W.I.S.E. UP : An Empowering Resource for Adopted Children

Who is your real mother? Why don’t you look like your parents? Do you have any baby pictures? Why were you adopted?

Adopted children and their parents are faced with intrusive, personal questions like these all the time. They can evoke different emotional reactions such as excitement, pride, embarrassment, anger, frustration and pain. In an effort to help adopted children and their parents find a way to answer these questions the Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc. (C.A.S.E.) created the W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook. The primary goal is to help teach children that they have control over how they respond to questions about adoption.

W.I.S.E. Up normalizes these experiences for kids and gives them suggestions for what to do in the event that a question like this comes up. The curriculum teaches kids to Walk away, Ignore what is said or heard, respond by saying “It’s Private”, Share something about their adoption story or Educate others about adoption in general. It is an interactive handbook that provides several examples that kids can relate to and helps them explore their feelings.

Kids practice all of the different options at home and then are able to use them when they arise in the community. The curriculum helps children feel in control and secure about themselves and their adoption story. It eliminates any shame by encouraging kids to talk about their adoption. At BPAR we use this book all the time and recommend it to all of our families!

To get yours click on this link: W.I.S.E. UP Powerbook

Written by Kelly DiBenedetto, LMHC
Boston Post Adoption Resources