Fifty-six families who adopted special needs children were interviewed concerning such areas as parent expectations, competencies, and sense of responsibility and attachment. A profile of adoptive parents was developed with implications for recruitment of adoptive parents for children with special needs. (Author/DB)

Discusses the role of adoption services within the wider context of children's services, and examines the reasons why adoption, having once achieved a position at the pinnacle of the available child placement options, now seems to be a placement option fundamentally out of step with other initiatives for child welfare services. (TJQ)

Reviews research and reports on a longitudinal study of 15 single-parent adoptive homes over a 14-year period that demonstrated that these homes have the capacity to be successful adoptive placements. Identifies unique characteristics of single-parent adoptive homes, and notes the need for additional research to identify children for whom these…

Prenatally drug-exposed and not drug-exposed children adopted as infants and older children were compared four years after adoption on a range of outcome indicators. Drug-exposed and not drug-exposed children were alike on most outcome indicators, and parental satisfaction with the adoption was high and equivalent for parents of both groups. (TJQ)

Provides an overview of issues that families encounter over time in the adoption of children with special needs. Reports on a two-year survey of special needs adoption, which supported much of the conclusions provided by cross-sectional studies. Implications of the findings for the service system are discussed. (TJQ)

Discusses findings from two studies of coping and adaptation in families who adopted children with developmental disabilities. Focuses on two sets of factors that emerged from both studies as central influences on parents' management of their children and adoption outcomes, specifically, the availability of resources and supports, and…

Presents results of a three-state mailed survey that examined pre- and postadoptive service needs of 562 families who adopted children, most of whom had special needs, through public child welfare agencies. Financial and medical adoptive subsidies emerged as pivotal service needs. Counseling and education services and respite care were evaluated…

Describes the developmental process of a research program that integrates theory generation and empirical inquiry in an attempt to understand the process of readjustment that families adopting older children undergo. Presents preliminary findings from a short-term longitudinal study in the form of a case study of family readjustment. Discusses…

Examined the extent to which age at adoption affects the behavioral and emotional adjustment of adoptees. Also examined whether gender, race, and age at assessment interact with age at adoption to influence adoptee adjustment. Confirmed observations made by practitioners and researchers that as age of adoption increases, behavioral and emotional…

Examined whether adolescent adoptees differ from adolescent nonadoptees on indicators of emotional and behavioral adjustment and perceptions of family functioning. Identified areas in which adoptees are at potentially higher risk or have higher levels of functioning than nonadoptees. Investigated the relationship of adoption status to gender,…