This report is the first in a series the Institute plans to publish that will address the phenomenon of openness in domestic infant adoptions. It summarizes research knowledge on the topic and presents findings from a survey of 100 infant adoption programs in the U.S. regarding their practices around openness and the qualities that facilitate… [read more]

New Jersey Administrative Code for special education (N.J.A.C. 6A:14) and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) are laws that ensure children with disabilities a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. An important part of these laws provides parents with the right to participate in their children’s education. You and… [read more]

This factsheet discusses how you can help children in your care by educating yourself about child sexual abuse, establishing guidelines for safety and privacy in your family, and understanding when and how to seek help if you need it. Reading this factsheet alone will not guarantee that you will know what to do in every… [read more]

Children ages 3 to 5 are limited in how much they can understand about adoption. Like all young children, adopted children are naturally curious and may ask many questions. They are also growing and changing rapidly. As their abilities develop, so will their understanding of their place in their families and communities.

School-age children—those between the ages of 6 and 12—learn critical skills and gain interests that carry into adolescence and adulthood. Adoption can add layers of complexity to a child’s normal developmental tasks. You can support your child by learning as much as possible about the impact of adoption on your child’s emotional growth and overall… [read more]

The teenage years bridge the transition from childhood to young adulthood. It is a time of enormous change and development, when youth forge an identity and embrace new interests. Adoption adds complexity to the normal development of teenagers, regardless of whether they were adopted as infants or when they were older. This factsheet is designed… [read more]

Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P) is New Jersey’s child protection and child welfare agency within the Department of Children and Families. Its mission is to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children and to support families. As mandated by state law (Title 9 and Title 30), CP&P is required to investigate all reports of… [read more]

This Resource Guide was developed by the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, Child Welfare Information Gateway, and the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention. OCAN released its first Resource Guide more than 15 years ago with the goal of raising… [read more]

Providing Respite Supporting People and Families Across the Lifespan Defining Respite Respite is a service that offers a short-term break for caregivers that regularly provide support to a child, adult, or senior family member with a disability or chronic health care need. Respite may be planned, providing scheduled services to allow for intermittent breaks from… [read more]