When you first start out seeking to adopt a child, do you have all kinds of wonderful, positive, confident thoughts about the process? Do you see yourself as a great parent for that child and couldn’t possibly be declined or even at some point bow out?As much enthusiasm as you have in the beginning, potential adoptive parents begin to face any number of barriers along the way. Yet, be of good cheer, there are success experiences as well. First, according to a 2007 US Department of Health & Human Services Congressional survey report on barriers and success factors in adoptions from foster care, there are 28 top barriers adoptive parents have experienced.
A few examples of these top barriers (based on child, family, and agency factors) evidenced during the orientation application period include a change in family commitment (40%), family preparation and expectation issues (20%), change in personal circumstances (20%), and difficulties with adoption process logistics(60%). There were also adoptive parents who discontinued the process prior to completing the training/home study. The top barriers were adoption process logistics (41%), a change in personal circumstances (33%), and difficulty with agency emotional support (26%).
Adoptive parents also discontinued after approval. Top barriers were adoption process logistics (51%), agency emotional support (42%), and agency communication/responsiveness (49%). Adoptive parents discontinued after disrupted placement, meaning finalization didn’t happen. The top barriers for these parents included agency emotional support (71%), family distress at placement/child no longer available (65%), and agency communication/responsiveness (47%). Even when adoption was finalized, although those parents reported much fewer barriers, there were a some top barriers still reported . . . adoption process logistics (68%), agency communication/responsiveness (46%), and agency emotional support (23%).
One of the top barriers specifically for agency case workers was their caseload to the successful completion of the adoption process. “For many caseworkers, this not only included the number of cases carried but also a number and range of responsibilities in areas other than adoption, such as child protection. Both were thought to create delays in the adoption process.” Over 60% reported that reducing caseload and hiring more workers was the solution.
Now for the good news. The demographics of successful families who have sustained commitment as adoptive parents vary somewhat. Yet, the majority of parents are either married couples (65%) or single females (29%). The average age for the female was 45 years old, male 46 years old. “The adoptive families had an average income of $61,991. The average income of the couples was $72,826; single females was $36,922; and single males was $52,800. More than half of the sample of adoptive parents had completed either a bachelor’s or graduate degree.”
The top factors that defined successful adoption included parental commitment to child (29.8%), child is not behaving negatively (21.7%), child is showing progress in the adoptive home (16.1%), parent and child bonding (15.5%), parents are prepared for the child’s adoption & have realistic child expectations (14.3%).”One parent described success in terms of parental commitment: ‘Raising a kid to maturity where they are self-supporting. And not giving up. And also meeting all their needs no matter what those are. Hanging in there.’ Another parent described unconditional love and acceptance as important for success.” When families were asked if the adoption of their child had been a success, 88% said yes; 11% said they were not sure yet/maybe; 3% said it was not a success.
Along with the child having a good disposition and the agency making a good match, parents who had effective parenting skills, sought extra resources/information, had good training/information, and acknowledged the child’s history, considered the adoption successful.
According to Adoption USA 2007 National Survey of Adoptive Parents “. . . 87% of adopted children have parents who said they would “definitely” make the same decision to adopt their child, knowing everything then that they now know about their child.” The survey also reported that “the majority of adopted children have enriching experiences in their families, and they are more likely to have some of these positive experiences than children in the general population. For example, they are more likely to be read to every day as young children (68 compared with 48 percent in the general population), sung to or told stories every day as young children (73 compared with 59 percent), or to participate in extracurricular activities as school-age children (85 compared with 81 percent).”
I’ve only touched on the highlights of these two surveys. I encourage you to read them both to gain a comprehensive perspective on adoption, particularly from foster care. You will then be more prepared when you step in to the adoption process. With a clear head and caring heart, may you be blessed with that special child waiting just for you to adopt and adore throughout your lives.
Source:
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/statistics/adoption.cfm
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/barriers/barriers.pdf
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