Relevance of the problem stated in the article, conditioned by the fact that the successful adaptation of orphans in a foster family requires specialized knowledge and skills, as well as the need of professional support. Therefore, this article aims at substantiation of the effectiveness of the developed pilot program psycho-pedagogical support of…

Educational outcomes for youths in foster care are poor compared with those of their peers who are not child welfare involved. This qualitative study examined the impact of adoption on the educational experiences of older youths with disabilities who were adopted from the child welfare system. Researchers conducted interviews with families of…

Objective: The child welfare practice of concurrent planning attempts to shorten children's stays in foster care. There is very little quantitative research on concurrent planning's effects. This study examines the influence of concurrent planning practice elements (reunification prognosis, concurrent plan, full disclosure, and discussion of…

The readability/usefulness of a new format for the final report of the Tri-State Adoption Project--involving Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas in a television promotion effort--were evaluated. How busy decision makers (two federal, seven state, and 17 regional program officers) can be informed of evaluation research outcomes is illustrated. (TJH)

Describes the selection of outcome measures used by the Maudsley Family Research team to assess outcomes--across a broad range of developmental dimensions--of permanent placement for children and adolescents. Developed a package of instruments to examine child emotional, cognitive, social, and academic development; attachment; and self-esteem, for…

Describes and assesses the impact of the Friends of Black Children project which enlists the aid of local communities and public adoption agencies to further the adoption of black children by black families. (Author/NH)

Describes the goals, operation, results and evaluation of the adoptive parent education program of the Children's Home in Cincinnati, Ohio, in operation since 1973. (ED)

The purpose of this guide is to assist child welfare program managers in the documentation of their program efforts by providing both a recommended process and format. Section I provides a general discussion of the documentation process as well as suggestions for how to document a program. Section II presents the recommended format to be used in…

While family-based placement prevention services, family reunification programs, subsidized guardianship, and aggressive adoption programs are reducing the numbers of children spending long periods of time in substitute care, a significant number of America's children will come of age in foster care. Agencies and policymakers should use research…

This study responds to the lack of research on Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) compliance by examining a nationwide sample of the ICWA section within state Title IV-B Child and Family Services Plans (CFSP) and Annual Progress and Services Reports (APSR). These plans and reports address the administration of state child welfare systems. The…

This paper is a case study about the role of evaluation and its effect on a foster care program's adoption services. It presents examples of the dilemmas often faced by the evaluator who must identify problems and design action plans to correct program deficiencies. HeartShare Human Services of New York is an 80-year-old nonprofit agency that…

The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 provides for annual federal incentive payments to states if they improve foster care programs by (1) avoiding unnecessary removal of children from their homes; (2) preventing extended stays in foster care; and (3) reunifying children with their families or placing them for adoption. To be…

Evaluates a new adoption placement program at the Ville Marie Social Service Centre (Montreal, Quebec) in which biological mothers can choose from among three profiles of adoptive parents when selecting a home for their babies. A review of staff observations is also described. (BB)

A pilot project provided adopted persons, biological parents, and adoptive parents with supportive counseling through a mutual-aid adoption-triad group in search and reunion. Evaluation findings indicated that participants felt positively about the group experience. Findings suggest that this approach can serve as a model for postadoption search…

Examined the effectiveness of a family-centered residential treatment model, Reasonable Efforts to Permanency through Adoption and Reunification Endeavors (REPARE), for achieving permanency outcomes for children. Found that the REPARE program achieved greater postdischarge stability for participants than the agency's standard residential treatment…