scholarly journals Post-adoption Contact and Relationships with Birth Family Members

2021 ◽  
pp. 151-197
Author(s):  
Harriet Ward ◽  
Lynne Moggach ◽  
Susan Tregeagle ◽  
Helen Trivedi
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Adult Adoptees ◽  
Adoptive Families ◽  
Birth Parents ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Birth Family ◽  
Children's Identity

AbstractThe chapter draws on data collected through responses to an online survey concerning 93 adoptees (44% of the cohort), completed on average 18 years after placement, and interviews focusing on 24 adult adoptees. Face-to-face post-adoption contact was a legal requirement. After placement with adoptive families, 93% of adoptees had contact with birth family members; at follow-up, 56% still saw at least one member of their birth family; 69% of both adoptees and adoptive parents thought contact was ultimately beneficial. There was minimal evidence of contact with birth parents destabilising placements. However, it introduced a ‘painful transparency’ for all parties and could be problematic. Over time, contact supported children’s identity needs by incorporating knowledge of their antecedents and could mitigate their difficulties with attachment, separation and loss. It forced all parties to engage with one another and helped adoptees achieve closure.

scholarly journals Introduction: International Issues and Debates Concerning Adoption

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Harriet Ward ◽  
Lynne Moggach ◽  
Susan Tregeagle ◽  
Helen Trivedi
Keyword(s):  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Adult Adoptees ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
History Of ◽  
International Issues ◽  
Birth Family ◽  
Aboriginal Children ◽  
Children In Care

AbstractA history of systemic injustices and a lack of transparency have influenced public perceptions of domestic adoption. This book aims to introduce more empirical evidence into the debate by exploring the value of open adoption, as practised in Australia, as a route to permanence for abused and neglected children in out-of-home care who cannot safely return to their birth families. International evidence about the outcomes of adoption and foster care is discussed. The chapter introduces the Barnardos Australia Find-a-Family programme which has been finding adoptive homes since 1986 for non-Aboriginal children in care who are identified as ‘hard to place’. Regular post-adoption face-to-face contact with birth family members is an integral part of the adoption plan. The methodology for evaluating the outcomes for 210 children placed through the programme included case and court file analysis, a follow-up survey and interviews with adoptive parents and adult adoptees.

scholarly journals Progress After Placement

2021 ◽  
pp. 199-222
Author(s):  
Harriet Ward ◽  
Lynne Moggach ◽  
Susan Tregeagle ◽  
Helen Trivedi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Developmentally Delayed ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Adult Adoptees

AbstractThe chapter explores the progress made by the 93 adoptees in the core follow-up sample in terms of physical and mental health and education from the time they entered their adoptive homes until they were followed up, on average 18 years later. It draws on data collected through responses to an online survey concerning 93 adoptees (44% of the cohort) completed at follow-up, and interviews focusing on 24 adult adoptees. On entering their placements, 40% of adoptees were developmentally delayed; 13% had poor physical health; 38% were in poor mental health. Emotional and behavioural problems affected their academic progress; 76% required specialist help. After placement, 74% improved in physical health, 66% in mental health and 68% in academic performance. The challenges faced by adoptive parents provide a powerful case for careful preparation and long-term post-adoption support.

Facebook as Facilitator or Foe

2019 ◽  
pp. 313-340
Author(s):  
Abbie E. Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Birth Parents ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Birth Family

This chapter examines parents’ use of social media, such as Facebook, with respect to the birth family. Some adoptive parents engaged Facebook as a means of establishing or maintaining reciprocal contact with birth parents and other birth family members; thus, it was used to sustain relationships. Others engaged it “passively” (e.g., as a means of finding out details about the birth family). Still others did not desire or pursue such contact, often citing concerns about boundaries. The chapter also addresses parents’ ideas about their children’s future relationships with their birth family—relationships possibly facilitated by social media and maintained without parental oversight or monitoring.

scholarly journals Permanence

2021 ◽  
pp. 125-150
Author(s):  
Harriet Ward ◽  
Lynne Moggach ◽  
Susan Tregeagle ◽  
Helen Trivedi
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Foster Parents ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Adult Adoptees ◽  
Original Cohort ◽  
Extensive Data ◽  
Care Leavers

AbstractThis chapter considers how far the Barnardos adoptees achieved legal, residential and emotional permanence after adoption. It draws on minimal follow-up data, available for 124 adoptees (59% of the original cohort); extensive data collected through responses to an online survey concerning 93 adoptees (44% of the cohort) 5–37 years after placement; and interviews focusing on 24 adult adoptees. Ages at follow-up ranged from 5 to 44. All adoptees had achieved legal permanence. Many had achieved residential permanence after numerous placements in care: 34% of those aged 18 or over were still living with their adoptive parents. Twelve (13%) placements had disrupted, but all except eight (9%) adoptees had achieved psychological permanence. Relationships between adoptees and adoptive parents were twice as likely to persist as those between care leavers and foster parents.

Open Adoption and Diverse Families

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbie E. Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Skin Color ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Open Adoption ◽  
Adoptive Families ◽  
Birth Parents ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Birth Family ◽  
Physical Features ◽  
Over Time

This book traces the experiences of diverse adoptive families—including lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families, and families who adopted through foster care and private adoption—as they manage birth family relationships across their children’s childhood. It explores the diversity among families in how open adoption is envisioned, enacted, and experienced over time. The author uses interview data from four time points spanning preadoption to 8 years postadoption to address a variety of questions, including: How do adoptive parents feel about openness when they first learn about it, and why do their feelings change over time? How do adoptive parents’ initial feelings about birth parents inform the types of relationships that they form with birth family? How do adoptive parents who strongly valued openness cope with and handle the disappointment of matching with birth parents who do not desire and/or are unable to enact a similar level of openness? What types of complex, unexpected, and nuanced trajectories of contact unfold over time between adoptive families and birth families? What types of boundary challenges occur between adoptive and birth family members, offline and online? How do adoptive parents talk about adoption with their children, and how does this vary depending on level and type of contact? How and to what extent do adoptive parents invoke environment versus genetics (i.e., birth family) in articulating children’s strengths, challenges, and physical features (e.g., height, skin color)? How do the experiences of adoptive parents differ by parent gender and sexual orientation?

Support Needs and Post-Adoption Resources for Adopted Adults: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1775-1795
Author(s):  
Yolanda Sánchez-Sandoval ◽  
Natalia Jiménez-Luque ◽  
Sandra Melero ◽  
Violeta Luque ◽  
Laura Verdugo
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Adult Adoptees ◽  
Adoptive Families ◽  
International Adoptions ◽  
Birth Family ◽  
Attachment Development

Abstract Post-adoption services provide guidance to adoptive families concerning common and specific circumstances. Despite adoption is a lifelong experience, most of the post-adoption resources are oriented towards children, adolescents and their adoptive parents. However, it is also necessary to focus on the demands and interventions with adult adoptees. The aim of this article is to review adult adoptees’ demands for post-adoption resources, applicants’ characteristics and resources offered to them. A systematic search was conducted in several databases, finding forty studies that fulfilled the selection criteria (about adults, domestic/international adoptions and published between 2005 and 2018). The included studies showed mainly three needs: contact with birth family, ethnic identity and birth culture, and psychological support. Additionally, adoptees who demand post-adoption resources are a heterogeneous group. This review collects structured programmes focused on different topics: search for origins, attachment development and professionals’ training in adoption. In addition, we also found some specific post-adoption services and other tools, such as support groups or cultural events. Finally, adoptees also have access to other resources that are not specifically for them, such as mental health services. The scarce existence of evidence-based interventions is an important weakness in this work. Recommendations for future research and practice are included.

Issues of Confidentiality in Adoption: The Role of the Pediatrician

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Certificate ◽  
The United States ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
State Agency ◽  
Adopted Children ◽  
Court Order ◽  
Adult Adoptees ◽  
Birth Parents ◽  
Birth Parent ◽  
Birth Family

Adoption practices in the United States have been designed to protect each member of the adoption triad. Traditionally they preserve the anonymity and privacy of the birth parents. These practices have supported the concept that adoptive parents need to establish a relationship with their new child without concern of unwanted interference by members of the child's birth family. In addition, they emphasize protecting adopted children from potentially disturbing facts about their birth families and/or psychological confusion that might arise from any continued relationship with their birth families. To protect confidentiality in adoption, all records of the adoption proceedings are sealed. The child's original birth certificate is sealed, and a new one is issued that typically contains only the child's adoptive name and substitutes the names of the adoptive parents for the birth parents. The original birth certificate and adoption records can be opened only by a court order and only for "just cause." Recently, however, three states have developed open adoption records, and more than 30 other states have developed mutual consent registries.1 The exact statutes regarding mutual consent registries vary from state to state, but the basic concept allows adult adoptees and birth parents to register their desire to meet each other. If a mutual consent is achieved, identifying information can be released and a meeting may be facilitated. Some states require both parties to register independently. Other states allow a state agency to locate the birth parent(s) to determine whether consent will be granted to release information to the adult adoptee.1

scholarly journals Are telephone consultations here to stay in rheumatology?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina R Raizada ◽  
Natasha Cleaton ◽  
James Bateman ◽  
Diarmuid M Mulherin ◽  
Nick Barkham
Keyword(s):  
Older Patients ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Telephone Consultation ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Vulnerable Patients ◽  
Number Of Patients

Abstract Objectives During the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face rheumatology follow-up appointments were mostly replaced with telephone or virtual consultations in order to protect vulnerable patients. We aimed to investigate the perspectives of rheumatology patients on the use of telephone consultations compared with the traditional face-to-face consultation. Methods We carried out a retrospective survey of all rheumatology follow-up patients at the Royal Wolverhampton Trust who had received a telephone consultation from a rheumatology consultant during a 4-week period via an online survey tool. Results Surveys were distributed to 1213 patients, of whom 336 (27.7%) responded, and 306 (91.1%) patients completed all components of the survey. Overall, an equal number of patients would prefer telephone clinics or face-to-face consultations for their next routine appointment. When divided by age group, the majority who preferred the telephone clinics were <50 years old [χ2 (d.f. = 3) = 10.075, P = 0.018]. Prevalence of a smartphone was higher among younger patients (<50 years old: 46 of 47, 97.9%) than among older patients (≥50 years old: 209 of 259, 80.7%) [χ2 (d.f. = 3) = 20.919, P < 0.001]. More patients reported that they would prefer a telephone call for urgent advice (168, 54.9%). Conclusion Most patients interviewed were happy with their routine face-to-face appointment being switched to a telephone consultation. Of those interviewed, patients >50 years old were less likely than their younger counterparts to want telephone consultations in place of face-to-face appointments. Most patients in our study would prefer a telephone consultation for urgent advice. We must ensure that older patients and those in vulnerable groups who value in-person contact are not excluded. Telephone clinics in some form are here to stay in rheumatology for the foreseeable future.

The Aphasia Action, Success, and Knowledge Programme: Results from an Australian Phase I Trial of a Speech-Pathology-Led Intervention for People with Aphasia Early Post Stroke

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooke Ryan ◽  
Kyla Hudson ◽  
Linda Worrall ◽  
Nina Simmons-Mackie ◽  
Emma Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Speech Pathology ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction

Background: Speech pathologists work to optimise communication and reduce the emotional and social impact of communication disability in patients with aphasia but need evidence-based interventions to effectively do so.Objective: This phase 1 study aims to evaluate an Australian speech-pathology-led intervention called the Aphasia Action, Success, and Knowledge (Aphasia ASK) programme for patients with aphasia early post stroke.Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was utilised. The intervention included up to six individual face-to-face sessions with seven participants with aphasia and their nominated family member(s). Quantitative outcomes assessing mood, quality of life, and communication confidence were conducted for the participants with aphasia. Follow-up interviews were conducted with both participants with aphasia and family members to determine their perceptions of the programme.Results: Significant improvements were found in communication confidence and mood after treatment and the gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Participants with aphasia and their family members reported a good level of satisfaction with the programme.Conclusions: Findings suggest the Aphasia ASK programme is a suitable intervention with positive initial outcomes for people with aphasia. A larger scale evaluation with a greater variety of participants is now required. An Australian cluster randomised control trial is planned.

Addressing Adoption in Counseling: A Study of Adult Adoptees' Counseling Satisfaction

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda L. Baden ◽  
Andrew Kitchen ◽  
Jonathan R. Mazza ◽  
Elliotte Sue Harrington ◽  
Ebony E. White
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Common Reason ◽  
Adult Adoptees ◽  
Birth Family ◽  
Adoptive Identity ◽  
Counseling Satisfaction

In this mixed-methods study, 118 adult adoptees completed an online survey gathering information on (a) reasons for seeking therapy, (b) preferences for therapists, (c) perception of therapists' degree of emphasis on adoption during therapy, and (d) relationship satisfaction with adoptive and birth family members. The participants also completed the Satisfaction With Therapy and Therapist Scale–Revised (STTS-R), Adoptive Identity Questionnaire (AIQ), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES). Findings were that the therapists' adoption competence was the most important factor for adoptees in selecting therapists, adoption-related issues were the most common reason adoptees sought therapy, and adoptees reported being more satisfied with therapy if their therapists placed emphasis on adoption regardless of the amount of attention that was focused on adoption.

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