Behavioral and Mental Health Recommendations
| • Review behavior, including past and present concerns |
| ○ Adjustment |
| ○ Fostering of positive relationships |
| ○ Aggressive behavior |
| ○ Hyperactive |
| ○ Impulsivity |
| ○ Internalizing behaviors (withdrawal, anxiety) |
| ○ Sleep issues |
| ○ Feeding issues, including overeating or hoarding food |
| ○ Enuresis |
| • Document psychiatric medications used currently or in the past |
| • Document any past psychiatric hospitalizations |
| • Previous violent behavior or animal cruelty |
| • Sexualizing behaviors |
| ○ Sexual promiscuity or acting out |
| ○ Excessive or inappropriate masturbation |
| • Substance abuse |
| ○ Tobacco, alcohol, illicit substances |
| • Suicide |
| ○ Suicide ideology |
| ○ Previous suicide attempts |
| • Children need to be monitored for issues related to loss and grief, attachment disturbances, posttraumatic stress disorder |
| ○ Children may not admit to previous abuse or neglect until they are secure in an adoptive home |
| ○ Even children placed as newborn infants may have issues related to their history of adoption (ie, identity development) that do not necessarily rise to the level of mental health issues |
| • Review behavior, including past and present concerns |
| ○ Adjustment |
| ○ Fostering of positive relationships |
| ○ Aggressive behavior |
| ○ Hyperactive |
| ○ Impulsivity |
| ○ Internalizing behaviors (withdrawal, anxiety) |
| ○ Sleep issues |
| ○ Feeding issues, including overeating or hoarding food |
| ○ Enuresis |
| • Document psychiatric medications used currently or in the past |
| • Document any past psychiatric hospitalizations |
| • Previous violent behavior or animal cruelty |
| • Sexualizing behaviors |
| ○ Sexual promiscuity or acting out |
| ○ Excessive or inappropriate masturbation |
| • Substance abuse |
| ○ Tobacco, alcohol, illicit substances |
| • Suicide |
| ○ Suicide ideology |
| ○ Previous suicide attempts |
| • Children need to be monitored for issues related to loss and grief, attachment disturbances, posttraumatic stress disorder |
| ○ Children may not admit to previous abuse or neglect until they are secure in an adoptive home |
| ○ Even children placed as newborn infants may have issues related to their history of adoption (ie, identity development) that do not necessarily rise to the level of mental health issues |