This week I blogged about a tragedy in the Midwest and then reflected that the young mother was missing crucial knowledge on many practical details of life: prenatal and emergency medical care, financial assistance, breastfeeding and where to find help with it, and adoption.
Even if her story about adoption agencies rejecting her baby due to lack of prenatal care is true—and I have a hard time believing that, since even many private adoption agencies tell their clients they need to be open even to substance-abused babies—more education could have helped her find other agencies and resources.
I suggest a course in “practical life” students. I am not necessarily talking about sex education, which is what some schools refer to when they speak of “family life education”. (The state of Virginia, at least, has directed that adoption should be included as part of its sex education program.)
Here are my ideas for a program teaching practical life knowledge.
First, from preschool age, with reminders each year, children should be taught to call 911 if someone is sick and needs help. They should be told that 911 is a free call, even from pay phones.
In early elementary school students should be presented with material showing that adoption is a normal and positive way to build a family. I suggest the books What is Adoption? and Adoption Stories for Young Children. The latter includes one very basic story about a birthmother.I also recommend parents and teachers read my fellow blogger Anna’s blog on Things All Children Should Know about Adoption.
Perhaps in fifth or sixth grade, students could do a unit on Community Resources. This could include information about the local Crisis Line, which can give referrals for help with food and shelter, medical care, suicidal thoughts and many other issues. If Indra Book had called the crisis line, a trained volunteer would have known she needed help.
Children can also be made aware of organizations in the community which help people. These can include services from state and local governments such as child protective services, health department immunizations (free for those who qualify), and summer lunch programs. Kids can also learn of nonprofit groups in their area which provide parent education, support groups, alcohol and drug treatment, and help finding employment. They can learn about food banks and clothing swaps operated by local religious congregations.
My next blog will contain suggestions for middle and high school-age students.