Home > The Basics of Adoption Practice: A Bulletin for Professionals

The Basics of Adoption Practice

Series: Bulletins for Professionals

Author(s):   Child Welfare Information Gateway

Year Published:  2006

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You are in section: Table of Contents 1 - Types of Adoption 2 - Family Assessment 3 - Child Assessment 4 - Birth Parent Involvement 5 - Openness in Adoption 6 - Matching Families and … 7 - Sharing Information With … 8 - Involving Youth in Their … 9 - Placing Children With Families 10 - Prefinalization Services 11 - Postadoption Services Summary References

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Adoption is a highly specialized field that focuses on placing children with families and providing services to ensure that these placements are permanent. In recent decades, the emphasis of adoption practice has shifted from helping families find children to finding safe and permanent families for children. Adoption workers are now expected to have extensive knowledge and understanding of the recruitment and assessment of adoptive families, the placement of children with a variety of strengths and needs, and supportive postadoption services to promote attachment and permanency for children.

This bulletin provides an overview of the basics of adoption practice and the responsibilities of adoption workers. However, each State has its own laws and policies that regulate adoption, and there is significant variation from State to State. Workers are encouraged to become familiar with their own State laws and policies and to check with their supervisors or State Adoption Specialists for specifics.

The following topics are addressed in this bulletin:

Table of Contents

 1 - Types of Adoption

 2 - Family Assessment

 3 - Child Assessment

 4 - Birth Parent Involvement

 5 - Openness in Adoption

 6 - Matching Families and Children

 7 - Sharing Information With Families

 8 - Involving Youth in Their Placements

 9 - Placing Children With Families

10 - Prefinalization Services

11 - Postadoption Services

Summary

References

This bulletin was developed by Child Welfare Information Gateway, in partnership with Betsy Keefer and Pam Severs. This document is made possible by the Children's Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The conclusions discussed here are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views or policies of the funding agency.

Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2005). The Basics of Adoption Practice: A Bulletin for Professionals. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

You are in section: Table of Contents 1 - Types of Adoption 2 - Family Assessment 3 - Child Assessment 4 - Birth Parent Involvement 5 - Openness in Adoption 6 - Matching Families and … 7 - Sharing Information With … 8 - Involving Youth in Their … 9 - Placing Children With Families 10 - Prefinalization Services 11 - Postadoption Services Summary References

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This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Updated on March 1, 2010