Specialized Needs Training Self-Assessment

This self-assessment is designed to be taken as an individual. If you are part of a couple, our recommendation is for you to complete this worksheet separately, and then discuss results together.

Some families in the early stages in this process may find that they trend toward answers numbered 4 or 5. This is totally normal and expected – there is no “right” answer. You may even find the answer varies, depending on how much sleep you've had or self-care you've engaged in recently!

The options below may not be an exact description of your feelings or reactions to the prompts provided. We recommend you select the best fit, that most closely describes your feelings or reactions. The most effective way to use this tool is to be honest with yourself (and your partner as applicable), to spark open and honest reflection and conversation.

Once you click the "Submit" button, you'll be able to review and discuss your responses with your partner, support group, or adoption specialist.

Question Title

* 1. o My understanding of specialized adoption is most closely described as....

a.) Excellent. I have taken significant training (10+ hours), and/or have other life experience directly with this population (through work, parenting, family etc.) - 1 pt.

b.) Good. I have taken some training and/or have indirect experience with this population (through an acquaintance, stories, indirect relationships). - 2pts.

c.) Unsure. - 3pts.

d.) Fair. I have taken minimal training and feel I have a much better understanding, but still a lot of questions.- 4. pts

e.) Just beginning. I have not taken any adoption-specific or specialized adoption training. - 5pts.

Question Title

* 2. Most often, when something stressful and unexpected comes up in my day...

a.) I’ll make it work! I don’t have trouble changing course when I need to and re-arranging my plans. - 1pt.

b.) I can get flustered, but I can make the adjustment. I know who to call to help me figure this out. - 2pts.

c.) Unsure. -3 pts.

d.) I don’t like change very much, and unexpected things make me feel quite stressed. I might be able to get through it. - 4 pts.

e.) Unexpected events cause big anxiety for me and can cause me to shut down. I can get stuck, and it can take time for me to regroup and recover. - 5 pts.

Question Title

* 3. I have a 9am meeting, and my family woke up late, so there’s lots of stress in the home. My 5 y/o child is now dysregulated, to the point where they are too upset to begin their morning routine. I am most likely to...

a.) Manage what’s in front of me! I can figure it out and prioritize needs in the moment. Its ok if we’re late! - 1 pt.

b.) Be quite stressed, as rushing generally makes me flustered. However, I can manage as best as I can although it may take some time to regroup. - 2pts.

c.) Unsure. - 3pts.

d.) I am likely to lose my cool. This situation would be very triggering for me. -4 pts.

e.) Shut down. I am likely to disengage from the situation entirely. -5 pts.

Question Title

* 4. How aware are you of how you give/receive love?

a.) Very aware! I’ve discussed it extensively with the people I’m closest to. - 1pt.

b.) Somewhat aware. I know there’s lots of literature about it and people can give/receive love differently. - 2pts.

c.) Unsure. - 3pts.

d.) Not really aware. - 4pts.

e.) I’ve never thought about it before. It doesn’t feel relevant to me. -5 pts.

Question Title

* 5. Imagine that you are not a big hugger and prefer to show emotion by a variety of acts of service - cleaning a room, setting up extracurricular activities, or cooking a special favorite dessert. Your child is really wanting to be hugged and isn’t feeling loved, despite how much you’re working to show them love through action.

a.) I would do whatever is needed to make sure my child can give and receive love safely. The responsibility is mine to make any needed changes. - 1pt.

b.) This would be difficult for me but with time and therapy I think we can find some common ground. -2 pts.

c.) Unsure - 3pts.

d.) This would be difficult for me to change. My expressions of love are a reflection of how I grew up, and this is the most natural way for me to give/receive love. - 4pts.

e.) This could be a dealbreaker. I don’t feel able to adjust the ways I give and receive love and might feel rejected by a child who is not receptive to my gestures of love. - 5pts.

Question Title

* 6. The child you have adopted is 10 years old and has lived in multiple foster homes (or in an orphanage/group home setting) prior to joining your family.  As a result, their schooling has been very inconsistent and disrupted.  About two months after your child joins your family, you get a call from their school that they are really struggling across the board and have not turned in any assignments in several weeks. They are failing a few of their classes.

a.) This is totally expected and doesn’t faze me at all.  I have some work to do educating their school staff about what realistic expectations and supports should look like for my child. My goal is to prioritize attaching and bonding with my child at this stage. - 1pt.

b.) I knew this could happen, so I’m not surprised. I want my child to do well and have a good experience in school, so I’m worried.  With support, I can put that worry aside and focus first and foremost on my relationship with my child. - 2pts.

c.) Unsure - 3pts.

d.) School is very important in my family and education is highly valued. I will need to prioritize my child’s education over other activities and goals so that they can catch up. - 4pts.

e.) This is unacceptable in my household. My child will be grounded until grades are raised.- 5pts.

Question Title

* 7. In hard times in my life....

a.) I have reached out to therapists, counselors or other medical / mental health professionals, and would do so again. - 1pt.

b.) I have thought about reaching out to support professionals before but haven’t engaged in services or didn’t find support helpful. However, I would be very interested in engaging in services again or in the future.- 2pts.

c.) I have not considered external supports before.-3 pts.

d.) I have not engaged in professional support before, but I have relied on faith/spiritual communities. -4pts.

e.) I don’t believe external support is necessary or helpful.-5pts.

Question Title

* 8. I am stuck in an important client meeting and my child needs to be picked up from gymnastics...

a.) I have family/friends close by who I can call to pick my child up.- 1pt.

b.) I don’t have family/friends nearby but have a consistent paid supports who are familiar with my child and can help in these types of situations. -2 pts.

c.) Unsure -3 pts.

d.) I will need to end my meeting because I do not have any local family/friend or paid supports who are able to help in a pinch. -4 pts.

e.) I am unable to end my meeting and I do not have friends/family close by or who are available, so my child will need to wait until I can get to them.- 5 pts.

Question Title

* 9. I and/or my child are in crisis and need reprieve/respite:

a.) I have an identified family member or friend who can come be with us or who my child can stay with for a brief period for respite. We have emotional support professionals that I will also immediately engage with. - 1pt.

b.) I have paid supports who I can call on to assist us.- 2 pts.

c.) Unsure -3 pts.

d.) I have family, but they do not live close by. I don’t have many friends in the area. - 4 pts.

e.) I don’t have anyone close by or anyone I would trust to help in a time of crisis for emotional support for me / my child. I don’t have connections to any paid supports. -5 pts.

Question Title

* 10. Which of the following best describes your feelings about completing the required adoption trainings:

a.) Thrilled, I love trainings! -1 pt.

b.) Pretty good, I know there’s lots to learn. -2pts.

c.) Unsure -3 pts.

d.) Seems excessive but I know it’s required.- 4 pts.

e.) I don’t need any additional training. It’s a little insulting I have to do it when biological parents don’t. - 5 pts.

Question Title

* 11. All the skills I learned in therapy with my child that worked last week, are no longer working this week. I will...

a.) Try something new! If it’s not working, I feel very comfortable tossing it out and moving on to something else. - 1 pt.

b.) Keep trying in hopes that it will work.  I’ll give it another week and then I may need to move to something new. -2 pts.

c.) Unsure -3 pts.

d.) These are the strategies I know, so I feel uncomfortable changing my approach. -4 pts.

e.) If these strategies aren’t working then the placement probably won’t work. It's too much to have to keep adjusting how I parent. - 5pts.

Question Title

* 12. My child’s teacher has suggested that speech therapy would be incredibly helpful for them and would assist them in closing the gap between them and their classmates. However, my child doesn’t currently qualify for services through the school. I...

a.) I know exactly where to go to find this service! - 1pt.

b.) I have no idea where to get this service, but I am super comfortable with research and know several organizations and friends I can call to get started finding this service for my child. -2 pts.

c.) Unsure - 3 pts.

d.) I’m not sure where to get started and know this will take a lot of time. - 4pts.

e.) My child doesn’t really need this service, and I wouldn't know where to get it anyway -5 pts.

Specialized Needs Training Self-Assessment

Question Title

* 1. o My understanding of specialized adoption is most closely described as....

Question Title

* 2. Most often, when something stressful and unexpected comes up in my day...

Question Title

* 3. I have a 9am meeting, and my family woke up late, so there’s lots of stress in the home. My 5 y/o child is now dysregulated, to the point where they are too upset to begin their morning routine. I am most likely to...

Question Title

* 4. How aware are you of how you give/receive love?

Question Title

Question Title

Question Title

* 7. In hard times in my life....

Question Title

* 8. I am stuck in an important client meeting and my child needs to be picked up from gymnastics...

Question Title

* 9. I and/or my child are in crisis and need reprieve/respite:

Question Title

* 10. Which of the following best describes your feelings about completing the required adoption trainings:

Question Title

* 11. All the skills I learned in therapy with my child that worked last week, are no longer working this week. I will...

Question Title

* 12. My child’s teacher has suggested that speech therapy would be incredibly helpful for them and would assist them in closing the gap between them and their classmates. However, my child doesn’t currently qualify for services through the school. I...

Question Title

* 13. Please add up your total scoring from the questions above and type your score in the box below.