Resources

Training . Adoption Attorneys . Adoption Agency . Internet Resources . Recommended Reading


Training

Orientation Class
This class is required for all families to attend in order to learn more about our ministry before they are able to apply. At this class, which is held as needed, families will be able to see the vision, process and mission of this ministry. Families will also have the opportunity to ask questions before they make the decision to apply to move forward with Amaris Adoptions or other facets of Amaris Ministries. At the end of this class, all families will have the option to receive an application if they desire to move forward with our ministry.

If you are interested in attending this required Introduction class, please contact our office to sign-up as pre-registration is required. (Please view the calendar in order to see if there is an Introduction Class scheduled).

Godly Parenting Classes • Adoption and Foster • CPR & First Aid


AdoptionAttorneys

Below is a list of adoption attorneys who work with families from Amaris Ministries.

Tom Storey, Esq.
654 W. Main St.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-1311
www.AnderholtStorey.com

Timothy J. Blied, Esq.
400 N. Tustin Ave., Suite 290
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(949) 863-0200
www.sbsmlaw.com
www.AdoptingParents.org

Bonnie J. Hiler, Esq.
2131 S. Belle Ave.
Corona, CA 92882
(951) 427-3902

For more listings of adoption attorneys, visit the following websites:
Academy of California Adoption Attorneys
www.acal.org
California directory of adoption attorneys and adoption information.

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
www.AdoptionAttorneys.org
Nationwide directory of adoption attorneys and adoption information.


Adoption Agency: Another Legal Option

You do not have to work directly with an attorney if you do a modified adoption with an agency, which has some benefits. You can choose any agency, however, the one that Amaris Ministries works most closely with and can recommend is Nightlight Christian Adoptions.

They will adjust their typical rates to complete your adoption if you come to them already matched with a birthmother. They provide a variety of adoption services including the Snowflake Embryo Adoption Program.

Nightlight Christian Adoptions
4430 E. Miraloma Ave, Suite B
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807
(714) 693-5437
www.nightlight.org


Internet Resources

TCU INSTITUTE FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Child.TCU.edu
A variety of resources and information to help with parenting “kids from hard places."



EMPOWERED TO CONNECT
www.EmpoweredToConnect.org
Videos, audio, articles on various aspects of adoption are available for free download.




For Families adopting from Hague Convention countries, the United States requires families to complete a minimum of ten hours of Hague-approved adoption training. These training requirements can be fulfilled primarily through reading books or through the completion of online courses.

The following are some providers of Hague-approved adoption education:

Adoption Learning Partners
www.AdoptionLearningPartners.org

Heart of Matter Seminars
www.HeartOfMatterSeminars.com

National Council for Adoption
www.HagueAdoption.org

Adoption Education, LLC
www.AdoptEducation.com


The following are other Internet resources for adoption:

www.adopting.com
List of adoption related websites, list services, photo listings, etc.

www.adopting.org
Comprehensive information for all members of the adoption triad.

www.adoption.org
A volunteer operated information resource for the adoption community.

www.AdoptionInstitute.org
Their mission is to improve the quality of information about adoption, to enhance the understanding and perception of adoption and to advance adoption policy and practice.

www.AdoptiveFamiliesMagazine.com
Magazine for adoptive parents.

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
www.calib.com/naic
Fact sheets, resource listings and information

Joint Council on International Children’s Services
www.jcics.org
International adoption agencies and information.

North American Council on Adoptable Children
www.nacac.org
Parent support groups and subsidy information.

Adoption Ring
www.plumsite.com.adoptionring
Links to 400 adoption sites.

www.RainbowKids.com
International adoption newsletter

U.S. State Department Office of Children’s Issues
www.travel.state.gov/adopt.html
Official information on international adoption programs.

California Department of Social Services, Children and Family Services Division
www.ChildsWorld.org

Institute for Children
www.ForChildren.org
Their mission is to reshape foster care and adoption in America so that every child will have the chance to grow up in a loving, permanent family.

Cord Blood Banking
www.cordbloodbanking.com
Information on the costs of private and public cord blood banking.

www.MiracleOfAdoption.com
Includes expression cards, announcements and adoption gifts.



Recommended Reading
Below is a list of some of the many wonderful books out there to help you on your journey through adoption.

Adoption in General • Saving Memories • Infertility
Adoption Books for Children • Adoption Books for Teenagers and Pre-Teens


Adoption in General
The Adoption Process . Open Adoption . Adopting Special Needs Children
Talking to your Adopted Children . International / Transracial Adoption

“Adoption Awareness: A Guide for Teachers, Counselors, Nurses and Caring Others”
by Jeanne Warren Lindsay and Catherine Paschal Monserrat

“Parenting Adopted Adolescents: Understanding and Appreciating Their Journeys”
by Gregory C Keck and L.G. Mansfield

“Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft”
by Mary Hopkins-Best

“The Whole Life Adoption Book: Realistic Advice for Building a Healthy Adoptive Family”
by Jayne Schooler and Thomas Atwood

“Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control”
by Heather T. Forbes and B. Bryan Post

“The Connected Child”
by Karyn B Purvis and David R. Cross, Wendy L. Sunshine

“Attaching in Adoption” by Deborah Gray

“Journeys After Adoption: Understanding Lifelong Issues”
by Jayne Schooler

“Before You Were Mine: Discovering Your Adopted Child's Lifestory”
by Susan TeBos and Carissa Woodwyk

“Parenting from the Inside Out” by D. Siegel and M. Hartzell

“Adoption: A Handful of Hope” by Suzanne Arms

“Family Bonds: Adoption and the Politics of Parenting”
by Elizabeth Bartholet

“Adopting for Good” by Jorie Kincaid

“Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self”
by David M. Brodzinsky, Marshall D. Schechter and Robin Marantz Henig

“Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew”
by Sherrie Eldridge

“Lost and Found, The Adoption Experience”
by Betty Jean Lifton

“Raising Adopted Children, A Manual for Adoptive Parents”
by Lois Ruskai Melina

“Adoption Wisdom: A Guide to the Issues and Feelings of Adoption”
by Marlou Russell, PhD

“Real Parents, Real Children: Parenting the Adopted Child”
by Holly van Gulden and Lisa M. Bartels-Rabb

“Adoption Without Fear” by James Gritter

“Secret Thoughts of an Adoptive Mother” by Jana Wolff

“Breastfeeding the Adopted Baby” by Debra Stewart Peterson

The Adoption Process
“Fast Track Adoption: The Faster, Safer Way to Adopt a Baby”
by Susan Burns

“Reaching Out: The Guide to Writing a Terrific Dear Birthmother Letter”
by Nelson Handel

“Dear Birthmother: Thank You For Our Baby” by Kathleen Silber and Phyllis Speedlin

Talking to your Adopted Children
“Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child: Making Sense of the Past”
by Betsy Keefer and Jayne Schooler

“Talking To Your Child About Adoption”
by Patricia Martinez Dorner, M.A., L.P.C.

“Talking With Young Children About Adoption”
by Mary Watkins, PhD and Susan Fisher, M.D.

Open Adoption
“Open Adoption: A Caring Option”
by Jeanne Warren Lindsay

“The Open Adoption Experience”
by Lois Ruskai Melina and Sharon Kaplan Roszia

“The Adoption Triangle: Sealed or Open Records”
by Arthur D. Sorosky, Annette Baran and Reuben Pannor

“A Letter to Adoptive Parents…On Open Adoption”
by Randolph W. Severson, PhD

“The Spirit of Open Adoption” by James L. Gritter

Adopting Special Needs Children
“Wounded Children, Healing Homes: How Traumatized Children Impact Adoptive and Foster Families”
by Jayne Schooler

“Nurturing Adoptions: Creating Resilience After Neglect and Trauma”
by Deborah Gray

“Adopting the Hurt Child: Hope for Families with Special Needs Kids”
by Gregory C. Keck, PhD and Regina M. Kupecky LSW

“Parenting the Hurt Child: Helping Adoptive Families Heal and Grow”
by Gregory C. Keck, PhD and Regina M. Kupecky LSW

“The Out-of-Sync Child” by Carol Kranowitz

“The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorders”
by Carol Kranowitz

International / Transracial Adoption
“With Eyes Wide Open: A Workbook for Parents Adopting International Children”
by Margi Miller and Nancy Ward

“Inside Transracial Adoption”
by Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall

“Are Those Kids Yours? American Families with Children Adopted from Other Countries”
by Cheri Register, PhD

“How To Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions”
by Jean Nelson-Ericksen and Heino Ericksen

“International Adoption: Challenges and Opportunities”
by Thais Tepper, Lois Hannon and Dorothy Sandstrom

“Does Anybody Else Look Like Me: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Multiracial Children”
by Donna Jackson Nakazawa

“Black Baby White Hands: A View From the Crib”
by Jaiya John

“Loving Across the Color Line: A White Adoptive Mother Learns About Race”
by Sharon E. Rush

“Dim Sum, Bagels and Grits: A Sourcebook for Multicultural Families”
by Myra Alperson

“In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories”
by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda


Saving Memories

“Our Chosen Child: How You Came To Us and The Growing Up Years”
by Judith Levy

“A Birthparent’s Book of Memories”
by Brenda Romanchik

“Lifebooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child”
by Beth O’Malley

“International Adoption Travel Journal”
by Mary E. Petertyl

“Adoption Lifebook: A Bridge to Your Child’s Beginnings”
by Cindy Probst

“The Complete Lifebook Workbook” by Jim Mooney, MSW

“This is Me! Memories to Gather and Keep”
by Gloria Finkbeiner


Infertility

“The Fertility Handbook” by Judith Alsofrom Fenton

“The Wedded Unmother” by Kaye Halverson

“Adopting After Infertility” by Patricia Irwin Johnston

“Taking Charge of Infertility” by Patricia Irwin Johnston

“Understanding, A Guide to Impaired Fertility for Family and Friends”
by Patricia Irwin Johnston

“The Miracle Seekers, An Anthology of Infertility”
by Mary Martin Mason

“Infertility: A Guide for the Childless Couple”
by Barbara Eck Menning


Adoption Books for Children

“All About Me”
by Lynn Burwash and Cie McMullin

“The Mulberry Bird: Story of an Adoption”
by Anne Braff Brodzinsky

“Molly” by Joseph Bonsall

“How I was Adopted: Samantha’s Story”
by Joanna Cole

“Tell Me Again the Night I Was Born”
by Jamie Lee Curtis

“Who Am I? And Other Questions of Adopted Kids”
by Charlene Giannetti

“Adoption is for Always” by Linda Wolvoord Girard

“Families” by Meredith Tax

“How It Feels To Be Adopted” by Jill Krementz

“Did My First Mother Love Me? A Story for an Adopted Child”
by Kathryn Ann Miller

“Color Me Loved” by Carolyn Owens

“How Babies and Families are Made (There is More Than One Way!)”
by Patricia Schaffer

“Why Am I Different” by Norma Simon

“The Adopted One” by Sara Bonnett Stein

“The Chosen Baby” by Valentina Wasson

“My Special Someone” by Brittany and Sherry Kyle

“A Blessing From Above” by Patti Henderson

“Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch

“A is For Adopted” by Eileen Tucker Cosby

“Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery

“Amy Angel Goes Home: A Heavenly Tale of Adoption”
by Kathleen Lathrop Lockwood

“A Koala for Katie” by Jonathan London

“Adoption Stories for Young Children” by Randall B. Hicks

“The Day We Met You” by Phoebe Koehler

“All About Adoption: How Families Are Made and How Kids Feel About It”
by Marc Nemiroff, PhD and Jane Annunziata, PhD

“We Wanted You” by Liz Rosenberg

“Danielle, Where Are You?” by Cindy Roberts

“Lucy’s Family Tree” by Karen Halvorsen Schreck

“Twice Upon a Time: Born and Adopted” by Eleanora Patterson

“We See the Moon” by Carrie A. Kitze

“Families Are Forever” by Craig Shemin

“Rosie’s Family: An Adoption Story” by Lori Rosove

“One Wonderful You” by Francie Portnoy

“W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook” by Marilyn Schoettle, MA

“How I Was Adopted” by Joanna Cole

“Mommy, Did I Grow in Your Tummy? Where Some Babies Come From”
by Elaine R. Gordon, PhD

“Mr. Rogers – Let’s Talk About It: Adoption”
by Fred Rogers

“Oliver” by Lois Wickstrom

“Never Never Never Will She Stop Loving You”
by Jolene Durrant

“Our Twitchy” by Kes Gray and Mary McQuillan

“Beginnings: How Families Come to Be” by Virginia Kroll

“We’re Different, We’re the Same” by Bobbi Jane Kates

“Seeds of Love: For Brothers and Sisters of International Adoption”
by Mary Petertyl

“Happy Adoption Day!” by John McCutcheon

“Things Little Kids Need to Know” by Susan Uhlig

“I’m Brown and My Sister Isn’t” by Robbie O’Shea

“Anthony’s Surprise” by Roz Grace

“A Mother for Choco” by Keiko Kasza

“Is That Your Sister” by Catherine and Sherry Bunin


Adoption Books for Teenagers and Pre-Teens

“Where are My Birth Parents? A Guide for Teenage Adoptees”
by Karen Gravelle and Susan Fisher

“Why Didn’t She Keep Me? Answers to the Questions of Every Adopted Child”
by Barbara Burlingham-Brown

“The Real Me: A Teen Lifebook for Young Adults in Foster Care or Adoption”
by Theresa L. McCoy, BSW and Donna Barnes

“For When I’m Famous: A Teen Foster/Adoption Lifebook"
by Beth O’Malley

“The Blending of Foster and Adopted Children into the Family”
by Heather Lehr Wagner

“How It Feels To Be Adopted” by Jill Krementz

“Getting Ready for Adoption” by Theresa L. McCoy, BSW

“The Face in the Mirror: Teenagers and Adoption” by Marion Crook