Summary
Our October 15, 2026 Education session for service providers featured a conversation with two professionals on the topic of the Seven Core Issues and the impact on permanency relationships. Our two guests, Kimberley Miller and Kemesha Campbell drew on insights from many years of experience in the field of child protection, adoption practice, and therapy services to children, adolescents, and adults. Their individual lived experiences with permanency added to the rich discussion, as they were able to contribute their own personal reflections about the past and continuing impact of these core themes.
Key Takeaways
The Seven Core Issues in adoption and permanency relationships represent a framework that puts words to the predictable and completely normal beliefs, feelings, reactions, and experiences of those who experience permanency journeys. The core concepts include: grief, shame and guilt, rejection, identity, mastery and control, intimacy, and loss which connects them all.
While labeled "Seven Core Issues", these concepts are not intended to affix labels or to pathologize people in permanency relationships. Rather, they are meant to explain common threads running through permanency relationships and to bring understanding and validation to those affected. One way to think about the seven core "issues" is to use language that normalizes the concepts, for example reframing them as "themes".
The seven core issues, while not unique to adopted people, can be more pronounced and can be experienced throughout the lifespan, sometimes showing up at unexpected times. For example, being asked at a doctor's appointment about your family medical history when this may represent a complete unknown to one who has been adopted.
It is important for caregivers / Humans to learn about the Seven Core Issues so that they can understand their own internal responses to the "behaviours" they see in the young people in their care. Once they can acknowledge their own (completely normal) reactions, they can be more empathetic and less reactive to the young person. Service providers can play a big role in guiding caregivers / Humans to reframe and normalize reactions.
The concept of identity is a particularly critical theme in this framework, particularly in situations where Lived Experts and Humans are from different racial / cultural backgrounds. It is incumbent upon Humans to anticipate and acknowledge the many struggles with identity formation for a young person on a permanency journey, especially the many losses inherent in a transracial / transcultural adoption, and to bridge their understanding.
The challenges of identity formation are also seen for Lived Experts growing up in the child welfare system. Often, they experience changes of placement and caregivers, and there is huge variability in how their culture, race and / or religion are honoured (or not). They may also encounter negative stereotypes, or denial / dismissal of various aspects of their identity. These experiences will shape how they see themselves well into their adult years.
Lived Experts of permanency relationships need tools for understanding themselves and for preparing how to respond to others, and they should not be expected to be their own "loss managers". If Humans have a deep awareness of loss and grief for the young person, they can help the young person to anticipate and prepare for those challenging situations which may evoke feelings of loss and grief.
Adopted people may withhold their desire to reclaim their roots through a search for original family, because of loyalty to their adoptive families. Or, they may fear experiencing more rejection and loss if original family does not wish to reconnect. Not searching is also a form of control for the adopted person.
By using this framework in their professional practice, service providers can anticipate the personal impact on the young people they are working with. They can explore fears and worries. Saying "I'm wondering..." Is a good opener to invite deeper discussion.
When it comes to sharing information about a person's personal history, it is important for caregivers and service providers alike to share the facts early on, so fantasies don't grow unchecked. At the same time, it is important to allow the recipient time and space to absorb the information. Even if young people don't bring up questions about their past, caregivers and service providers can keep opening that door – gently – from time to time. The absence of questions from a Lived Expert does not mean a lack of curiosity or interest. As one of our speakers put it, "You don't always know what people are doing in their heads".
Facts and information shared in the early years of a person's life may take a long time to internalize. Frequently, the information only begins to be processed in the adult phase of development.
Having a sense of community, for example through support groups, can be very powerful for both caregivers and young people. Being in connection with people who "get it" is very healing.
Having outlets through sports or creative activities is very important for young people trying to navigate permanency journeys. These activities serve as an outlet for intense feelings, particularly when it comes to loss and grief. They also reduce feelings of isolation and difference and can provide kinship to others through shared interests.
Service providers who are also Lived Experts of permanency journeys are in a unique position to attune to the complex feelings of the young people and caregivers they are working with. Both our guest presenters noted that they have found it helpful to be able to compartmentalize their own experiences of the Seven Core Issues when working with clients, so they can fully focus on the unique experiences of their clients. It is important that service providers with living experience of permanency or impermanency journeys do the work of processing their own feelings, thoughts, and experiences.
Ideas and Activities for Your Practice
Become familiar with the Seven Core Issues to be able to incorporate these concepts into your work with young people and / or caregivers. Having the diagram, with loss at the centre, is helpful when working with any members of the adoption / permanency constellation. By becoming knowledgeable about the Seven Core Issues, a service provider can anticipate and normalize the common feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and experiences of those on permanency journeys. They will be better able to tune in with compassion, offer practical guidance, and aid in healing. They can help their clients better prepare for managing the strong feelings that can come from processing experiences related to loss.
Show curiosity with "I wonder...." statements. Plant seeds by checking in with the people you are helping and putting words / labels from the Seven Core Issues framework to what they might be telling you. It is important to normalize what they are sharing with you.
Keep sharing facts and information even when it may appear that the person you are helping has seemingly closed the door to wanting that information. Remember that not asking questions or rejecting information is a form of mastery and control for the young person, and is also a way to avoid further loss. You can respect where they are in their journey while periodically reminding them of your readiness to talk about the information. (and remember that the details you provide may be filed away and processed at a later time).
Start with where people are at. If you are working with both a young person and their caregiver, keep in mind that people may be on different pages in terms of their experiences of the Seven Core Issues.
Read More: Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency: An Introduction by Families Rising
