The Choice of a Lifetime; What You Need to Know Before Adopting

In this useful guide, marriage and family therapist Kyle N. Weir walks first-time adoptive parents through every step of the adoption process, from selecting an adoption agency, to understanding how to talk to children about adoption using the No Less/No More principle, to finding therapy services that will allow children to develop secure bonds with family and friends. Most important, Weir presents a first-of-its-kind look at seven salient factors he has identified as critical predictors of a child's long-term adoption outcome: age of placement, placement history, medical and special needs, parental care history, demographic variable, and developmental issues. Understanding how these circumstances affect the ability of a child to attach to caregivers, behave appropriately, and formulate an enduring self-identity, will help parents ensure a fulfilling relationship with their child.

Kyle N. Weir, PhD, is an associate professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and the program coordinator of the Counselor Education program at California State University–Fresno. He is also a clinical faculty member, supervisor, and former director of Fresno Family Counseling Center. He is the author of Coming Out of the Adoptive Closet. He lives in Fresno, California.