Adoptive Families Help Children to Heal
by Mary Grossnickle

Between 75 to 85 percent of children placed in foster care have been sexually abused, according to current estimates.

Sexual abuse of children is the ultimate betrayal of the parent-child relationship. The best therapeutic help available to a sexually abused child is an understanding and committed family who can demonstrate to the child that adults can be trusted.

Placement in adoption often brings out many behaviors that were not exhibited in the child's own home or in foster care. These behaviors might include sexually acting out, anger, hostility and open rejection of the adoptive family.

Families who are willing to help a sexually abused child to recover must have the following three factors in place:

1. Comprehensive training regarding sexual abuse, the special needs of sexually abused children, and specific parenting skills
2. Complete information about the individual child's background and behavior, including the specifics of the sexual abuse and the child's emotional and behavioral reactions to it
3. Professional support services, pre, during and post placement

With these three factors in place, adoptive families who are willing to accept the challenge of these special needs children play a huge role in the healing process.

Strong, loving and committed adoptive families can successfully parent sexually abused children and can become the main component in helping them recover from past trauma.

Copyright Speaking of Adoption. Contact Mary Grossnickle for Reprint Permission.

The information in this article was presented by Dr. Wayne Duehn, Professor of Social Work at the University of Texas, in a workshop titled "Beyond Sexual Abuse; The Healing Power of Adoptive Families." Dr. Duehn's web site is http://www2.uta.edu/ssw/duehn/.