The instructor will be Michelle Kennedy and Deborah Artis. Michelle Kennedy has been a social worker with Methodist Home for Children for 27 years. She has direct care experience in residential and foster care services and has been working with youth and families in the foster-to-adopt process since 2005. Deborah Artis is a social worker and the Senior Program Director of foster care, adoption, and post-adoption with Children’s Home Society, where she has worked for 30 years. Prior to that, she worked in foster care and adoption for a public child welfare agency for 10 years.

The course covers the following learning objectives:

  • List 3 stresses often experienced as a newly adoptive parent.
  • Detail 2 feelings common to adoptive parents towards the birth family during the transitioning home period.
  • Explain how much of your child's adoption story you should share post-adoption.
  • Identify what post-adoption depression is.
  • List 2 things to do if you think you have post-adoption depression.


Outline for Transitioning Home as a Newly Adoptive Family.pdf

*This course includes a 1-hour conversational audio lesson, a 10-question quiz, and a certificate of completion with the successful completion of the quiz at 80%. 

Your course will remain active for 180 days from purchase date.

This course aligns with the following regulatory requirements.

Hague Treaty on Intercountry Adoption*

 96.48 (b)(3)  96.48 (b)(7)

*Important Information for agencies on Hague Training Requirements


This course is included in the following state packages.

See links for how it aligns with each state's regulatory requirements.

Illinois packages, including: Domestic Infant Adoption, International Adoption, and Special Needs Foster Care Adoption
 Important Information for agencies on Illinois Adoption Requirements.
Louisiana packages including, Domestic Infant Adoption and International Adoption
 Important Information for agencies on Louisiana Adoption Requirements.
Nebraska packages including, Domestic Infant Adoption, International Adoption, and International Adoption from China
 Important Information for agencies on Nebraska Adoption Requirements.
Packages for Oregon Domestic Adoption, International Adoption, and International Adoption from China Important Information for agencies on Oregon Adoption Requirements.
Virginia packages including, Domestic Adoption, International Adoption, and International Adoption from China Important information for agencies on Virginia's core competencies.
Packages for Washington Domestic Adoption, International Adoption, and International Adoption from China
 Important Information for agencies on Washington Adoption Requirements.

For information specific to your state, go to the Child Welfare Information Gateway State Search site to find information on each state's requirements on background checks, consent to adoption, home study requirements, post-adoption contact agreements, adoption expense regulations, use of advertising, and who may adopt or place a child for adoption.

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