Child and Family Social Work, 12(4), November 2007, pp.336-348.
Publisher:
Wiley
... Participants included adopted foster youth (n = 293) and adopted non-foster youth (n = 312) from a statewide sample of adopted youth, aged 2–18 years. Data were collected from the adoptive parents at approximately 2, 4 and 8 years after adoption. Adoptive parents rated youths’ functioning with the Behaviour Problems Inventory. According to parental report, a striking number of the foster youth displayed
Researchers have long debated whether adopted youth manifest disproportionate levels of psychological dysfunction compared with non-adopted youth. Yet, missing from the debate has been a clear understanding of the specific subgroups of adopted youth who may develop behaviour problems and of the risk factors associated with various vulnerable populations. This longitudinal study examined one subpopulation of adopted youth – former foster children – in order to determine their immediate and long-term functioning, particularly in comparison with their adopted non-foster care peers. The central goal of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of behavioural problems in adopted foster youth compared with adopted non-foster youth and to chart the longitudinal course of their behavioural problems. Participants included adopted foster youth (n = 293) and adopted non-foster youth (n = 312) from a statewide sample of adopted youth, aged 2–18 years. Data were collected from the adoptive parents at approximately 2, 4 and 8 years after adoption. Adoptive parents rated youths’ functioning with the Behaviour Problems Inventory. According to parental report, a striking number of the foster youth displayed behaviour problems, although the non-foster care group of children also displayed noteworthy levels of problem behaviours. The rates of behaviour problems in both groups far exceed what is observed in the general population of children.
Adoptions subsidies represent a growing portion of federal, state, and local expenditures for child welfare services. Almost no previous analysis has been done with state level adoption subsidy data. This paper reports on analyses of subsidy data from North Carolina and California. These analyses indicate the significantly different way that subsidies are used in each state. In California,
Adoptions subsidies represent a growing portion of federal, state, and local expenditures for child welfare services. Almost no previous analysis has been done with state level adoption subsidy data. This paper reports on analyses of subsidy data from North Carolina and California. These analyses indicate the significantly different way that subsidies are used in each state. In California, subsidies change markedly because they are used to purchase post-adoption services. In North Carolina, most post-adoption services are paid for through vendor payments. In California, the likelihood of subsidy increases are associated with family income, in unexpected ways. Common findings across states are that few families that begin to receive a subsidy will generally continue to receiving them until the child ages out of the programme. Implications for policy and research are forwarded. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Subject terms:
post adoption services, adoption, adoption allowance;
Child Welfare Journal, 73(5), September 1994, pp.625-638.
Publisher:
Child Welfare League of America
Basic national and state adoption indicators are now unavailable and must await future data collection efforts. The focus of future efforts on the adoption of children in foster care is appropriate. Case-level adoption data with unique child indicators must be developed to advance the field and further clarify the odds of adoption and disruption. Available psychosocial research clearly indicates that adoption generally results in successful outcomes. Yet, more comparative research on differences between long-term outcomes for children who are adopted and those remaining in foster care would better estimate the value of adoption to children and the public. Rigorous research on strategies to successfully place children for adoption is essential.
Basic national and state adoption indicators are now unavailable and must await future data collection efforts. The focus of future efforts on the adoption of children in foster care is appropriate. Case-level adoption data with unique child indicators must be developed to advance the field and further clarify the odds of adoption and disruption. Available psychosocial research clearly indicates that adoption generally results in successful outcomes. Yet, more comparative research on differences between long-term outcomes for children who are adopted and those remaining in foster care would better estimate the value of adoption to children and the public. Rigorous research on strategies to successfully place children for adoption is essential.
Children and Youth Services Review, 33(8), August 2011, pp.1383-1391.
Publisher:
Elsevier
A substantial proportion of children who enter foster care in the US are infants or toddlers and will exit from foster care before they have been in care for long, either returning home or to adoption. These first years of involvement may predict a significant amount about children's longer term development so understanding developmental outcomes after five years is valuable to understanding of child welfare services policy that remaining in foster care is less developmentally advantageous than having a more permanent arrangement of return home or adoption.
A substantial proportion of children who enter foster care in the US are infants or toddlers and will exit from foster care before they have been in care for long, either returning home or to adoption. These first years of involvement may predict a significant amount about children's longer term development so understanding developmental outcomes after five years is valuable to understanding if child welfare services (CWS) are serving the intention of promoting the well-being of children. In this study a subsample of 353 infants (less than 13 months of age when investigated by child welfare services) and subsequently placed into foster care were selected from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being in the US. After 66 months, these infants had been reunified, adopted, or were still in foster care. Bivariate comparisons were completed. Statistical controls for maltreatment type and severity, demographic traits, and current caregiver education were implemented to help clarify the role of terminal child welfare placement, current caregiver behaviours, and household income, on eight linear regression models of developmental outcomes. Results support the longstanding tenet of child welfare services policy that remaining in foster care is less developmentally advantageous than having a more permanent arrangement of return home or adoption.
Subject terms:
outcomes, adoption, babies, child development, family reunification, foster care;
Children and Youth Services Review, 33(1), January 2011, pp.28-33.
Publisher:
Elsevier
Home study assessments form a large part in the process of gathering information about prospective adoptive families. This study explores how home studies are perceived and used in the context of child specific recruitment. Adoption recruiters from employed through the Wendy's Wonderful Kids (WWK) program in the United States took part in focus groups and an online survey to give their opinions in current adoption practice.
Home study assessments form a large part in the process of gathering information about prospective adoptive families. This study explores how home studies are perceived and used in the context of child specific recruitment. Adoption recruiters from employed through the Wendy's Wonderful Kids (WWK) program in the United States took part in focus groups and an online survey to give their opinions on the value and usefulness of home studies. In total 33 recruiters participated in focus groups and 77 survey responses were analysed. Home studies were felt to perform the best in the areas of: family history; family's interests and hobbies; how parents were raised; detailed description of families; and families motivation to adopt. Those receiving a lower score than average were: level of supervision needed for child; handling behavioural issues; understanding medial issues; understanding behavioural issues and interviews with references. Findings suggest that home studies perform best in gathering general family information, but poorly in capturing sensitive information, which may be one of the most critical dimensions to capture. These findings highlight important practice changes needed in current adoption practice.
Social Service Review, 80(1), March 2006, pp.127-159.
Publisher:
University of Chicago Press
Child welfare policy and practice have increased their focus on adoption for those children who cannot rapidly be reunified from foster care. The burgeoning numbers of children receiving adoption subsidies have led some states in the United States to be concerned about or even to curtail adoption subsidy levels. Yet, little is known about how the cost of foster care compares to that of adoption. This study uses longitudinal adoption subsidy and foster care placement data to estimate the relative costs of foster care and adoption for a statistically matched group of children. The data show that a sizable proportion of children who are not adopted will leave foster care but that an offsetting proportion of the children who remain will be transitioned to substantially more expensive placements than those used by adopted children. On balance, adoption achieves substantial governmental savings.
Child welfare policy and practice have increased their focus on adoption for those children who cannot rapidly be reunified from foster care. The burgeoning numbers of children receiving adoption subsidies have led some states in the United States to be concerned about or even to curtail adoption subsidy levels. Yet, little is known about how the cost of foster care compares to that of adoption. This study uses longitudinal adoption subsidy and foster care placement data to estimate the relative costs of foster care and adoption for a statistically matched group of children. The data show that a sizable proportion of children who are not adopted will leave foster care but that an offsetting proportion of the children who remain will be transitioned to substantially more expensive placements than those used by adopted children. On balance, adoption achieves substantial governmental savings.
Children and Youth Services Review, 23(11), November 2001, pp.865-891.
Publisher:
Elsevier
This study estimates how much time and money are required to complete an adoption (including post-adoptive services) of a child in foster care in California. The study population was composed of social workers and other staff performing direct social work related activities in foster care and adoption. Subjects participated in a time study, a focus group, or both. Policy implications
This study estimates how much time and money are required to complete an adoption (including post-adoptive services) of a child in foster care in California. The study population was composed of social workers and other staff performing direct social work related activities in foster care and adoption. Subjects participated in a time study, a focus group, or both. Policy implications are discussed.
Reports on a study analysing the workload of California's public adoption workers which revealed how much adoption practice in the public sector has changed in recent years. Using focused discussion groups, this study found that compared to practice of an earlier time, children available for placement come from more problematic families and are more difficult to place; some decisions traditionally with the domain of adoptions are now being made by other social workers; and increased oversight by the judicial system has had several unanticipated consequences, including adoption work taking on a "paralegal" quality and judges making traditional casework decisions.
Reports on a study analysing the workload of California's public adoption workers which revealed how much adoption practice in the public sector has changed in recent years. Using focused discussion groups, this study found that compared to practice of an earlier time, children available for placement come from more problematic families and are more difficult to place; some decisions traditionally with the domain of adoptions are now being made by other social workers; and increased oversight by the judicial system has had several unanticipated consequences, including adoption work taking on a "paralegal" quality and judges making traditional casework decisions.
Subject terms:
placement, planning, social work methods, workload, youth justice, adoption, decision making;
A sizable proportion of special needs adoptions result in a disruption/dissolution or a displacement. Researchers emphasize the importance of comprehensive preparation to support adoption adjustment. This article examines the differential receipt of preparatory services based upon child and family characteristics and the child's risk history. Analyses of three types of preparatory services identified through factor analysis, including general, biological, and behavioral information/ services, confirm differential preparation of adoptive families. However, three variables were predictive of receipt of all types of preparation, including type of adoption, kinship status, and pre-adoptive risk history. Implications for practice and research are presented. (Copies of this article are available
A sizable proportion of special needs adoptions result in a disruption/dissolution or a displacement. Researchers emphasize the importance of comprehensive preparation to support adoption adjustment. This article examines the differential receipt of preparatory services based upon child and family characteristics and the child's risk history. Analyses of three types of preparatory services identified through factor analysis, including general, biological, and behavioral information/ services, confirm differential preparation of adoptive families. However, three variables were predictive of receipt of all types of preparation, including type of adoption, kinship status, and pre-adoptive risk history. Implications for practice and research are presented. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Subject terms:
mental health problems, needs, physical disabilities, placement, risk, adopted children, adoption, adoptive parents, drug misuse;