Fact Sheets
Library
Youth Organizations
MSU Spartan Youth Programs
Pre-college Programs and Activities for Pre-K through 12th Graders.
Michigan State University Extension:
Children, Youth, and Family Programs
The MSU Extension Office offers numerous links to information and services dealing with Human and Youth Development, Family Resource Management, Nutrition, and Food Safety as well links to other organizations and agencies that are family focused.
Adoption and School Issues
html | pdf
Like all children, adopted children spend a good portion of their waking hours in school. Because school is such an important aspect of children's lives, adoptive parents, like all parents, want their child's school experience to be a positive one...
Adoption and the Stages of Development
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Now that you have adopted a child and life is beginning to settle down, you may find your thoughts moving to the future. When shall I tell my child that s/he is adopted? How will s/he feel about it? At what point will s/he want more information? What will s/he want to know from me? How can I help my child feel comfortable about being adopted?
Child Safety on the Information Highway (pdf)
Most people who go online have mainly positive experiences.
But, like any endeavor - traveling, cooking, or attending school
- there are some risks. The online world, like the rest of society,
is made up of a wide array of people. Most are decent and respectful,
but some may be rude, obnoxious, insulting, or even mean and
exploitative. Children get a lot of benefit from being online,
but they can also be targets of crime and exploitation in this
as in any other environment...
Child
Welfare League of America
CWLA is an association of almost 1,200 public and private nonprofit
agencies that assist over 3.5 million abused and neglected children
and their families each year with a wide range of services.
Eleven questions to Ask Before Psychiatric Hospitalization of Your Child or Adolescent
Hospitalization in a psychiatric facility is one of a range of available treatment options when a child or adolescent is mentally ill. Parents are naturally concerned and may be frightened and confused when inpatient treatment is recommended for their child. By asking the following questions, parents will gain a better understanding of the proposed stay in an inpatient facility.
Explaining Adoption to Your Children, Family, and Friends
Children are growing up in many different kinds of families today. Race, religion and sexual orientation are all blending together and changing the "traditional" family structure. There are stepparent families - children being raised by a biological parent and his/her spouse. There are single-parent families - children being raised by one parent. And, there are kinship families - children being raised by a grandparent, aunt/uncle or other extended family member. Adoption is often one of the links bringing families together.
Gracious Answers to Awkward Questions About Our Adopted Kids
When we adopt a child who looks different from us, we generally feel we can handle the stares and loss of privacy that go with the territory. We may find, however, that the frequent questions and comments of strangers and relatives sometimes annoy and worry us.....
Identity Issues in Adoptive Children (pdf)
This FAQ address some of the questions that arise from identity issues in adoptive children.
Michigan
Department of Human Services
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is Michigan's public assistance, child and family welfare agency. DHS directs the operations of public assistance and service programs through a network of over 100 county family independence agencies in every county in Michigan.
Reactive
Attachment Disorder ... It's Time to Understand
This online PowerPoint presentation is a self-guided primer for the understanding and treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder. Presentation includes speaker's notes.
TeenHealth Answers & Advice
A site for adoptive teens that contains a wide range of topics and articles.
Note: This site, which is also located on the "For Teens" page, provides information on sexual health with links to articles on reproductive health.
When
Your Child Craves Attention: A Parenting Strategy
Basic strategies for solving a child's attention cravings.
