Issues Surrounding Post-Adoption Contact in Foster Adoption: The Perspective of Foster-to-Adopt Families and Child Welfare Workers

Châteauneuf, Doris; Pagé, Geneviève; Decaluwé, Bernard

doi:10.1080/15548732.2017.1397079

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Adopters may also be receptive, as more would consider face-to-face contact than are currently involved in it (Adoption UK, 2019). However, contact can be a stressful social and emotional situation for children (MacDonald, 2016), and meetings with previously maltreating parents can be inherently risky (Chateauneuf et al, 2018;Neil et al, 2018), and are unlikely to be sustained in any meaningful way without assistance (MacDonald and McLoughlin, 2016;Luu et al, 2018). Social work support for contact, therefore, should be wellresourced to ensure children's safety and welfare (Featherstone et al, 2018).…”

Section: Open Adoption Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Face-to-Face Birth Family Contact after Adoption from Care: Learning for Trauma-Sensitive Practice

MacDonald¹

2020

The British Journal of Social Work

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There are recent calls to consider face-to-face birth family contact for more children adopted from care. Given that the threshold for this authoritative intervention is significant harm, post-adoption contact should be sensitive to the possible impact of early childhood trauma, and be adequately supported. This article draws on adopters’ reports of face-to-face contact with birth relatives, and their evaluation of social work support to suggest an approach to practice informed by principles of trauma-informed care. Twenty-six adoptive parents participated in focus groups, and seventy-three completed a web-based questionnaire, all from Northern Ireland where face-to-face post-adoption contact is expected. Findings are structured thematically around principles of trauma-informed care: trusting relationships; physical and emotional safety; choice and control; and narrative coherence. Most families had a social worker attending contact, and help with practical arrangements. Less common but important practices included: deliberate consideration of children’s perspectives; safeguarding their emotional well-being; and facilitating communication outside of visits. Findings suggest that visits are a context in which trauma-effects may surface, and social workers supporting contact should be sensitive to this possibility. This article suggests a systemic approach to helping all parties prepare for, manage and de-brief after contact, attending to both adult-to-adult and adult–child interactions.

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Section: Open Adoption Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Face-to-Face Birth Family Contact after Adoption from Care: Learning for Trauma-Sensitive Practice

MacDonald¹

2020

The British Journal of Social Work

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“…Nevertheless, open adoption remains a contentious issue in many countries and there is considerable debate as to what level and type of engagement with birth families is optimal (e.g. Boyle, 2017;Brodzinsky, 2006;Chateauneuf et al, 2017;Grotevant et al, 2011;Neil, 2009). New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory appear to be unique in both legislating for and implementing regular face-to-face post-adoption contact with birth families as a prerequisite of the adoption order.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-adoption Contact and Relationships with Birth Family Members

Ward

Moggach²,

Tregeagle³

et al. 2021

Outcomes of Open Adoption From Care

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The chapter draws on data collected through responses to an online survey concerning 93 adoptees (44% of the cohort), completed on average 18 years after placement, and interviews focusing on 24 adult adoptees. Face-to-face post-adoption contact was a legal requirement. After placement with adoptive families, 93% of adoptees had contact with birth family members; at follow-up, 56% still saw at least one member of their birth family; 69% of both adoptees and adoptive parents thought contact was ultimately beneficial. There was minimal evidence of contact with birth parents destabilising placements. However, it introduced a ‘painful transparency’ for all parties and could be problematic. Over time, contact supported children’s identity needs by incorporating knowledge of their antecedents and could mitigate their difficulties with attachment, separation and loss. It forced all parties to engage with one another and helped adoptees achieve closure.

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Digital twins and the ethics of health decision-making concerning children

Braun

Krutzinna

2022

Patterns

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Issues Surrounding Post-Adoption Contact in Foster Adoption: The Perspective of Foster-to-Adopt Families and Child Welfare Workers

Cited by 9 publications

References 58 publications

Supporting Face-to-Face Birth Family Contact after Adoption from Care: Learning for Trauma-Sensitive Practice

Supporting Face-to-Face Birth Family Contact after Adoption from Care: Learning for Trauma-Sensitive Practice

Post-adoption Contact and Relationships with Birth Family Members

Digital twins and the ethics of health decision-making concerning children

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