Adoption Near and Far for American Adoption Workers

Victor Groza , Ph. D.Professor of Social Work

Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences11235 Bellflower Road

Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, Ohio 44106

(216) 368‑6682

Prepared for Adoption Opportunities Meeting, March 10-11, 2003, Washington, DC.

Less you be convinced otherwise

My domestic projects of the last few years:– Sibling Project with Northeast Ohio Adoption

Services– Kinship Adoption Project with Bellefaire

Jewish Children's Bureau– Minority Adoption Project with Bellefaire JCB– Case Review Project with Cuyahoga County

DCFS, 1997-2001

The Reasons We Should Understand Adoption from a Larger Perspective

Globalization vs. Parochialism Common issues, common struggles—innovation Increase understanding of kinship, tribal and or community ways of

being that are shared by people world wide. Comparison of  models that resemble the early years of child welfare

in America. The perspective from another system helps with a fresh look on the

"system" we know so well. The adoption is final and U.S. citizenship in effect, they are OUR

children, same as any child born here Any adjustment/disruption/search issues (or fall-out) that may arise

over the course of a lifetime, will need to be addressed by social workers in the U.S

Why Families Choose International Adoption

The barriers are fewer The children are younger Fear

– Birth parents– Traumatized children in U. S. system

Racism– Individual– Institutional

Myths– Less damaged– No abuse

The barriers are fewer

Year of Research Study by Country

In-country studies– United States, 1990-1994– Romania, 1999– India, 2001

Studies of International Adoptions to U. S. – Romanian children, 1994, 1995, 1999– Indian children, tentative 2005

In country and Out-of-Country Adoptions

Romania India

In-country1998, 71%1999, 60%2000, 70%2001, 57%,

1996, 62%1998, 56%2000, 56%

InternationalBefore 1990, few1990-1993, 10,000 (one of top sending countries)1998, 8402000, 12912001, 1154

1996, 10001998, 14002000, 1300

The Child Welfare System Differences

Family vs. Institutional Care Child-Centered vs. Family-Centered

COMPARISON OF FAMILY FOSTER CARE TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE

FAMILY CARE love affection structure 1:1 attention individual focus belonging to an extended system of

relations stimulation through relationships

INSTITUTIONAL CARE acceptance/tolerance distance routine 1:8-35 attention group focus belong/identify to the group stimulation thru programs

Risks to Children from Early Institutionalization

– Health– Development– Attachment– Psychosocial (Social, Emotional and

Behavioral) Functioning

Outcomes in International Adoption: A strength or pathology perspective

Resilient Rascals Wounded Wonders

Challenged Children

Other Comparisons

AmericaNon-voluntary termination of parental rightsSubsidyFormal and informal systems of post-placement support

RomaniaAbandonmentNo subsidyMinimal post-placement support

IndiaAbandonmentSavings accountsSome post-placement supportOnly Hindus can adopt in-country; Moslems and Christians have permanent, legal guardianship

0102030405060708090

100

Percentfemale

PercentMoms*

PercentMarried

IndiaRomaniaAmerica

Selected Child and Family Demographics

Parent-Child Relations

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.6

Gett

ing A

long

Comm

unicatio

nTru

st

Respec

t

Close

nss

IndiaRomaniaAmerica

Adoption Smoothness*

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Smoother AsExpected

More Upsand Down

IndiaRomaniaAmerica

Adoption Impact

01020

304050

607080

90

VeryPositive

MostlyPositive

Mixed

IndiaRomaniaAmerica

Behavior Problems

India Romania America

Somatic Complaints .68 .37 .38

Anxiety/Depression* 2.2 1.8 .71

Social Problems* 2.3 1.0 2.0

Withdrawal 1.3 .49 1.3

Thought Problems* .91 .18 .63

Attention Problems* 2.7 1.2 2.6

Aggressiveness* 6.6 3.0 5.8

Lessons Learned about Research

Involve parents in study design Pre-test protocol & instruments With good preparation, families are willing to accept

researchers (and foreigners) in their home to talk about their adoptions.

Involve parents in reviewing results Deconstruct major trends to look for nuances Draw from multiple perspective including behavioral

genetics, child development, psychology and social work

Lessons Learned about Families

Families were more similar than they were different Children had more similarities than differences Families had few service needs that went unmet The service system issues were different by country Birth family issues were much more prominent a concern

in Romania and India than with American families. Family environment is powerful in shaping adoption

outcomes and mitigating the risk children bring to families, but there is still so much to learn