The State of California committed resources to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 for youth and post adoptive families. This California Statewide Post Adoption Navigator site was developed as
a part of this Statewide project serving families across the State.

While the Post Permanency Project ended September 30, 2022, we hope this website serves a resource to connect you to your local post adoption service provider, and you enjoy the insight articles and on demand trainings coming.

Of These Three Things Adoption Success is Made


April 1st, 2022

When I was a young boy, I had countless behavior problems ranging from setting fires, destruction of property, vandalism, stealing, sneaking out at night, fighting, cursing, the list goes on and on from as far back as I can remember all the way into my young adulthood. In fact, I’m still prone to thinking about slipping a nice ink pen in coat pocket. I really love nice ink pens. Notice, I said “thinking about.” I’ve since long ago let the stealing addiction go. It was a behavior I acquired in the first grade when I developed my first crush on Brandi Clark. She sure was pretty. And of course, being a little kid with no money I learned pretty quickly that I could slip a candy bar or a lollipop in my pocket from the local Quick Mart and it would put a big smile on Brandi’s face when I handed it to her the next day at recess. What more reinforcement than that could a boy need?

Truth is, I drove my parents a little bit bonkers with all of my nutty behavior which inevitably they simply did not understand. My adoptive parents (the only parents I ever had. I have since met both biological parents but that’s another story.) were old school. They yelled, hit, whipped, threatened, shamed, isolated, removed privileges, you name it. If it existed on the old school continuum of parenting, then they did it. I’ve probably had more consequences, harsher consequences than any love and logic instructor could come up with. Did it work? Nope. Not for one minute longer than my mind was set on the next thing I intended to do. In fact, only on occasion did I actually plot and plan. That occurred later as a teen when my brain had developed further. As a child, I was just impulsive. Doing what felt good in the moment. Brain research now informs us that a stressed-out brain cannot learn. Thus, punishment will never be an effective teacher. Punishment causes stress which creates a threat between the parent and the child. The only thing that happens as a by-product of punishment is that the child gets sneakier, and the parents get more exhausted. It’s a never-ending cycle of negative feedback. I lived it. I watched my sister live it. And I have since gone on to see it as one of the greatest obstacles I must help parents overcome in their adoptive parenting journey.

What worked for me, many have asked? My parents did three things right that made all the difference. Here they are:

  1. They were always predictable. No child is born into the world with an expectation that they are going to eventually have a new home, or parents. Adoption is an unpredictable traumatic event that leaves a child burdened with a lifelong fear of abandonment, insecurity, and seeking of predictability. Adopted children need predictability. Predictability allows the adopted child’s brain to relax and not always feel so vigilant. As a child, nearly every day for me was the same. It was highly predictable.
  2. They were always consistent. There were no surprises when it came to my parents. You always knew what to expect whether it was going to be pleasurable or painful. The brain of an adopted child is always sensitive to what’s happening next and how others are feeling. It’s a built-in survival mechanism. When you can be consistent it helps your child learn patterns that can help them relax. Inconsistency will only generate anxiety.
  3. They loved me. For as much fear-based parenting that I experienced, I always knew deep within me that my parents loved me. I didn’t hear many “I love yous” but I did feel the presence, the hard work, the commitment to our well-being, the sacrifice, and the loyalty. My parents were always fierce defenders and protectors of my sister and me, even when doing so led them to embarrassment and shame. You can mess up a lot with your adopted child, but if they experience you being their fiercest advocate it creates an unspoken sense of security that is hard to measure.

Being an adopted child was not easy for my parents or for me, but we made it through. Oftentimes it will be the simplest approach that will make the biggest difference in your child’s life and in your own home. Learn to breathe, have faith, and choose love.

Bryan Post, an adopted child and former foster child, is the author of the best-selling adoption parenting book From Fear to Love: Parenting challenging adopted and foster children with over 700,000 copies sold. You can receive a free copy by going to www.feartolovebook.com He is also the Clinical Director for Parents in Training, a 501 (c) 3, non-profit that provides wraparound services for adoptive families across Northern California.