Abstract

Social workers predict that the adoptability of children and the number of successful adoptions will rise with increases in the availability of post-adoption services. However, the development of such services has been stunted by the limited knowledge of the differential needs of adoptive families and by the limited published research on the effectiveness of post-adoption services. In this article, we present the findings of an evaluation of post-adoption services in B.C. Adoptive parents identified their concerns regarding adoption, indicated when they needed post-adoption services, and the sources of support on which they rely. Parents also rated the importance of educational and information services, clinical and support services, and material services. Finally, they reported how often they used these services, and what impact services had on their family. We recommend ways in which knowledge and use of services may be increased, and suggest potential directions for post-adoption service development. Targeting services to families who may need them most, at the time when they need them, and helping them deal with specific concerns, can amplify the positive impact that post-adoption services have on the lives of adoptive families.

Keywords: Post-adoption services; Adoptive families; Adoptions

Article Outline

1. Introduction

1.1. Past evaluations of post-adoption services

1.1.1. Service needs and usage

1.1.2. Service effectiveness

1.1.3. Limitations

2. The present study

3. Method

3.1. Participants

3.1.1. Adoptive families (N = 43)

3.1.2. Adoptees (n = 68)

3.2. Survey

3.3. Procedure

4. Findings

4.1. Adoptive parents' concerns

4.2. Parental need for post-adoption support

4.3. Source of post-adoption support

4.3.1. Knowledge of services

4.4. Importance and use of post-adoption services

4.4.1. Importance

4.4.2. Use

4.5. Effectiveness of post-adoption services

4.5.1. Satisfaction and helpfulness

4.5.2. Impact

5. Discussion

5.1. Increasing awareness and use of services

5.2. Development and targeting of services

5.2.1. Concerns

5.2.2. Effectiveness

5.2.3. Theory

5.2.4. Trends

5.3. Limitations

6. Conclusions

Acknowledgements

References