Vol. 16, No. 1 • November 2011

A Reader Asks . . .
Where can I turn for help in the years after adoption?

Question: I adopted my daughter from foster care a few years ago. Some days I feel like I’m losing my mind. I’m not sure if what is happening is typical of all kids her age or if her behavior is related to her past experiences. What should I do?

Luckily for you and other adoptive parents across our state, services have been developed specifically with you in mind. North Carolina knows that families created by adoption are different from families created by birth. We understand that your needs may be different than another adoptive family right down the street. Because adoption is a lifelong experience, it is our responsibility to provide you with support to help your family stay healthy and stay together.

We call this support post-adoption services. We have grouped the 100 counties across the state into 11 regions. The NC Division of Social Services has contracted with different agencies to provide post-adoption services in each region. These agencies (and regions) were changed recently, so be sure to review the information below to see which agency provides services in your county.

Whether you need help advocating for your child in school, navigating the mental health system, learning about your child’s diagnosis, dealing with a crisis, or just need someone to talk to, these agencies can help. They have adoption specialists who can help you determine whether the issues going on are part of normal childhood development or if they may stem from your child’s past.

As a society we have learned a lot over the last decade, not only about adoption but about childhood trauma. We know that trauma can alter brain chemistry and have a lifelong impact on a person’s physical and mental health, school experience, and social relationships. The agencies the Division of Social Services has contracted with understand past trauma and will help you receive the most appropriate services for your family.

Support may include information and referral services, education and training, support groups for parents and adoptees, respite care, advocacy services, crisis assistance, case management and service planning, in-home family preservation, counseling, or mentoring. Services may differ by region, but one thing is true across the state: these agencies really want to help you. You do not need to go through this alone. All of the services are free. Why not take advantage of them?

If you know other adoptive families in your area, please tell them about these free services. If you are a foster parent considering adoption, know that our support does not end after the adoption is finalized. As an adoptive parent, you are making a commitment for a lifetime and we will be here when you need us.

Post-Adoption Support Providers in North Carolina • July 1, 2011

Region 1 Barium Springs, call 800/320-4157 Counties: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Transylvania, EBCI Region 2 Children’s Home Society, call 800/778-9955 Counties: Avery, Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Yancey Region 3 Barium Springs, call 866/667-3398 Counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Watauga, Wilkes Region 4 Children’s Home Society, call 800/778-9955 Counties: Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Stanly, Union Region 5 Children’s Home Society Counties: Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin call 800/632-1400, Ext. 353 Iredell and Rowan call 800/778-9955 Region 6 Children’s Home Society, call 800/632-1400 Ext. 353 Counties: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Guilford, Orange, Person, Randolph Region 7 Another Choice, call 800/774-3534 Counties: Anson, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Scotland Region 8 Center For Child And Family Health, call 855/596-5015 Counties: Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Nash, Johnston, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, Wilson Region 9 Children’s Home Society, call 910/703-1859 Counties: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson, Sampson Region 10 Children’s Home Society, call 866/73-4173 Counties: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington Region 11 Easter Seals UCP, call 252/636-6007 Counties: Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Greene, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Pitt

Response by the NC Division of Social Services. If you have a question about foster care or adoption in North Carolina, send it to jdmcmaho@unc.edu.

Copyright © 2011 Jordan Institute for Families