Adopted youth have unique experiences as they transition into adulthood. Adolescence may be the first time that an adopted child questions their identity, as they begin to separate from their parents. This course helps agency personnel understand the special challenges of adopted teens as they transition into adulthood, particularly with sense of self, attachment and sexuality. Issues related to search, such as direct-to-consumer testing (e.g. Ancestry.com, 23 and me), integrating information about one’s family medical history and timing of discussions of critical pieces of an adopted child’s early history are also discussed.
Elaine E. Schulte, MD, MPH, FAAP – Medical Director, Adoption Program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore – Einstein College of Medicine
Course length: 60 minutes
Course level: Beginning, Intermediate
Certificate type: This course offers a Social Work CE certificate
Credit type: General CE
After attending this course, professionals will be able to:
- Identify the unique experiences that adopted youth have as they transition into adulthood, including questioning their identity and separating from their parents.
- Describe challenges of adopted teens as they transition into adulthood, particularly with sense of self, attachment and sexuality.
- Summarize issues related to search, such as direct-to-consumer testing, integrating information about one’s family medical history and identify appropriate timing of discussions of critical pieces of an adopted person’s early history.
Updated 1/27/2023
National Council For Adoption, #1804, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 04/13/2023 – 04/13/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 1 general continuing education credit.
This course does not offer credit for NJ or NY social workers. More information on continuing education credits is available here. 
