Parents who wait: Acknowledging the support needs and vulnerabilities of approved adopters during their wait to become adoptive parents

Abstract

There is a significant amount of existing research exploring adoption policies, processes, and the experiences and safeguarding of children. However, although much research has children at the focus, little research has been conducted into the experiences of approved and waiting adopters. Where research has included adopters, focus tends to be on how adopters can aid an adoptive placement and what support they can provide to an adoptive child. In this article, the experiences of approved and waiting adopters are at the centre. This article reports on a digital ethnographic research project, which used unobtrusive methods to conduct a thematic analysis of over 600 posts made by waiting adopters on publically available UK online adoption forums in 2015. Online posts discussed the perceived over‐recruitment of adopters; the decision‐making behind adopters' initial preferences; and the negative emotional effects of the waiting period following approval. This article argues that more consideration needs to be given to the needs of and support for approved adopters whilst they wait for an adoptive child.

The motivations and decision-making processes of parents who adopt older children

“…They are looking for the best result for the child rather than necessarily meeting the needs or hopes of the adoptive parents. In other words, the parent is there to meet the needs of the child, not the other way around (Howe, 2003; Rogers, 2017). The information that Fiona was able to glean from her child’s former foster carers after they had been placed with her appeared to be different from what she was initially given.…”

“…Once a potential link has been identified, the professionals involved will consider whether the prospective adopters are likely to be able to meet the child’s emotional, behavioural and attachment needs (Dance et al., 2010). The timings of identifying potential children and matching them with adoptive parents can vary considerably, and this can be an uncertain and difficult time for waiting adopters (Rogers, 2017). Once a potential match has been approved by the adoption panel, the adopters can then begin a series of introductory visits to get to know the child (or children) which normally take place over a few weeks prior to them moving into the adoptive home.…”

“…Alongside this propensity for increased difficulties for older-placed children is a reported level of reluctance on behalf of prospective parents to consider adopting older children, with many waiting parents initially stating a preference for younger ones (Dance, Neil and Rogers, 2017; DfE, 2011; Rogers, 2017; Ward, 2011). Moreover, there is some evidence that adoptive parents who are open to adopting older children may be discouraged from doing so by cautious professionals who are concerned about the increased risks associated with the child’s older age (Brind, 2008).…”

“…This article explores the motivations and decision-making processes of parents who adopt older children -defined here as children aged four and over at the time they joined their new family -and focuses on adoption from state care in the UK context. Research suggests that adoptive parents often start their adoption journey with a preference for adopting younger children as older ones can be considered more difficult to place (Dance, Neil and Rogers, 2017; Department for Education [DfE], 2013; Lowe et al, 1999;Rogers, 2017;Triseliotis, Shireman and Hundleby, 1997;Ward, 2011). The factors that influence parents' decisions to adopt older children are investigated here, and the analysis draws on the conceptualisation of adoption as a 'marketplace' whereby potential adoptive parents are aware that they are in competition with other prospective applicants for a limited pool of children (e.g., Higgins and Smith, 2002;Raleigh, 2016;Skidmore, Anderson and Eiswerth, 2016).…”

Adoptive Parents’ Experiences of Support From Social Workers and Informal Networks During the Adoption Process

“…Many prospective adoptive parents felt that professionals involved in the adoption assessment phase (social workers, medical practitioners, psychologists) were unprofessional, disrespectful and disregarded the parents' feelings and state of vulnerability in the process and throughout the various tests (Gerrand & Stevens, 2019;Rogers, 2018). Parents felt especially concerned and anxious when the social worker involved with their case either did not specialise in adoption or did not agree with unrelated or stranger adoptions, these often being transracial adoptions in South Africa (Doubell, 2014;Gerrand & Stevens, 2019;Tanga & Nyasha, 2017).…”