Considers the medical importance for adoptees of not knowing their family history. Notes the problems adoptees face when others misunderstand their need for information on their background. Points out that the search for background has both intellectual and emotional components for adoptees. (SKC)

Investigates developmental changes in adopted and nonadopted children's knowledge of adoption. A total of 200 children ranging in age from 4 to 13 years participated. Results indicated clear developmental trends in children's knowledge of the nature of the adoptive family relationship, as well as in their understanding of the motivational basis…

No differences were found in mother-infant attachment between nonadopted and intraracial adopted subjects or between intraracial and interracial adopted subjects. Suggests that the higher incidence of psychological problems found among adoptees in middle childhood and adolescence cannot be explained in terms of insecure attachment relationships…

Examines response styles to cognitive demands of the WISC exhibited by 7- to 10-year-old black children adopted by either white or black middle-class families. A significant difference in the average performance of the two groups of children was observed, favoring those adopted by white families. Mothers' helping behaviors differed by race.…

A path model of genetic and family environmental transmission was fitted to published twin correlations and to general cognitive ability data from adoptive and nonadoptive families in which children were tested yearly through the fourth year. Longitudinal genetic correlations from infancy to adulthood were modeled explicitly, as were effects of…

Eighty-seven children relinquished at birth and adopted before the age of three years into different social classes were assessed in late adolescence. Findings indicated that the school failure of adoptees varies as a function of the social class of the adopive parents: the higher the social class, the lower the number of repeated grades. (RH)

A path model of genetic and shared family environmental transmission was fitted to general cognitive ability data from 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old adopted and nonadopted children and their parents to assess the etiology of longitudinal stability from infancy to early childhood. (HOD)

An exploratory study was made to investigate factors possibly related to adoptive families' and adoptive single parents' decisions about participation in a new postplacement support service. Factors under consideration included family background, existing informal supports, attitudes toward mental health professionals, and perceptions of the…

Contents of this keynote address provide current information about services offered by the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). In fiscal years 1984 and 1985, ACYF will continue with program initiatives to improve the quality and effectiveness of Head Start. In addition, ACYF has established a number of initiatives to help…

Describes a systematic approach to recruitment of prospective adoptive families for children with developmental disabilities. The recruitment methodology, preliminary conclusions, and implications for future recruitment of families are presented. (Author/RWB)

Discusses issues related to the adoption revelation process and the two interrelated goals of telling and understanding. Evidence indicates developmental changes in the way children understand this family status. Distinction between "working adoption vocabulary" and true understanding of adoption is made. Provides guidelines concerning…

Describes two studies of the factors that influence unmarried pregnant adolescents to choose adoption rather than parenthood. Study One examines the effect of perceived parental preference and vocational goals. Study Two examines the effect of perceived parental preference and attained vocational identity status. (FMW)

This paper presents an example of "optimistic research," a qualitative approach which focuses on positive interventions helpful to practitioners, in this case an examination of programs successfully integrating people with severe disabilities. The study evaluated 40 programs through site visits which focus on observation, interviews, and…