Replanted: Faith-Based Support for Adoptive and Foster Families (Spirituality and Mental Health) - Softcover

Ranter Hook, Jenn; Hook, Joshua N.; Berry, Mike

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1599475375 ISBN 13: 9781599475370

Verlag: TEMPLETON FOUNDATION PR, 2019

Inhaltsangabe

Many people embark on the journey of adoption and foster care but are unprepared for the challenges that await them along the way. Replanted takes an honest look at the joys and hardships that come with choosing this journey and provides a model of faith-based support made up of three parts to help families thrive: Soil, Sunlight, and Water. 

• Soil, or emotional support, addresses the need for grace-filled settings where families can connect with other families who understand their experience. 
• Sunlight, or informational support, focuses on obtaining helpful training to raise children who may have unique needs or challenges. 
• Water, or tangible support, deals with concrete resources such as medical care, child care, and financial support. 

Throughout the book, the Replanted model is brought to life by stories and examples based on the clinical work and personal experiences of the authors. Their candid insight will serve families who are actively involved in adoption or foster care, as well as people who are eager to help support those families.

Replanted affirms that with the right support system in place, parents can answer this sacred call not only with open hearts but also with their eyes wide open.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Jenn Ranter Hook, MA is the founding director of Replanted (www.ReplantedMinistry.org)—a ministry that helps empower the church to support adoptive and foster families. After receiving her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton College, she worked as a therapist for children in the foster care system. She is a trauma-­specialized therapist and a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner. She speaks frequently on topics related to adoption and foster care support, mental health, and trauma. She lives in Dallas, TX with her husband Josh.
 
Joshua N. Hook, PhD is an associate professor of counseling psychology at the University of North Texas and is a licensed clinical psychologist (LCP). He has written four books, including Helping Groups Heal: Leading Small Groups in the Process of Transformation (Templeton Press, 2017). He blogs regularly about psychology and faith at www.JoshuaNHook.com. He lives in Dallas, TX with his wife Jenn.
 
Mike Berry is an author, podcaster, speaker, and parent coach. He and his wife Kristin are parents to eight children, all through adoption, and served as foster parents for eight years. Mike has written four books, including Winning the Heart of Your Child: 9 Keys to Building a Positive Lifelong Relationship with Your Kids (Baker Publishing Group, 2019). He is also the cocreator, along with Kristin, of the award-winning blog www.confessionsofanadoptiveparent.com. He lives on a farm with his family just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Replanted

Faith-Based Support for Adoptive and Foster Families

By Jenn Ranter Hook, Joshua N. Hook, Mike Berry

Templeton Press

Copyright © 2019 Jenn Ranter Hook, Joshua N. Hook, and Mike Berry
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-59947-537-0

Contents

Preface, 
Acknowledgments, 
Section 1: Introduction and Theoretical Foundation, 
Chapter 1: Caring for Vulnerable Children Is Challenging and Beautiful, 
Chapter 2: Life in the Trenches, 
Chapter 3: Discerning the Christian Call to Care for Vulnerable Children, 
Section 2: The Replanted Model, 
Chapter 4: The Soil: Emotional Support, 
Chapter 5: The Sunlight: Informational Support, 
Chapter 6: The Water: Tangible Support, 
Section 3: Support in Context, 
Chapter 7: How to Help without Hurting, 
Chapter 8: Support through the Church, 
Chapter 9: You Are Not Alone, 
Appendix A: Books, 
Appendix B: Conferences and Retreats, 
Appendix C: Trainings, 
Appendix D: Websites, 
References, 
Index, 

CHAPTER 1

Caring for Vulnerable Children Is Challenging and Beautiful

The beginning is always today.

— MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

As I (Jenn) begin to write this book, my mind wanders back to one of our Parents' Night Out events, which is an event our ministry organizes so that adoptive and foster parents can have a night out to themselves and our kiddos can build relationships with one another. We get a group of volunteers together and come up with a bunch of fun activities for the children so that the parents can get a few hours to go out alone. One husband told me that he and his wife were planning to have dinner at the local Olive Garden, and we laughed, agreeing on our mutual love for the unlimited salad and breadsticks. Another couple was planning to see a movie with a few friends. They hadn't been out to see a movie in — well, they couldn't remember the last time. Another couple hadn't planned anything. They chuckled and said that maybe they would just go home and take a nap. I wasn't sure if they were joking or not. But one thing was clear, our parents needed this time to recharge and care for themselves, and for some, our offering of Parents' Night Out was the only opportunity they would get.

We had a great time with the kids. It was fun to see the children laughing, playing, and connecting with one another. As I ventured from room to room, I realized we were also creating a deeper community for our kids — where they could be with others on a similar journey and know that they are not alone. The night went off without any major problems or incidents. Sure, there was a bathroom accident, but luckily the parents had left a change of underwear and clothes. I had to intervene in a few places where the children were having a tough time, and the volunteers weren't sure what to do. I chuckle, remembering my then-boyfriend Josh (who is now my husband) struggling to problem-solve with a young girl who didn't want to be in the group she was assigned to, but who started to cry and scream when Josh suggested she join a different group because her bracelet didn't match the new group's. When the children arrived, they were each given a colored bracelet to help them remember which team leader they were with for the evening. Her bracelet was orange, but the group she wanted to be in had purple. Josh quickly dug through the materials and found an extra bracelet that matched the color of the new group and calmed the crisis. Many readers can likely understand the difficulty our children can experience with transitions like this one.

As the night came to a close and the parents came by to pick up their children, I reflected on what had happened. Although the evening was energizing, and I loved the ministry and playing with the kids, I was tired. It was a lot of work, and I was ready to head home and go to sleep. Something clicked, and I realized I recognized a similar feeling reflected in each of the parents' eyes who dropped off their kids that night. They were tired. Being an adoptive and foster parent was energizing and rewarding, but it was also draining. Their lives were filled with joy and love for their children, as well as the satisfaction of joining with God to engage in the meaningful pursuit of caring for the vulnerable. But responding to the trauma and special needs that are unique to children impacted by adoption or foster care is challenging.

The paradox here is that the journey is beautiful and difficult all at the same time. As a former therapist for children in foster care, and then as a leader of a ministry for adoptive and foster families, I had the privilege of coming in and out of the lives of families and (hopefully) offering some support, help, and hope. But the parents and families were the real shepherds. These were the people who were giving it their all, day after day, even when they felt they had nothing left to give. I smiled, recognizing that we all had an important part to play in responding to God's call to care for vulnerable children, and this was holy work, kingdom work. Then I packed up and went home to bed.

The journey of adoption and foster care is rewarding and meaningful. Many adoptive and foster parents say their parenting journey is the most meaningful and joyful part of their lives. I remember one adoptive mom who teared up when she was reflecting. Even though her two adopted girls had gone through some tough times, she said, "I wouldn't trade in my family for anything. They are my world." Caring for vulnerable children is deeply connected with the heart of God. Opening up your home and family to a child in need is incredibly moving and amazing. Adoption and foster care connect with important values that are deeply integral to what it means to be a Christian. It is a beautiful expression of love: it involves caring and sacrifice for a child in need. It is a powerful expression of justice: it involves meeting the needs of vulnerable children and the "least of these." And it is a wonderful expression of faithfulness: it involves sticking with a child for the long haul, whether that is permanently or temporarily, and through the inevitable ups and downs. Being willing to serve as an adoptive or foster parent involves becoming the hands and feet of Jesus to a child. If you are involved on this journey, you are doing a great and mighty thing. I am in awe of your love, commitment, and faithfulness.

But another reality is just as true: being an adoptive parent, foster parent, or kinship caregiver (i.e., a relative, such as a grandparent, who cares for the child when the child's biological parents are unable to do so) can be challenging. If you are on this journey right now, you know this in a unique and personal way. The challenges can feel overwhelming and might leave you feeling alone, rejected, and isolated. You might even question whether you should have become an adoptive or foster parent in the first place.

These struggles are a reality for many of our adoptive and foster families, but there is also hope. Hope for things to get better. Hope for healing and growth, both for you as a parent, your children, and your family. Hope for you and your family to get support — to get your needs met in a real, tangible way. Hope for God to be alive and moving in the midst of your pain and struggle. The hope we speak of may not mean that everything is working out, your children are behaving, your home is peaceful, or all of your plans are lining up the way you thought they would. Sometimes hope is found...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: TEMPLETON FOUNDATION PR
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2019
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1599475375
• ISBN 13: 9781599475370
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Auflage: 1
• Anzahl der Seiten: 280
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: preigu; mail@preigu.de; ; Lengericher Landstr. 19; Osnabrück; 49078; Deutschland