An accessible guide to the adoption process, newly revised and updated to take account of changes to legislation and practice. The book helps practitioners answer some key questions about adoption and the tasks associated with it, including: what are the options for securing permanence; how to get started on life story work; how to plan for contact; how to prepare for the adoption panel; and what is the legal effect of an adoption order. The adoption process is a complex and demanding one. It is necessarily regulated and can be fraught with pitfalls. Written for social workers of looked after children who are, or may be, placed for adoption in England, this guide takes the reader through the various stages, from planning adoption for a child to contributing to the court report for the adoption order.
(Edited publisher abstract)
An accessible guide to the adoption process, newly revised and updated to take account of changes to legislation and practice. The book helps practitioners answer some key questions about adoption and the tasks associated with it, including: what are the options for securing permanence; how to get started on life story work; how to plan for contact; how to prepare for the adoption panel; and what is the legal effect of an adoption order. The adoption process is a complex and demanding one. It is necessarily regulated and can be fraught with pitfalls. Written for social workers of looked after children who are, or may be, placed for adoption in England, this guide takes the reader through the various stages, from planning adoption for a child to contributing to the court report for the adoption order. It focuses on what legislation and standards require to be done; it points to useful forms and templates; and it describes good practice and makes suggestions for further reading.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
adoption, childrens social care, social workers, looked after children;
This bulletin details statistical information relating to children adopted from care in Northern Ireland during the year ending 31 March 2016, including information about these children and their adopters, duration between different stages in the adoption process, average ages of children at each stage, adoption process by age group, foster care adoptions. It reports that eighty nine children were adopted from care during the year ending 31 March 2016, seventeen more than in 2015. The average age of children at the time of adoption was 4 years 5 months. From the last entry into care, the average length of time for a child to be adopted in 2015/16 was 2 years 11 months, 2 months shorter than in 2014/15. A total of fifty one children were adopted by their foster carers in 2015/16, representing 57 per cent of the overall number of adoptions in Northern Ireland. Children adopted by their foster carers were in general slightly older at the time of adoption than the other adopted children, however the average duration of the adoption process was the same.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This bulletin details statistical information relating to children adopted from care in Northern Ireland during the year ending 31 March 2016, including information about these children and their adopters, duration between different stages in the adoption process, average ages of children at each stage, adoption process by age group, foster care adoptions. It reports that eighty nine children were adopted from care during the year ending 31 March 2016, seventeen more than in 2015. The average age of children at the time of adoption was 4 years 5 months. From the last entry into care, the average length of time for a child to be adopted in 2015/16 was 2 years 11 months, 2 months shorter than in 2014/15. A total of fifty one children were adopted by their foster carers in 2015/16, representing 57 per cent of the overall number of adoptions in Northern Ireland. Children adopted by their foster carers were in general slightly older at the time of adoption than the other adopted children, however the average duration of the adoption process was the same.
(Edited publisher abstract)
International Social Work, 59(6), 2016, pp.778-790.
Publisher:
Sage
Young children (N = 381) from three institutions in St Petersburg (Russian Federation) who were transitioned to intercountry (USA) adoption or to various domestic families in Russia did not differ in birth weight, length, head circumference, and rated condition at birth, nor did they differ upon departure from the institutions with respect to physical growth and behavioral development.
(Publisher abstract)
Young children (N = 381) from three institutions in St Petersburg (Russian Federation) who were transitioned to intercountry (USA) adoption or to various domestic families in Russia did not differ in birth weight, length, head circumference, and rated condition at birth, nor did they differ upon departure from the institutions with respect to physical growth and behavioral development. These results provide little support to the occasional allegation for the possibility that intercountry adopted children are selected to be developmentally more (or less) advanced, or that outcomes for children in alternative family placements simply may be associated with pre-placement developmental differences. The generality of these results to other institutions and countries is unknown.
(Publisher abstract)
Children and Youth Services Review, 71, 2016, pp.299-307.
Publisher:
Elsevier
Despite increased emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP), the limited implementation of EBP is a well-known reality. This research examines youth care practitioners' knowledge of, attitudes toward and adoption of EBP (N = 74). Additionally, the difference between EBP and empirically supported treatments (ESTs) is made. Findings show that some practitioner background variables are related
(Edited publisher abstract)
Despite increased emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP), the limited implementation of EBP is a well-known reality. This research examines youth care practitioners' knowledge of, attitudes toward and adoption of EBP (N = 74). Additionally, the difference between EBP and empirically supported treatments (ESTs) is made. Findings show that some practitioner background variables are related to their knowledge of and attitudes toward EBP, but not to ESTs. Findings also provide evidence for current dissemination and implementation models that strongly emphasise the importance of good knowledge of and favorable attitudes toward EBP and EST by practitioners. Expanding the knowledge base of practitioners and positively influencing their attitudes toward EBP are two of the tracks for closing the gap between research and practice.
Highlights: a) Few youth care worker background variables were related to their knowledge of and attitudes toward EBP and EST; b) Having a master's degree and being a female related to more knowledge of EBP; c) A higher age and more clinical experience were related to more favourable attitudes toward EBP; d) Increasing knowledge and positively influencing attitudes are two of the tracks for bridging research and practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Children and Youth Services Review, 67, 2016, pp.184-190.
Publisher:
Elsevier
In the UK, there has been an increasing emphasis in recent years on reducing the delay in making permanent placements for children who cannot remain living with their birth parents. Adoption is one such plan for permanence. This study examined those factors that predicted a lengthier care episode for a national sample of children recently placed for adoption. The data was drawn from the Wales Adoption Study. This is a mixed methods study that analysed information from the adoption reports of all children placed for adoption over a 13 month period during 2014 and 2015 (n = 374). Children were aged between 0 months and 6 1/2 years on entry into care. On average, the time between entering care and moving into an adoptive placement was 528 days. The results of the regression analysis showed that four child-related factors were associated with a longer wait in care before being placed for adoption. These were developmental delay, externalizing behaviour, serious and enduring health problems/disability and exposure to domestic violence. The procedural factors examined showed no association with length of time to placement. The findings from this study make a substantial contribution to further developing what is known about the timeliness of adoption within the current UK context. The implications for policy and practice are discussed.
(Publisher abstract)
In the UK, there has been an increasing emphasis in recent years on reducing the delay in making permanent placements for children who cannot remain living with their birth parents. Adoption is one such plan for permanence. This study examined those factors that predicted a lengthier care episode for a national sample of children recently placed for adoption. The data was drawn from the Wales Adoption Study. This is a mixed methods study that analysed information from the adoption reports of all children placed for adoption over a 13 month period during 2014 and 2015 (n = 374). Children were aged between 0 months and 6 1/2 years on entry into care. On average, the time between entering care and moving into an adoptive placement was 528 days. The results of the regression analysis showed that four child-related factors were associated with a longer wait in care before being placed for adoption. These were developmental delay, externalizing behaviour, serious and enduring health problems/disability and exposure to domestic violence. The procedural factors examined showed no association with length of time to placement. The findings from this study make a substantial contribution to further developing what is known about the timeliness of adoption within the current UK context. The implications for policy and practice are discussed.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
looked after children, permanency planning, adoption, placement, social services;
British Journal of Social Work, 46(4), 2016, pp.974-992.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
This study compared the effectiveness and outcomes of different family finding methods in adoption in England, over-selecting harder to place children. The case files of 149 children with adoption recommendations in ten local authorities were reviewed and a sub-sample of sixty-seven cases were followed in real time, through interviews with professionals and families until six months after or developmental needs. More good quality matches were made when case responsibility was transferred early to the adoption team. Poorer quality matches were related to poorer outcomes six months after adoptive placement. To improve matching, searches for families need to be widened early to avoid delays and to maximise the pool of adopters. Formal processes to track and review the progress of adoptions
(Publisher abstract)
This study compared the effectiveness and outcomes of different family finding methods in adoption in England, over-selecting harder to place children. The case files of 149 children with adoption recommendations in ten local authorities were reviewed and a sub-sample of sixty-seven cases were followed in real time, through interviews with professionals and families until six months after adoptive placement. Most matches were of good quality, but 14 per cent were fair and 13 per cent poor, involving serious compromises on matching requirements or adopters' preferences. There were more poor matches when in-house placements were made or children's difficulties were underplayed with new parents and, necessarily, more compromises were made when matching children with significant health or developmental needs. More good quality matches were made when case responsibility was transferred early to the adoption team. Poorer quality matches were related to poorer outcomes six months after adoptive placement. To improve matching, searches for families need to be widened early to avoid delays and to maximise the pool of adopters. Formal processes to track and review the progress of adoptions for children with complex needs (including matching meetings) can help avoid delay and ensure that a group of professionals, rather than an individual professional, makes key decisions.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
adoption, permanency planning, outcomes, adoptive parents, looked after children;
This data shows the amount of time local authorities take to place children in need of adoption with a family. The scorecard allows local authorities and other adoption agencies to monitor and compare their performance.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This data shows the amount of time local authorities take to place children in need of adoption with a family. The scorecard allows local authorities and other adoption agencies to monitor and compare their performance.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
local authorities, adoption, placement, childrens social care, planning;
The conflation of various illicit intercountry adoption activities under the umbrella of “child trafficking” has caused confusion in the adoption literature. Utilizing a pragmatic approach, this article explores the cacophony of opinions that have arisen with regard to trafficking in illicit adoption activities and identifies the concept of exploitation as a useful framework for differentiating among them. To improve and increase the accuracy of research, policy, and programming, the authors suggest the new labels child trafficking, the sale of children, birth mother trafficking, and abuse of process for use in identifying and discussing different forms illicit adoption.
(Publisher abstract)
The conflation of various illicit intercountry adoption activities under the umbrella of “child trafficking” has caused confusion in the adoption literature. Utilizing a pragmatic approach, this article explores the cacophony of opinions that have arisen with regard to trafficking in illicit adoption activities and identifies the concept of exploitation as a useful framework for differentiating among them. To improve and increase the accuracy of research, policy, and programming, the authors suggest the new labels child trafficking, the sale of children, birth mother trafficking, and abuse of process for use in identifying and discussing different forms illicit adoption.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
intercountry adoption, human trafficking, birth parents, mothers, adoption;
Over the decades, there have been numerous trends in the formation of family for those experiencing infertility. Adoption – initially domestic but now mostly international – has long been a prevailing method, with a dual outcome of also finding homes for parentless children. Those would-be parents with a stronger desire for genetic relatedness have turned to assisted reproductive technologies for the creation of their families. In the 21st century, capitalising on globalisation and advances in medical sciences and communication, global commercial surrogacy (GCS) is emerging as a dominant method of family formation. In seeking to publish this article in Adoption & Fostering, the authors' primary objective was to provide its readership with an introductory look at GCS, thereby expanding an awareness of surrogacy to an audience whose work has traditionally been concerned with the care and protection of children through foster care and adoption. A secondary aim was to see where the long-standing field of adoption could potentially inform the burgeoning field of global commercial surrogacy. To achieve these objectives, the authors use international adoption and the adoption triangle as a framework,
(Edited publisher abstract)
Over the decades, there have been numerous trends in the formation of family for those experiencing infertility. Adoption – initially domestic but now mostly international – has long been a prevailing method, with a dual outcome of also finding homes for parentless children. Those would-be parents with a stronger desire for genetic relatedness have turned to assisted reproductive technologies for the creation of their families. In the 21st century, capitalising on globalisation and advances in medical sciences and communication, global commercial surrogacy (GCS) is emerging as a dominant method of family formation. In seeking to publish this article in Adoption & Fostering, the authors' primary objective was to provide its readership with an introductory look at GCS, thereby expanding an awareness of surrogacy to an audience whose work has traditionally been concerned with the care and protection of children through foster care and adoption. A secondary aim was to see where the long-standing field of adoption could potentially inform the burgeoning field of global commercial surrogacy. To achieve these objectives, the authors use international adoption and the adoption triangle as a framework, as the authors look at the similarities and differences between: (1) the adoptive and commissioning parents; (2) the birth mother and the surrogate; and (3) the adopted children and the children born of global surrogacy.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
intercountry adoption, adoption, surrogacy, looked after children, infertility;
BRODZINSKY David, SANTA John, SMITH Susan Livingston
Journal article citation:
Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, 33(2), 2016, pp.118-134.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Clinical programme directors from 59 residential treatment facilities responded to an online survey addressing the representation of adopted youth currently being served by their organisation, the extent to which adoption issues are incorporated into clinical intake and treatment processes, and the training needs of clinical staff related to adoption. Results indicated that adopted youth they also viewed additional adoption-related training as important for their mental health staff. In addition, adopted youth were viewed by clinical directors as manifesting a higher rate of adjustment difficulties in a number of areas compared to nonadopted youth. Results are discussed in terms of risk factors associated with adoption and the need for adoption clinical training for mental health
(Edited publisher abstract)
Clinical programme directors from 59 residential treatment facilities responded to an online survey addressing the representation of adopted youth currently being served by their organisation, the extent to which adoption issues are incorporated into clinical intake and treatment processes, and the training needs of clinical staff related to adoption. Results indicated that adopted youth are disproportionately represented in these programmes. Although constituting slightly more than 2% of the U.S. child population, 25–30% of youth currently enrolled in these programmes were adopted. Clinical directors reported that most clinical staff had received at least a moderate level of training in adoption-related issues and typically integrated them into the assessment and treatment processes. However, they also viewed additional adoption-related training as important for their mental health staff. In addition, adopted youth were viewed by clinical directors as manifesting a higher rate of adjustment difficulties in a number of areas compared to nonadopted youth. Results are discussed in terms of risk factors associated with adoption and the need for adoption clinical training for mental health professionals in residential treatment centres.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
residential care, surveys, training, adopted children, young people, therapy and treatment, adoption;