March 12, 2011 - In On It: What Adoptive Parents Want You to Know about Supporting Them and their Children

A couple’s announcement of their decision to adopt often is at the midpoint of a journey that began long ago with dreams of their imagined family. As the prospective parents deal with all the uncertainties, questions and cumbersome processes of adoption, friends and family often are challenged to find ways to celebrate, support and even talk about this important life passage. Even long after the adoptive child is welcomed into the family, unique questions and challenges arise. But Elisabeth O’Toole, mother of three adopted children, has written a book packed with wisdom and practical advice for family, friends, teachers and others who wish to support the child and family on their journey of growing together.

*Listen to: In On It: What Adoptive Parents Want You to Know about Supporting Them and their Children
 

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Marti Erickson is a developmental psychologist who’s had a long and distinguished career at the University of Minnesota, studying parent-child relationships, helping professionals learn best practices for working with children and families, and writing and speaking to diverse audiences throughout the U.S. and abroad. Marti is familiar to Minnesota audiences through her frequent appearances on Twin Cities TV and radio, including 15 years as a regular contributor to KARE-TV’s Today and Sunrise Shows.

In 2005 Marti led “The Motherhood Study,” a large national study of mothers’ values, concerns and needs, which helped launch conversations among mothers’ groups around the country. Identifying motherhood as a passion in both her professional and personal life, Marti says her most important credential is being the mother of Erin (the show’s co-host) and Ryan, now young adults, and grandmother of Clara and McKinley (ages 7 and 5) and Miles and Elise (ages 6 and 3). Read more about Marti Erickson.

Erin is a specialist in Maternal-Child Health and writes has extensive experience speaking on issues related to maternal-child health and parenting. She writes on related topics for several magazines and websites. Erin completed graduate school at the University of Minnesota with a Master of Public Health in Maternal Child Health - Epidemiology and is currently enrolled in the certificate program in Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices - Health Coaching at the U of M's Center for Spirituality and Healing.

Erin is in the thick of everything the Mom Enough™ show addresses – and she’s glad her mom lives close enough to help and support her in her journey as a mother to Clara and McKinley. Read More about Erin.

Mom Enough is brought to you through a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Education, and Working Family Resource. Find out more about the Working Family Resource Center.

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