Brooke Randolph

Trigger Warning: Father's Day Father's Day is often harder than Mother's Day in my house. Not only is it a reminder of all the feelings towards his Samoan father (from grief to anger), but it is also a reminder that there isn't an American dad for my son either. For some children I know who have negative feelings toward their first mother, it is helpful most of the time for there not to be an adoptive mother in their home; other children will feel like they missed out twice. All days as a...

There is new research about adoptee suicidality from Sweden. The Swedish register data has been essential in providing data not dependent on surveys and population sample (Hjern, et. al., 2020). This new article by Hübinette, Iversen, & Strand (2026) is a qualitative review of what has contributed to suicidality. They reviewed 99 newspaper and magazine articles published between 1988 and 2025 and found 12 themes that appeared in at least 10 separate texts: bullying (45 texts), alcohol and...

⚠️ September is Suicide Prevention Month. If you or someone you know is in distress, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Recently, research published by Dr. Lynn Zubov (2026) brought important visibility to mental health outcomes in adult adoptees and first mothers. In her sample, 18.7-21% of adoptees reported having attempted suicide and 22% of first mothers reported a lifetime suicide attempt. Prior to Zubov the most quoted number came from an article in Pediatrics in...

This newsletter has quite a bit of bad news; please, give yourself some time to read and process it all and maybe have a cuppa while you do. ⚠️ Adoptee Rights Law Center issued an advisory recommending that intercountry adoptees not fly domestically without a passport. You can read it here: https://adopteerightslaw.com/advisory-do-not-fly/ Greg Luce is not an alarmist. I have listened to him talk about adoptee rights for years. I want to highlight a heartbreaking news story, not for shock and...

Important Legal Case in Adoption Land Abby Fredericksen began posting online hoping that someday, if she ever wanted to, her daughter would be able to find her and know her, her story, and that she cared. To make sure it was findable, she used her daughter’s full name, photos, and geographical location. Unfortunately this allowed strangers on the internet who supported Abby to find the adoptive family’s home address and social media pages. Because Abby endorsed and agreed with comments that...

Family Reunification Month has been renamed Family Unification Month. The language shift reflects what advocates in this space have been saying for decades: family separation is rarely due to the failure of a family. It is most often the result of inadequate support, systematic pressures, and policy failures. It tells me that it isn't just my algorithm, but that more and more people are working for family preservation. What connection looks like after separation is rarely a simple return to...

It is important to mention Mother's Day, even though personally I prefer other people would ignore it - and I know I'm not the only one. It can be a very difficult day for adoptees, first mothers, and many others who have experienced loss, parental separation, or difficult relationships. A person centered approach reminds us that wishing a Happy Mother's Day is an assumption in the majority of cases and may not be the kindest of approaches. Greeting Cards for Birthmother's Day By Sydney...

Wow a lot has happened this month, so I have a few reflections below. Just in March, I presented on RAD (why I think it is an unhelpful diagnosis) for Adoption Knowledge Affiliates, presented for a group practice that focuses on working with children (and was encouraged by how easily the clinicians took to all the information), led another Brainspotting Phase 1 training, and of course attended more webinars and read lots of research. I have been thinking about a webinar co-sponsored by Yes We...

Workshop: Adoptive Parent Guide to Filing an N-600 Adoptee rights advocate and immigration attorney Gregory Luce will walk through how an adoptive parent can apply for a minor child’s Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600), from beginning to end. More info When: Wednesday, March 11, 2026Time: 4:00pm PST/6:00pm CST/7:00pm ESTCost: Suggested $50 Donation Many therapists genuinely care deeply about adoption-impacted clients. Yet recent data shows adoptees are far more likely to encounter...