post adoption supports presentation by susan smith to huma. discusses us adoption supports and...

8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada

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Keeping the Promise:

The Critical Need for Post-Adoption Services to

Enable Children and Families to Succeed



Decline in Infant Adoptions

Since the early 1970s, infantadoptions have declined about nine-fold.

During past 20 years, public fostercare & intercountry adoptions haveincreased dramatically.

These adoptions are best for thechildren and cost-beneficial forsociety.



Numer 0f Adoptions with Public Agency Involvement

1988-2005

1 5 , 0 0 0

1 6 , 0 0 0

1 7 , 0 0 0

1 8 , 0 0 0

1 9 , 0 0 0

1 8 , 0 0 0

2 3 , 0 0 0

2 6 , 0 0 0 2 8

, 0 0 0

3 1 , 0 0 0

3 7 , 0 0 0

4 7 , 0 0 0

5 1 , 0 0 0

5 1 , 0 0 0 5 3

, 0 0 0

5 0 , 0 0 0 5 2

, 0 0 0

5 1 , 0 0 0

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005



Proportion of Nonstepparent U.S. Adoptions/Type

5

Proportion of Non-stepparent U.S. Adoptions by Type



6

How do adopted children fare after adoption?

The Good News Only 15% of adoptive parents (of all types) report their

relationship with their adopted child is ³more difficult´than they ever expected.

Over 90% of adoptive parents in any type of adoptionare satisfied with their adoption experience

Most adoptive parents report feeling very close to theirchildren across all types of adoptions

(National Survey of Adoptive Parents; Howard, Smith & Ryan, 2004)



7

The Challenges

The tilizati f li i al er i es a ti e

fa ilies is tri le the rate r eported irth fa ilies

Over / of adopted hildr en r eceive at least one

t pe of counseling or ental health ser vice

Behavior pr oblems f or many of these youth ar e chr onic

Underlying emotional issues drive behavior s



Risk Factors for Ongoing Challenges

Prenatal malnutrition/low birth weight

Prenatal substanceexposure

Older age at adoption

Early deprivation & chronic neglect

Physical, sexual & emotional abuse

Multiple placements

Emotional conflicts re:loss & identity

Genetic vulnerabilities



9

Percentage of Children (6-17) Receiving MentalH

ealth Care (Nat¶l Survey of Adoptive Parents)

46% Foster care adoptions

33% Private domestic adoptions

35% International adoptions

10% General population(National Survey of Children¶s Health)



Issues in School Performance by Family Type

Birth Infant Int¶l CW

n=175 n=481 n=89 n=1340

Unmet educational needs 15% 18% 27% 39%

Special education services

for learning problems 9% 24% 32% 40%

Teacher complaints/behavior 18% 35% 34% 54%

On medication for behaviors 3% 28% 21% 31%

Repeated 1 or more grades 6% 4% 3% 26%

(Howard, Smith, & Ryan, 2004)

Issues in School Performance by Family Type



Families Need Post-Adoption Services

Financial supports

Education/information & referral

Support: support groups, mentors

Respite care for children with intense needs

Therapeutic counseling services

Service coordination, advocacy



12

Barriers to Receiving

Help

Professionals lack adoption competence

Effective treatments just now developing

Complexity of problems & needs-hard toget effective help in a timely way

Inadequate funding of post-adopt services

Some problems cannot be remediated andneed ongoing support



13

When Can¶t Find Help²Common Family Dynamics

Severe power struggles

Mother takes brunt of child·s anger

Marital tension

Conflict thru family / sibs

Isolation

Running on empty/exhaustion

Parents feel like failures/hopeless

Difficulty connecting or empathizing



We er e lost, sinking, destr oying our family rapidly bef or e these ser vices. We spent thousands upon thousands of dollar s, not counting the time involved in seeking help. This as the only place e could find help, inf or mation, r elief«an

under standing of how to tr y and cope «how to deal with the emotions these kids stir up in us. How to still love them«It¶s so har d to tr y to put

into wor ds the devastating eff ects on the family these kids could have«the destr uction, the financial drain, the br eakdown of the marriage, of physical health«



15

Recommendations Dedicated federal funding and assistance to

develop continuum of supports

Identify high risk children & intervene early Research on interventions & educate

professionals about these

Educate professionals to understandadoptions & how to support families

Intensive services needed for top level of difficulty (advocacy, crisis, etc.)



For more information:Paper on Post-Adoption Services:

Keeping the Promise

http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/research/2010_10_promises.php

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