays. It is important to take into consideration that an infant can face the effects of substance abuse long...
Children enter the foster care system for a variety of reasons. While children placed in foster care have typically suffered from some form of child abuse or neglect, there are other reasons a child may be placed in foster care. Dependency,...
According to Connecticut Clearinghouse, there is a strong relationship between parental substance abuse and child maltreatment. Children with parents who abuse substances often suffer from a higher rate of physical and emotional health issues than...
Child abandonment is an increasing issue in the United States and also takes place frequently in other parts of the world. While child abandonment may take many forms, it essentially results in a child being left for someone else to care for him....
According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, adopted children generally have lives that are more or less like those who are brought up by their birth parents. Adoptees do, however, experience certain emotional difficulties that are unique...
Gay adoption, also known as same-sex adoption, is the legal adoption of a minor by two parents of the same gender. Depending on state mandates, the parents may be domestic partners or legally married. One of the parents may also be the biological...
According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, "Adopting a stepchild is the most common form of adoption." Once you adopt a stepchild, you assume the same level of responsibility as a biological parent. By the same token, the parent you are...
Adoption is a way for children to be placed with new families when their birth family is unable to care for them appropriately, has abused or neglected them or has died. The Child Welfare Information Gateway, part of the U.S. Department of Health...
Census statistics from 2009 indicate that more than a quarter of American children live with one parent. To begin a search for your absent parent, write down everything you know. If your parent was ever in the military or spent time in prison,...
There are an estimated one million teen pregnancies each year in the United States alone, so it is very important to discuss teen pregnancy. Learn how to talk to children about teen pregnancy in this parenting video.
