The Routledge Handbook of Adoption

Description

Adoption is practiced globally yielding a multidimensional area of study that cannot be characterized by a single movement or discipline. This handbook provides a central source of contemporary scholarship from a variety of disciplines with an international perspective and uses a multifaceted and interdisciplinary approach to ground adoption practices and activities in scientific research. Perspectives of birth/first parents, adoptive parents, and adopted persons are brought forth through a range of disciplinary and theoretical lenses. Beginning with background and context of adoption, including sociocultural and political contexts, the handbook then addresses the diversity of adoptive families in terms of family forms, attitudes about adoption, and characteristics of adopted children. Next, research examining the lived experience of adoption for birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted individuals is presented. A variety of outcomes for internationally and domestically adopted children and adoptive families is then discussed and the handbook concludes by addressing the development, training, and implementation of adoption competent clinical practice. With cutting-edge research from top international scholars in a diversity of fields, The Routledge Handbook of Adoption should be considered essential reading for students, researchers, and practitioners across the fields of social work, sociology, psychology, medicine, family science, education, and demography. Interviews with chapter authors can be accessed as podcasts (https://anchor.fm/emily-helder) or as videos (https://bit.ly/2FIoi0a). Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of contributors List of tables List of figures Introduction PART I: Adoption in context 1. Historical and contemporary contexts of US adoption: an overview Prior to the 1900s 1900–1960s 1960s-2000 2000s–the present Issues and areas of controversy in adoption Emerging areas of exploration and practice References 2. US adoption by the numbers Methods Shifts in adoption patterns Conclusion Author note References 3. An economic perspective on ethics in adoption policy The right number of adoptions Imperfect information aspect Positive externality aspect Existing policy creates too few adoptions Creating more adoptions Increasing adoptions using subsidies Improving information without reducing adoptions is difficult Creating better adoptions Conclusion References 4. Domestic adoption in Ethiopia Background Legal and policy frameworks for domestic adoption The Ethiopian constitution The Revised Family Code proclamation of 2000 Alternative child care guidelines Intercountry adoption Domestic adoption Foster-to-adopt: the case of Bethany Global Current state of domestic adoption in Ethiopia Conclusions Note References 5. Intersection of information science and crisis pregnancy decision-making Frameworks Methods Findings Implications for adoption research and practice Conclusion References 6. Respecting children’s relationships and identities in adoption Birth family relationships and identity Relationships with foster carers and other previous caregivers Planning and supporting adoptions that respect children’s relationships and identities: Connections to policy and practice References 7. The Early Growth and Development Study: using an adoption design to understand family influences and child development Introduction Birth parents Factors that lead to choosing adoption Adoptive families Implications for practice and policy References PART II: Diversity in adoption 8. Unique challenges and strengths for families formed through international adoption The process of bonding and family integration Communication about adoption Psychosocial development and adjustment Ethnic and cultural differences Searching and reconciliation with origins Practical implications and future lines of research Conclusions References 9. A critical adoption studies and Asian Americanist integrative perspective on the psychology of Korean adoption Adoption as natural experiment and intervention Adoption (and race) as a risk factor A critical adoption studies and Asian Americanist integrative approach to adoption studies The historical and cultural context of Korean adoption Review of research Policy and practice implications Discussion Notes References 10. A nationally representative comparison of Black and White adoptive parents of Black adoptees Literature review Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Author note References 11. Racial and gender preferences among potential adoptive parents The influence of policy and practice Structural opportunities and constraints Cultural social norms Implications for policy and practice References 12. Adoptive families headed by LGBTQ parents Debate about adoption by LGBTQ people Research on families headed by LGBTQ adoptive parents Implications for future research, policy, and practice Conclusion Notes References 13. Post-institutionalized adopted children: effects of prolonged institutionalization and adoption at an older age Early caregiving relationships Quality of care in institutions Development of post-institutionalized adopted children Practice and policy implications References 14. Adoptees with disabilities or medically involved children: a multidisciplinary approach for preparing parents, assessing the child, and supporting successful family formation Background Adoption of children with disabilities Parent preparation The comprehensive assessment for foster/adopted children Conclusion References 15. Adoption in the context of natural disaster Trends in international adoption Adoption as rescue The 2010 Haitian earthquake Conclusion: policy and practice implications References PART III: Lived experience 16. Birth mothers’ options counseling and relinquishment experiences Relinquishment Methodology Results Limitations Discussion Authors’ note References 17. Transracial adoptees: the rewards and challenges of searching for their birth families Motivations to search Searching strategies Contact and reunions Implications for practice Conclusion References 18. Communication about adoption in families Models and theories of adoption-related family communication Family adoption communication model: theorizing change Family communication patterns theory: exploring cohesion Narrative theories: Illuminating sensemaking and identity Relational dialectics theory: Competing for meaning-making Discourse dependency: Communicating complexities, challenges, and connections Adoption decisions, pathways, and experiences: empirical findings Implications for practice and policy References 19. Open adoption Domestic infant adoptions Domestic adoptions from the child welfare system International adoptions Conclusions Recommendations for practice and policy Recommendations for future research References 20. How adoptive parents think about their role as parents Parent role and Shared Fate Theory Shared Fate Theory as adoptive parenting cognitions Implications of adoptive parenting cognitions Parental role in ethnic-racial socialization Adoptive parents’ feelings of entitlement Implications for practice References 21. Religiosity and adoption Religion and willingness to adopt Religious motivations to adopt among adoptive parents Religious meaning-making in adoption Implications for policy and practice References 22. Adoptive microaggressions: historical foundations, current research, and practical implications The historical context of adoption The stigmatization of adoption Research on racial microaggressions Adoptive microaggressions research The intersectionality of multiple identities in the context of adoptive microaggressions Conclusion and practice implications Note References 23. Maltreatment of adoptees in adoptive homes Maltreatment of children Understanding of maltreatment Policy and practice recommendations Conclusion References PART IV: Outcomes 24. Speech and language development in adopted children Genetic and environmental influences on language Neurobiological effect of poor caregiving on language development Neurobiological effect of changing languages Language outcomes in internationally adopted children Language abilities in school-age internationally adopted children Conclusion References 25. Behavioral and emotional adjustment in adoptees The role of attachment Emotional and behavioral adjustment Mediating mechanisms related to behavioral and emotional adjustment How to foster emotional and behavioral adjustment Summary and implications for policy and practice References 26. The neurobiological embedding of early social deprivation in children exposed to institutional rearing Brain development in the context of adverse rearing Prefrontal cortex structure and functioning Limbic circuitry structure and functioning HPA axis Autonomic nervous system Interventions that influence neurobiology in adopted youth Policy and practice implications Conclusions References 27. Post-adoption short- and long-term social adaptation and competence of internationally adopted children Child–parent attachment Social competence and identity development Summary and policy implications References 28. Academic performance and school adjustment of internationally adopted children in Norway Academic achievement of international adoptees Academic performance and school adjustment of international adoptees in Norway Main results from the Norwegian study Conclusion and implications for policy and practice References 29. Parenting stress in adoptive families Non-adoptive and adoptive families Child characteristics and parenting stress Parent(ing) characteristics and parenting stress Implications for intervention with adoptive families References 30. Adoption instability, adoption breakdown Permanence, instability, breakdown Conceptual and methodological difficulties How many cases of adoption instability or breakdown? Causes of adoption instability and breakdown Policy and practice implications References PART V: Adoption competency 31. Adoption competent clinical practice Adoption competence: toward consensus Adoption competent practice defined Adoption competent clinical practice principles Foundational requirements Competencies in practice Conclusion Implications for policy, practice, and research References 32. Training for adoption competency curriculum Introduction Responding to the need: The Center for Adoption Support and Education CASE’s clinical treatment approach and services Defining adoption competency and developing TAC Expanding the reach: National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative Implications for research, practice, and policy Conclusion References 33. Awareness of adoption at school Introduction and case example Culturally responsive teaching An understanding of loss and separation for educators Strategies for educators The special education process School partnerships Implications for instruction Pre-service teachers Resources and assignments References 34. Post-adoption services: needs and adoption type Types of post-adoption services Service needs as a function of adoption type Service use as a function of child and family characteristics Difficulty accessing post-adoption services Practice implications Policy implications Conclusion References 35. Adoption-specific curricula in higher education Adoption-specific curricula in degree programs Post-degree adoption training programs Adoption curricula study Note References Index