Adoption Preparation

Should I Parent My Adopted Child Differently Than Birth Children?

Parents often struggle to blend the parenting approach they used before they adopted with the trust-based parenting approach they are now using to meet the unique needs of a child from a hard place.

Watch as Dr. Karyn Purvis explains how parents can effectively meet the needs of all of their children — biological, adopted, foster — by using a parenting approach that focuses on building trust. In addition, Dr. Purvis offers valuable insight to help parents explain changes in their parenting approach to their older biological child, and encourages parents to give these children a voice as the family welcomes new children through adoption and embraces their needs.

By Dr. Karyn Purvis, ago

Focusing on Food & Nutrition

As Dr. Purvis points out in The Connected Child, nutrition is important for all children — and especially so for children from hard places. Dr. Purvis explains, however, that “it’s not always obvious that a child is missing out on complete nourishment.”

Recognizing that many adoptive and foster families face various food and nutrition-related issues, the Spoon Foundation and the Joint Council on International Children’s Services have launched a new online resource — www.adoptionnutrition.org — that focuses on nutrition for adoptive and foster families.

By Michael Monroe, ago

What Every Adoptive Parent Should Know

In order to truly understand children from hard places — what they have experienced, the impact of those experiences and how we can help them heal and grow — it is important that we understand some of the basics. That’s why we have put this collection of eight Empowered To Connect videos together — to introduce (or re-introduce) you to some of the most important basics that we believe every adoptive parent can benefit from.

Click here to watch all eigth videos.

By Dr. Karyn Purvis, ago

ETC Conference – Sept. 23-24 in Nashville

Empowered To Connect, together with Show Hope, hosts the Empowered To Connect Conference, which has provided hope and help to many adoptive and foster parents as well as church ministry leaders and adoption/foster professionals.

The next Empowered To Connect Conference will be held on September 23-24, 2011, in Nashville, Tennessee at Brentwood Baptist Church. Online registration is open and the early bird rate is available through Wednesday, June 1.

Visit www.etcconference.org for more details and to register online. And, for a limited time, 1/2 off registrations discounts are available due to a generous grant from Focus on the Family. Simply use the code FOCUS when registering online to receive this discount.

By Michael Monroe, ago

New DVD: Trust-Based Parenting

TRUST-BASED PARENTING: Creating Lasting Changes in Your Child’s Behavior is the latest DVD release from TCU’s Institute of Child Development, and is currently available at a substantial discount for a limited time. The Trust-Based Parenting DVD offers in-depth training for parents of children with trauma-based behavioral issues, and is a must-have for adoptive and foster parents, church ministry leaders and professionals.

By Michael Monroe, ago

What is the Created To Connect Study Guide?

In June 2010 we published Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child. Our hope was this study guide, which follows The Connected Child chapter-by-chapter, would be an encouragement and provide additional insight for Christian adoptive and foster families.

In less than one year we have distributed 6,000 printed copies of the study guide, and more than that same number of people have downloaded the study guide online. We have heard from dozens of churches that are regularly using the study guide in support groups and discussion groups. Likewise, many agencies and countless families from across the country have turned to the study guide to find hope and help.

By Michael Monroe, ago

Created To Connect Study Guide

Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child is a study guide designed to help illuminate the biblical principles that serve as the foundation for the philosophy and interventions detailed in The Connected Child.

Watch as Dr. Purvis briefly explains the heart behind Created To Connect:

Click here to download (free of charge) the entire study guide or chapter-by-chapter. You can also find out more detail about how to purchase printed and bound copies of the guide.

By Michael Monroe, ago

Explore Your Expectations

Watch as Dr. Karyn Purvis talks about the importance of parents exploring their expectations and motivations, as well as the impact that their own history can have when parenting children from hard places. This video is part of the Insights and Gifts video series, which includes a small group discussion guide that you can download here.

For more resources to help as parents explore their motivations, expectations and histories, click here.

By Dr. Karyn Purvis, ago