International and Transracial Adoptions: A Mental Health Perspective

The text begins with an overview of factors which contribute to adjustment in adoption, including the role problems of adoptive parents, adoptions by step-parents, and neglect and abuse of children prior to adoption. Data from the British national child development study analyzed in this book indicate that adoption is a powerful environmental influence on children who without adoption would be at considerable risk for the development of major behavioural problems, delinquency, and mental illness. Several chapters on inter-country adoption highlight the policy dilemmas in this area, and the slow progress towards comprehensive, international agreements to protect the needs of inter-country adopted children. Two follow-up studies are reported of Chinese and Vietnamese children (now young adults) adopted by British parents in the 1960s and 1970s. The excellent outcomes for these children indicate that despite early trauma and neglect prior to adoption, the mental health of these adoptees is as good as mental health profiles in within-country adoptions. Case studies of international adoptions from India, China, Phillippines, and Korea are presented, based on several years of fieldwork. Transracial adoptions in Britain and Canada are studied in detail in this book. It is shown (from two surveys in London) that ordinary black families would be much more likely to adopt black children if they were supported in this role; these same families are also supportive of transracial adoption for black children if this can provide them with a good family life. Bagley and Young present findings of along-term follow-up of black children adopted by white parents, indicating largely excellent outcomes. They argue that transcracial adoption, like transracial marriages are healthy indicators of the movement towards harmony and integration in diverse, multicultural societies. The support provided by the wider social system (or the lack of such support in Canada, for Native American children placed with white adopters) is seen as crucial, and could account for the many adoption breakdowns of Native children in white families. A unique follow-up study of Native adoptees in Canada supports this argument. This study also points to lack of professionalism by many child welfare workers involved in the adoption of "special needs" children in Canada. An important section of this book concerns the factors which underlie adoption breakdown or disruption. An extensive survey of children in residential are following disrupted adoptions points to a failure of many social workers to provide post-adoption information and support, particularly for older child adoptions.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Adjustment in adoption - a review: the institution of adoption; adjustment in adoption - follow-up studies; genetic, physical and constitutional factors influencing adjustment in adoption; adjustment, identity and special needs adoption - clinical research and policy change; adjustment and identity in transracial and inter-country adoption. Part 2 Adjustment in adoption - empirical studies in Canada and Britain: a follow-up of adopted children in the national child development study; mental health and adoption in a community survey of adults; social work practice and the adoption fo special needs children - a Canadian case study. Part 3 Intercountry and transracial adoption - empirical studies and policy review: inter-country adoption - history and policy formation; further developments in inter-country adoption; adopted girls from Hong Kong in Britain - a twenty year follow-up of adjustment and social identity; adopted from Vietnam - a ten year follow-up of British adoptees; transracial adoption of aboriginal children in Canada - a disturbing case study; transracial adoption in Britain - a follow-up with policy implications; attitudes to transracial adoption in samples of Afro-Caribbeans in London, 1979 and 1989. Part 4 Adopted children in residential care - a typology of disrupted adoptions: a survey of adopted children in two residential treatment centres - methods of study and initial results; comparison of 61 adopted children and 61 control children in two centres for seriously disturbed children; types or clusters of adjustment - classification of adopted children by case study and statistical methods.