post adoption supports presentation by susan smith to huma. discusses us adoption supports and...
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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
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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.
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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Proportion of Nonstepparent U.S. Adoptions/Type
5
Proportion of Non-stepparent U.S. Adoptions by Type
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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)
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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)
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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«
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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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.)
8/8/2019 Post Adoption Supports Presentation by Susan Smith to HUMA. DIscusses US Adoption Supports and Applies to Canada
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For more information:Paper on Post-Adoption Services:
Keeping the Promise
http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/research/2010_10_promises.php