Full Circle in the News
May The Circle Be Unbroken, Mount Holyoke Alumnae Quarterly artilce by Maryann Teale Shell
Never Give Up Hope by Sheri Rich.
Saloomeys and Adopted Twins Attend Postal Adoption Stamp Ceremony By Robin Greenspan
Books For and About Birthparents
A Birthmother's Book of Memories by Brenda Romanchik, R-Squared Press, 721 Hawthorn St., Royal Oak, Ml 48067. 1994. This fill-in the blank journal is a perfect way for a birthmother to give her birthchild the information every adopted child wants to know. Sections for family history, the pregnancy and the reasons for choosing adoption. Plenty of room for pictures as well. A gift all adopted children will treasure.
Birthmothers: Women who have relinquished their babies for adoption tell their stories by Merry Block Jones. Chicago Review Press, Chicago, IL. Written from interviews with 30 birthmothers in a variety of situations, this book relates the common experiences of all birthmothers in a touching and profound way. A must for anyone who wants to know about the experience of birthmothers.
Dear Birthfather by Randolph Severson. House of Tomorrow Productions, Dallas, TX. 1991. A booklet written specifically for birthfathers, with the respect and importance they deserve.
Saying Good-by to Baby: Volume I & II: The Birthparent's Guide to Loss and Grief in Adoption by Patricia Roles, Child Welfare League of America, 1989. Written for adoption professionals, these books will help providers and others help birthparents with the loss of a child through adoption.
The Third Choice: A Woman’s Guide to Placing a Child for Adoption by Leslie Foge and Gail Mosconi. Creative Arts Book Company, Berkley, California 94710. 1999. The guide begins with an overview of the adoption process in this country and then gives input and consideration to women first finding out about their pregnancies. The Third Choice takes potential birthmothers through their pregnancies, the birth, the relinquishment process, and the grief and recovery period afterward.
Why Didn't She Keep Me? Answers to the Question Every Child Asks by Barbara Burlingham-Brown, Langford Books, South Bend,IN. A series of stories from birthmothers regarding their decision to choose adoption. Situations range from closed to fully open adoptions.
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Books on Open Adoption
A Letter to Adoptive Parents on Open Adoption
by Randolph Severson. House of Tomorrow Productions, Dallas, TX. 1991. A perfect introduction to openness in adoption for prospective adoptive parents.
A Handful of Hope
by Suzanne Arms, Celestial Arts, P.O. Box 7327, Berkeley, CA 94707.1990. Updated version of To Love and Let Go. Using case studies, shows how open adoption affects the lives of those it touches, especially birthparents.
Adoption: Philosophy and Experience
by Randolph Severson. House of Tomorrow Productions, Dallas, TX. 1991. Explores a wide variety of adoption experiences, including open adoption. Helps readers look at adoption in a new way.
Adoption Without Fear
Jim Gritter,editor. Corona Publishing Co., 1037 S. Alamo, San Antonio,TX 18210. 1959. Seventeen adoptive couples describe their experiences with open adoption. Must reading for anyone touched by adoption, it is particularly helpful for prospective adoptive couples just beginning the process.
Children of Open Adoption
by Kathleen Silber and Patricia Martinez Dorner. Corona Publishing. 1990. This book examines the effects of open adoption on the adopted child at every stage of development.
Dear Birthmother, Thank You for Our Baby
by Kathleen Silber and Patricia Martinez Dorner. Corona Publishing. 1991. A classic book on open adoption that presents the subject through actual letters between birthfamilies and adoptive families.
My Child is a Mother
by Mary Stevenson. Corona Publishing. Written by a birthgrandmother, this book is a personal account of open adoption from the birthfamily's perspective.
The Open Adoption Experience
by Lois Melina and Sharon Kaplan-Roszia. Harper Perennial, 1993. A complete guide for both birthfamilies and adoptive families. Covers many topics, including readiness for open adoption and growing up in an open adoption. Must reading for those considering open adoption and is a handy reference as the child grows.
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Children’s Books on Adoption
Beginnings: How Families Come to Be
by Virginia Kroll. Albert Whitman, Morton Grove,IL. Explores a variety of situations from building families by birth to open adoption situations.
The Mulberry Bird
by Ann Braff Brodzinsky. Perspectives Press, Indianapolis, IN. Tells the story of a mother bird's decision to place her baby bird with an adoptive couple. Children love this book.
A Mother for Choco
by Keiko Kasza. Putnam, New York, NY. A baby bird, Choco, looks for his mother. Choco finds Mrs. Bear, and while she may not look like him, both Choco and Mrs. Bear come to realize that her love for him makes her the perfect mother for him.
Lucy’s Feet
by Stephanie Stein. Perspectives Press. 1992. Lucy doesn't know where her big feet come from. All the other members of the family have small feet and she would like to have small feet too. A cute book on acknowledging differences and celebrating similarities.
Books on Adoptive Parenting
Making Sense of Adoption
by Lois Melina, Harper and Row, New York, NY, 1989. Describes each stage of development and recommends age-appropriate activities to reinforce the concepts discussed. A valuable resource.
Raising Adopted Children: A Manual for Adoptive Parents
by Lois Melina. Harper and Row, 1986. Another excellent reference book by Ms. Melina on raising adopted children.
Talking with Young Children about Adoption
by Mary Watkins and Susan Fisher. Yale University Press, 1993. Includes stories of parents and children talking together about adoption.
Newsletters and Magazines
Adopted Child
P.O. Box 9362, Moscow, ID, 83843. Phone: (208) 882-1794. www.raisingadoptchildren.com Published monthly and edited by Lois Melina, this four page newsletter offers professionally written and researched information on issues effecting the adopted child.
Adoptive Families.
PO Box 9362, Brentwood TN 37024 Phone: (800) 372-3300 Website: www.adoptivefam.com Full color magazine that covers all aspects of adoption. Articles written primarily for adoptive parents, the magazine also has articles of interest to birthparents.
Birthparents Today.
3423 Blue Rock Road, Cincinnati, OH 45239 Phone: (513) 741-0929. Edited by Lynn Lape, Vice President of Birthparent Support. This newsletter addresses issues important to birthparents and the people who care about them. Open to adoption professionals and other triad members as well as birthparents.
Adoption with Heart and Soul
Hope Cottage, 4054 McKinney Avenue, Suite 302, Dallas, TX 75204. Phone: (214) 521-4560. Edited by Randolph Severson and published twice a year. Discusses reform and ethics in adoption in an accessible style
Open Adoption Birthparent
R-Squared Press, 721 Hawthorn Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067. Phone: (810) 543-0997 Email: brenr@oeonline.com Edited by Brenda Romanchik. Open Adoption Birthparent is a quarterly newsletter for birthparents in open adoptions. This newsletter provides practical information you can use to make your open-adoption relationship more rewarding. It covers topics such as visiting children, selecting toys, and getting along with the adoptive parents. It also includes news of research on open adoption and upcoming conferences. The cost of the newsletter is $16/year.
PACT Press
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 111, San Francisco, CA 94111 (800) 750-7590 (birth parent line) (415) 221-6957 (main office) Website: www.pactadopt.org Email: info@pactadopt.org Quarterly magazine that focuses on all aspects of adoption.
Roots and Wings
PO Box 577, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 Phone: (908) 813-8252 Email: adoption@interactive.net Website: http://www.rootsandwingsmagazine.com
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Adoption Organizations
Adoptive Families of America
3333 Highway 100 North Minneapolis, Minnesota 800-372-3300 A toll free number has been established by AFA for those seeking easy access to free information on how to adopt a child, for information on adoptive parent support groups, and other adoptive parenting resources.
American Adoption Congress
1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 91, Washington, DC 20036. Advocates for adoption reform. Offers services to all members of the triad.
Michigan Association for Openness in Adoption
P.O. Box 5117, Traverse City, MI 49684 Phone: (616) 275-6221 Membership organization that promotes openness in adoption. Open to triad members and professionals.
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
PO Box 1182, Washington, DC 20013-1152 Website: www.calib.com/naic Offers fact sheets and pamphlets mostly free of charge on a wide variety of adoption topics and referrals to therapists and other professionals.
The Kinship Center
1520 Brookhollow Drive, Suite 41 Santa Ana, CA 92705 Phone: (714) 979-2365 Email: kinship@redshift.com Website: www.kinshipcenter.org
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Book Catalogs
Adopted Child
P.O. Box 9362, Moscow, ID, 83843. Phone: (208) 882-1794. Email: www.raisingadoptchildren.com Newsletter, books and tapes by Lois Melina
Heart Words Center
4054 McKinney Avenue, Suite 302, Dallas, TX 75204 Phone: (214) 521-4560 Books and tapes by Randy Severson.
R-Squared Press
721 Hawthorn Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067, or call (810) 543-0997.
Tapestry
PO Box 359, Ringoes, NJ 08551-0359 Phone: (800) 765-2367 www.tapestrybooks.com
Announcements, Cards and Gifts
Adoptive Families of America
2309 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 Phone: (800) 372-3300 Advocates for adoptive families. Offers referrals to adoptive parent support groups.
Adoption World Specialties
6920 Wilton Drive, NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402.Announcements, cards, and gifts items.
Cherished Memories
W 16806 Old Farm Road, Germantown, WI 53022. Phone: (414) 251-0189. Announcements, cards and gift items.
Designs From the Heart
109 South 55th Street, Omaha, NE 68132 Contact: Cathy Ciaccio Phone: (402) 556-4304 Email: hearts@radiks.net Website: www.designsfromtheheart.org Announcements, cards, and gift items. Includes international designs.
Mailing Lists
Triad List - open to all triad members and professionals. Contact: adoption@Iistserv.Iaw.cornell.edu
Message: Subscribe adoption
Birthmother list - open to birthmothers only. Contact: birthmother@acca.nmsu.edu
Message: Subscribe birthmother
Birthparent List - Open to all triad members. Contact: LlSTSERV~indycms.iupui.edu
Message: Subscribe BIRTHPARENT
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