While the public narrative is a place for positive and strengths-based information about a child, a private narrative is designed to share additional information, often about challenges, with home-studied families who express interest and are deciding whether to make a more formal inquiry.
Purpose of a private narrative
The private narrative provides information about a child’s medical, educational, behavioral, and other issues. Providing this additional information helps to ensure that families don’t submit a home study for children whose needs they cannot meet, hopefully saving staff time and resources.
The private narrative is still not the right place for full disclosure, which would come later in the process with a family who is interested in moving forward.
Like public narratives, private narratives should protect the child’s privacy and dignity, be written clearly and accessibly, and help parents understand the children’s needs without being off-putting.
On the AdoptUSKids photolisting, registered families can view a private narrative. But you don’t need a registration process or complicated process to share a private narrative. It can be a print or emailed document you share with home-studied families who have expressed interested and agreed to protect a child’s confidential information.
Read more about writing children’s narratives in our guide, Creating Effective Narratives for Children Waiting to Be Adopted (1 MB PDF).
What to include in a private narrative
The following items can be included in a child’s private narrative. Whenever possible, include information about progress that the child has made in these areas. See two sample narratives at the end for examples.
Functioning or disability level
We recommend identifying a child’s disabilities or challenges in an easy-to-review format, with levels such as none, mild, moderate, and severe in the domains listed below. Be sure to offer prospective parents a place where they can find general information about what the different levels might mean.
- Physical disabilities
- Emotional disabilities
- Behaviors
- Developmental disabilities
- Cognitive challenges or learning disabilities
General, factual statements of diagnoses made by a qualified medical professional
The private narrative can include some information about ongoing treatment, but you should still avoid providing too many details, such as specific medications. We also recommend caution related to including any mental health diagnoses or treatment (see below).
Ongoing or long-term medical needs
You can briefly describe the medical care the child is receiving and will continue to need, but do not disclose details of medications or medical procedures.
Specific disabilities that relate to school, education, or intellectual ability
As with other diagnoses, we recommend that intellectual disabilities or developmental delays be shared, but factually and briefly if diagnosed by a qualified professional. Please do not include specific IQ scores or test results.
Special education status or individual education plan
In the private narrative, you can share information about the fact that a child has an individualized education plan (IEP) or Section 504 plan and brief information about what its goals, accommodations, or modifications are. Educational information in the private narrative might also include participation in special education classes.
Performance or challenges in school
If a child has no specific disability but is behind in school or experiencing challenges, you can include that information in the private narrative. Note progress or success whenever possible.
Support needs
Include information about specialized support services the child is currently receiving or is likely to need in the future to address educational or medical issues. Be factual, objective, respectful, and strengths-based.
Information about the type of family being sought and the skills parents should have
If there are specific limits on types of families, you can include them here with a brief description of why those limits are needed. You can also include the skills or strengths the adoptive family should have. Please note that any restrictions on the race or ethnic background of the child may suggest a potential violation of the Multiethnic Placement Act.
A child or teen’s expressed desire on family type
Include this information only if someone has had a thorough discussion with the child on the pros and cons and the characteristics are truly important to the child. When including desired family types, it’s best to list these characteristics as preferences rather than hard and fast rules unless it is an absolute requirement.
Adoption assistance eligibility
You may also want to include information about the types of benefits that may be available to adoptive parents in this state or county.
Status as legally free or not
It’s best to use similar language for all children with a particular status and to explain what the status actually means.
What to be careful about including in a private narrative
Mental health diagnoses and treatment
If you do disclose a mental illness—as with other medical diagnoses—keep information related to treatment to a minimum. Be sure that a diagnosis is only shared if it is made by a qualified clinical professional. Do not share therapy goals, specific medications, or comments from treatment providers.
Challenging behaviors
Include general information about the types of challenges a family may need to address, but without going into great detail. Information about sexualized behaviors, self-harm, behavior that could be criminal, or similar behaviors is better shared during a conversation with prospective adopters who have expressed a more serious interest about this particular child. In cases where children have such behaviors, we recommend including a sentence such as, “Billie has other behavioral challenges that will require special attention, which we’ll discuss with prospective parents who appear to be a good fit for her.”
What not to include in a private narrative
The following information does not necessarily help a family decide whether to make a formal inquiry about a particular child and is best shared with a family after they have made an inquiry, when it can be discussed and clarified.
- Identifying information such as last name, school, address, date of birth, specific places the child goes (such as a workplace or clubs)
- The child’s immigration status
- The child’s abuse and neglect history
- Anything that discusses or alludes to the child’s potential to be a victim
- Information about sexualized, self-harming, or similar behaviors
- Information about the child’s birth family’s history of physical or mental illnesses, immigration status, criminal history, or other challenges
- Reason for the child’s entry into care
- Information about the child’s criminal or delinquent behavior or juvenile justice involvement
- Current placement information, placement history, details about the number of placements, or adoption disruptions
- Negative statements or beliefs about the child (e.g., “She is arrogant and rude, and will test the patience of any parent.”)
Please note that although we do not believe in sharing information about a birth family’s history in the private narrative, if a child has a diagnosis related to prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol that information should be shared as a medical condition rather than as a discussion of the parents’ actions or history.