Identity formation: Adopted teenagers may experience identity confusion as they confront the primary questions of adolescence "Who am I? How am I different from my parents? Which of their values will I take as my own?" Young people who joined their families through adoption also must try to determine how these questions relate to their birth parents, who may be unknown and even unknowable. These questions may be further complicated if the child's race or birth culture differs from that of the adoptive family.
School problems: Children adopted from foster care often have experienced multiple placements among homes, as well as multiple moves among schools. An educational consultant or a child psychologist may be able to test for educational status and work with teachers from the child's school to ensure an appropriate education.
Trust and attachment: Children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or institutionalization prior to joining their adoptive families often have not known consistent love and affection and may have difficulty trusting and attaching to their new family.
Medical concerns: Children who have been in multiple placements may not have received regular medical care. These children, as well as children adopted through intercountry adoptions, often have medical information that is inaccurate and/or incomplete. It is important for all children to have as complete and accurate a health history as possible. Assessment by an adoption-competent physician will provide a plan to update a child's health and immunization status.
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