Examines the increase in intercountry adoptions, noting issues pertaining to special needs U.S. children overlooked in favor of foreign children, social and economic effects on developing nations, and implications for mental health. Suggests legal and policy changes for the protection and benefit of these adoptees and their families, including…

Discusses postplacement adoption service contracts between East Sussex Social Services and the Post-Adoption Centre (PAC). Describes how PAC originally provided subscription services to local authorities, but when limitations of the subscription service were recognized, a collaborative service with more local authority was developed. (AJH)

Evaluated four years of the Children's Society intermediary service for birth relatives through a survey of adopted adults. Examined specifically the impact of contact on the adopted person, adoptive parents, and birth relatives. Found that the majority of respondents felt that adopted adults should be given the opportunity to receive information…

Interviews with foster parents, along with results from 40 questionnaires, uncovered a list of do's and don'ts for social workers, ranging from requests for them to be more professional, maintain regular contact, and share information, to pleas for them to respect the foster parent's role. Further dissatisfaction was expressed regarding placement…

Focuses on the aims and achievements of the Romanian Orphanage Trust. Describes the trust's attempts to develop alternatives to residential care, including moving away from directly providing and managing services for children and families toward stimulating and helping the growth of Romanian-led and managed institutions. Concludes that adoption…

Examines effective permanence planning for children, focusing on the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) strategy. Cites the importance of maintaining children with their birth families, while recognizing that some children remain too long in damaging family settings. Examines the issues of child attachment and contact. Calls for an…

Examined the intercountry adoption experiences of 100 French and 100 English families, comparing policy in each country. Found a lack of effective and sensitive management of the introductory meetings between prospective parents and adoptive children, and of adequate birth records information. (HTH)

Discusses Britain's Children Act, which requires child welfare authorities to give due consideration to a child's religious background when placing a child or planning for its future. Reviews some child welfare practice and policy implications of this regulation. (HTH)

Explores the child welfare placement needs of children of black mixed parentage, focusing on research evidence relating to the overrepresentation of children of mixed parentage in care, social workers' perceptions of ethnic differences relative to their own ethnic groups, and possible trends in placement of children of mixed parentage. (HTH)

Examines the not entirely positive effect of Britain's Adoption Law Review on the good practice developed in some social agencies around the placement needs of black children. (HTH)