Thriving Families: A Trauma-Informed Guidebook for the Adoptive and Foster Journey

by Jennifer Ranter Hook, Joshua N Hook (Contributor)

"A practical roadmap for foster and adoptive families Caring for children is deeply important to the heart of God, and adoption and foster care are important callings that connect to God's heart for children and families. But this road isn't always easy. It's important that foster and adoptive parents prepare to address their children's history of trauma, separation, and disrupted placements, which can lead to mental health, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. It is also important to understand how this journey shapes and influences our children. We cannot ignore the deep feelings and questions that children experience as they try to understand their story. How can we help them navigate their identity, and sit with them in the unknowns of their story or the grief and loss that comes up? Drawing on the latest science and research on trauma, attachment, sensory processing difficulties, cultural competence, and grief and loss, authors Josh and Jenn Hook provide a trauma-informed approach to help adoptive and foster families-and the church called to care for the vulnerable in our midst-to help their children heal, grow, and thrive"--

Genres: Fostering, Adoption, Parenting

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adoptive mom to a teenager this is the book I wish I had read early on. While it has Christian / God undertones at the beginning, the information is for everyone despite your beliefs. All forms of adoption are discussed in easy to understand ways with discussion questions, sample dialogues and super helpful tips. There are so many facets to adoption and this is a resource I would suggest as mandatory reading for families, social workers and others involved in caring for children that have been adopted or that are in care.

I especially thought the real world family experiences were a good addition to the book to provide examples on how to parent and deal with the various situations that arise with adoption like boundaries, behaviors, birth parents. I have experience with foster to adopt and the writing about this topic is something I desired to have before entering the situation. Looking back on my family's experience while reading this book it was clear to me that I could have used the information at that time!

I commend the Hooks for putting this book together to help families thrive! Thanks to NetGalley for the copy in advance to read and review. I will be letting my adoption friends and family circles know all about it!

[Marissa Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of good information about how to parent children through the adoptive and foster care system. I took off a start for a few different reasons. For one, it was intended as a Christian book, but I feel that the mentioning of God and Godly principles were not frequent. It mentioned how God loves us and the children and their birth parents and how it is our job as Christians to care for these families, but it doesn’t really have much else to do with religion in the book. I also took a star off because it is blatantly written for a white audience only. It also seemed to discourage teaching your children about Christianity if that’s not the background they came from, and I guess I just don’t really understand how you can raise children not in the faith as a Christian. I mean obviously not pushing it down their throat, but I think it’s okay to be open about your beliefs and inviting them into their own relationship with God. Overall, it was a solid read, just not as biblically based as I originally thought it was going to be.

[Olivia Garmoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one for class, but let me tell you — it will stay on my shelves and be one I return to often. Hook & Hook lay out a beautiful picture of what it looks like to love adoptive/foster kids, give them the resources needed, hear their stories, and also how to love their birth families. They don’t shy away from the hard journey it is to foster/adopt, but rather provide practical knowledge on helping them thrive.

[Margaret Closs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book was around when we took our adoptive parenting class. Very good overview and would be a great book for people who aren’t adoptive or fostering (so good general parenting book). Awareness of how viewpoints have changed and the benefits of open adoption as well as the challenges, sprinkled with references to faith. Has good examples of possible conversations as well as provocative discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

[Emma Imes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Lots of great info for those in the adoption triad. I found myself reading this with a highlighter in-hand.

There are many references to Christian beliefs, which is similar to many resources out there for adoptive and foster parents. Whether this deters you or draws you in, it’s important to know that much of this info is based in science and research.

Not only do I recommend it, but I look forward to reading it again!