New Strategies in the Adoption of Children with Special Needs

Results of a five-year collaboration between Hennepin County Human Services & Public Health Department and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, School of Social Work
Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW, Principal Investigator jgilgun@umn.edu Susan JKeskinen, MSW, Project Coordinator skeskinen@yahoo.com October 12, 2005

History of the Adoption Project

The Adoption Project

Advisory Board Initial purpose was to increase permanency rate of adoptions First phase was to redo the Matching Tools Discussions led to readiness to adopt tools (RASS)

Overview of Products
Matching Tools Glossary RASS (Readiness to Adopt Self-Survey) IRASS (Interview for Readiness to Adopt) SWISS (Social Worker Self-Survey)

Matching Tools
Caregiver Matching Tool and two Child Matching Tools Response to legislation Series of checklists of issues of relevance to the child Identify challenges and positive capacities of the child

Matching Tool Sections

Childs Strengths Childs Medical History Childs Behavioral Issues Birth Parents History Harmful Parental Behaviors toward Child Moderators of Harmful Parental Behaviors Harmful Experiences while in Out-of-care Attachment Behaviors and History Relationships Present Visitation Arrangements Cognitive Issues School Issues Sexual Issues Cultural and Spiritual Requirements

Glossary

Includes working definitions of words and phrases in the Matching Tools

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD):

A developmental disorder that affects a persons ability to concentrate and control impulses. A child with ADD is not hyperactive but may have some of the following difficulties: concentration problems, difficulty following directions, difficulty completing tasks, easily distracted, loses things, and overly messy or overly neat. Some children appear to gain in abilities to attend to tasks as they grow older.

RASS

A self-survey for prospective adoptive parents comprised of six sections

IRASS

An interview guide for adoption professionals to use when they are talking with prospective adoptive parents of special needs children

SWISS

A self- assessment tool for adoption workers

Children with Special Needs

Behavioral issues
Emotional issues

Children with Special Needs

Behavioral issues
Emotional issues That challenge
typical parental strategies Typical parent capacities for coping

Development of the RASS

Based on literature, professional experience, and interviews and focus groups with adoptive parents and adoption professionals

Development of the RASS

Based on literature, professional experience, and interviews and focus groups with adoptive parents and adoption professionals Interviewed 34 adoptive parents, five focus groups with 24 adoptive parents, and interviews with 22 adoption professionals

Questions we asked parents

Was the Matching Tool helpful in your matching process? What were some of the most helpful experiences in your adoption training ? What services have you and your adoptive child used? What support systems do you use on a regular or irregular basis? What have been the biggest challenges you have faced as an adoptive parent? What have been your biggest joys and rewards?

Questions we asked professionals

How would you characterize children with special needs? How important is your relationship with adoptive parents and the adoptive children to the success of the adoption? What does a successful adoption look like? What factors foster a successful adoption? What part do services play in successful adoptions? What are the qualities you see in parents who are effective with their adoptive children with special needs?

Questions on the RASS

It requires adoptive parents to look within themselves and honestly assess their own strengths, abilities, values, beliefs, and desires.

RASS Results to Date

An overview of the users and feedback of the on-line version of the RASS

Visitors to the On-line RASS

Since June of 2005 103 people had logged in 42 completed the survey 18 people gave demographic information

Breakdown of the Users

The majority were adoption professionals reviewing the survey A smaller number (<42) were prospective adoptive parents

Description of the Users

72% were female all were Caucasian 72% had completed college 72% were married or in a committed relationship

Description of the Users (Continued) 55% lived in large cities or their suburbs; 17% lived in small or medium size towns; and 28% lived in rural areas median income was $55,000$70,000

As a result of filling out the survey...

50% were more aware of childrens issues 55% were more aware of the support they might need 50% were more aware of the time commitment that adoption involves 50% were more aware that adoption can affect other relationships

Doing this self-survey helped people to think more about

what day-to-day parenting involves (44%) the past experiences of children I may adopt (50%) the resilience of children who I may adopt (72%) my emotional reactions to childrens challenging behaviors (44%) how my parents dealt with me (39%)

As a result of this survey, people are more willing to...

seek the advice and guidance of professionals (44%); get more training on parenting children with special needs (39%); get more information on adopting children with special needs (50%)

In general, this survey...

was a reality check (11%) has helped make the decision not to adopt a child at this time (44%) made me realize that I have the skills to make a good adoptive parent (94%)

The IRASS
Same categories as the RASS

The IRASS
Same categories as the RASS Based on literature, professional experience, and interviews with adoptive parents and adoption professionals

The IRASS
Same categories as the RASS Based on literature, professional experience, and interviews with adoptive parents and adoption professionals Is an interview guide for adoption professionals

The SWISS
Includes similar sections as those in the RASS and IRASS Can be used to prepare adoption professionals for their work with families and children Can be used to help identify areas of more training and support for adoption workers

SWISS Sections
Personal Skills Knowledge of Resources Training and Education Personal Qualities Professional and Personal Networks Values, Expectations, and Beliefs

Related Readings
The NEATS: A Child & Family Assessment (Neurobiology, Executive function, Attachment, Trauma, & Self-regulation) A NEATS Analysis of Anxiety Issues A NEATS Analysis of Child Physical Abuse (also a chapter in The NEATS) A NEATS Analysis of Childhood ADHD (also a chapter in The NEATS] A NEATS Analysis of Children with Sexual Behavior Issues (a chapter in The NEATS)

 Attachment & Child Development (a chapter from The NEATS) Child Sexual Abuse: From Harsh Realities to Hope Children with Serious Conduct Issues Executive Function & Self-Regulation in Children (a chapter from The NEATS) How to Raise a Sex Offender: Its Easy; Prevention is Hard Lemons or Lemonade? An Anger Workbook for Kids Young Childrens Catastrophic Fears

Childrens Stories
Busjacked! Emma & her Forever Person Daddy Loves Me Five Little Cygnets Cross the Bundoran Road Jills Warts Patrick & the Magic Mountain The Kings Toast The Little Pigs Who Didnt Go to Market The Picking Flower Garden Turtle Night at Playa Grande Will the Soccer Star