Faith Integration Archives

Promoting the thriving and belonging of nonbinary and gender diverse people in our communities and families

by Emily Helder Originally published in Reformed Journal I’m a college professor, which means I have a front row seat to the experiences of young adults. I love the job because I get to witness and speak into their lives at a crucial stage of…

Emily HelderJanuary 16, 2024

Faith Integration Talks & Lectures

The Act of Leaving Well

Honors Convocation at Calvin University - April 28th, 2023 Faculty Remarks given by Emily Helder, PhD https://www.youtube.com/live/tKY9M2G9e0c?feature=share&t=1155

Emily HelderMay 4, 2023

Faith Integration Talks & Lectures

The role of religion and faith in the psychological and spiritual lives of LGBTQ+ persons

Presentation: Emily Helder & Ellie Jones Abstract: A growing body of research is examining the role that religion, religious communities, and faith experiences play in the psychological functioning of LGBTQ+ persons (Brewster, 2015; Lefevor, 2021, Levy, 2013). Findings have revealed a complex interplay of religion…

Emily HelderApril 18, 2023

Adoption & Foster Care Articles & Essays Faith Integration

Adoption: Two Voices

Originally published in Reformed Journal - October 31, 2022 by Katie Roelofs & Emily Helder Context: The following is the result of conversations between Katie Roelofs, an adoptee and pastor, and Emily Helder, an adoption researcher, and clinical psychologist. Their shared interest in adoption was…

Emily HelderJanuary 10, 2023

Adoption & Foster Care Articles & Essays Faith Integration

All Welcome? Same-Sex Couples and Faith-Based Adoption Agencies

by Dr. Elisha Marr and Dr. Emily Helder Originally posted on Anxious Bench Bethany Christian Services, a large faith-based adoption and social service agency, has become the latest lightening rod for conservative white evangelicals. This public pushback is rooted in one particular perspective on biblical…

Emily HelderJuly 1, 2021

Adoption & Foster Care Childhood Adversity Faith Integration Talks & Lectures

Ensuring Holistic Inclusion for Adopted Students

https://youtu.be/_JxD4fojKMQ Professional Development for All Belong, Center for Inclusive Education. March 24, 2021 Students who are adopted may face unique, and sometimes unrecognized, barriers to inclusion and belongingness within educational settings. In this workshop we will discuss the narratives that are present around adoption, especially…

Emily HelderMarch 30, 2021

Adoption & Foster Care Faith Integration Podcast & Radio Interviews

Adoption Roundtable: Religiosity and Adoption

Season 1, Episode 25: Dr. Elisha Marr & Dr. Emily Helder discuss research regarding religiosity and adoption. Dr. Marr outlines the findings from existing nationally representative datasets regarding the link between religious affiliation and likelihood of pursuing adoption, linking this with macro level trends such…

Emily HelderMarch 22, 2021

Adoption & Foster Care Childhood Adversity Faith Integration Podcast & Radio Interviews

Adoption Roundtable Podcast: Domestic Adoption in Ethiopia

Season 1, Episode 5: Sebilu Bodja, MPA & Kristi Gleason, LMSW, outline Ethiopia's transition from being a sending country for international adoptions toward developing and prioritizing domestic foster care and adoption programs. They highlight ways that Bethany Christian Services has worked in partnership with the…

Emily HelderSeptember 14, 2020

Adoption & Foster Care Childhood Adversity Faith Integration Papers & Presentations

Religious Motivation to Adopt as a Predictor of Adoptive Family Structure, Parental Discipline, and Outcomes

Originally Authored by Emily J. Helder, Marjorie L. Gunnoe, and Hannah Timmermans in Adoption Quarterly Download Full Text Article PDF Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine religious motivation to adopt and how this relates to decisions families made while adopting, firm discipline,…

Emily HelderJuly 21, 2020

Adoption & Foster Care Chapter Childhood Adversity Faith Integration Mental Health Policy

The Routledge Handbook of Adoption – Chapter 1: Historical and Contemporary Contexts of US Adoption

Originally Authored By Elisha Marr, Emily Helder, and Gretchen Miller Wrobel in The Routledge Handbook of Adoption Download Full Text PDF Introduction Complex family forms, such as those created through adoption, are becoming increasingly commonplace in the US. Our contemporary familiarity with adoptive families, whether…

Emily HelderMarch 3, 2020

Faith Integration