Understanding A Child's Behavior
When Mrs. Jones called COAC’s New York City Family Permanency Center Warm Line, her first words were, “I can’t take it any longer, I want my adopted daughter out of my house, where do I go to place her?” She stated she was totally exhausted trying to seek help for her daughter, 'E'. She had changed E’s therapist 16 times seeking to find one that could assist her in understanding E’s special needs, and all 16 therapists recommended that she ‘return E to the foster care system.’ They felt that she needed long-term residential treatment.
Mrs. Jones was allowed to ventilate and express her frustration and her feeling that no one could help her maintain the family unit. Project staff validated Mrs. Jones’ feelings and discussed E’s behavior in terms of her special needs and history of many losses. An in-home crisis counseling session was scheduled and held the following day, and mother and daughter were given referrals to a therapist experienced in foster-adoption issues in their community. They were also urged to attend COAC's adolescent support groups and parent support groups.
Mrs. Jones and E both started attending the support groups and now, 22 months later, E is still at home. Ms. Jones states that COAC's post-adoption program assisted her in understanding her daughter’s behavior and averted a foster care re-entry. E recently spoke at a city-wide adoption symposium. “I was out of control, ” she admits, and “the support groups and other help I received at COAC helped me turn my life around.” Today E. has completed high school, is working and attending courses toward a certificate program in the health services field.