A friend of mine is looking for support around her need to find her child a residential treatment center for mental health issues. My friend adopted her child in a situation that is very similar to foster-to-adopt and their adoption is open as safety allows. She has been a helpful and understanding presence on Open Adoption Support before and I’ve learned a lot about the limits and challenges of openness through her honest, soul-searching blog.
If you are reading any blogs that are good sources of information and support, can you leave their addresses in the comments for me so I can pass them on to her?
Possibly related posts:
Have you checked out http://watchingthewaters.wordpress.com/ ?
tudusamom.blogspot.com
marythemom-mayhem.blogspot.com
theadoptioncounselor.com/Blog
fletcherclan.blogspot.com
Thank you! Just forwarded to her! Also Andy’s suggestion!
This blog is interesting:
http://www.troubledteenblog.com/choosing-an-adolescent-residential-treatment-center-for-your-teen/
I would caution your friend to be very careful in selecting a facility–although the above blog is interesting and provides a lot of information, I don’t endorse any advice it might provide because I don’t know who is writing it. Parents have to be very careful about whom they will trust in this process. I advise talking to other parents to get the real scoop and visit the facility beforehand, if at all possible. I am a special education attorney and have heard horror stories about certain RTCs. Sometimes, residential treatment is necessary and it can be very beneficial to kids, but proceed with caution. Best of luck to your friend–I can imagine this must be a very difficult time for her.
Atlasien’s suggestions are all good. I’d add AdvocateMom and I’ll be thinking about others.
Try http://morethanwords.typepad.com/my_weblog/. It’s written by a mom whose 2 biological daughters have been in and out of multiple RTCs for mental health issues. The archives talk quite a bit about the choices they made, what worked and what didn’t, impacts on other kids in the family, etc.
I wanted to mention a facility worth looking at when searching for a residential placement for a child – The Ranch for Kids in Montana. This facility specializes in adopted children.
I do post much at Challenged Family Building about parenting more difficult adopted children. http://www.perspectivespress.com/blog
I wish your friend the best. Placing a child outside the family is such a difficult decision and a difficult experience.
Sincerely,
Arleta James