Home > Systemwide > Assessment > Comprehensive Family Assessment > Assessing Family Progress and Permanency Options > Assessing Readiness for Adoption

Assessing Readiness for Adoption

Resources on assessing the child and parent's readiness for adoption.

• Child readiness for adoption
• Parent readiness for adoption

Child readiness for adoption

Child Assessment and Preparation: Participant's Resource Book
National Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption (1998)
View Abstract
Background information and worksheets for a training session for practitioners about preparing children for adoption placements. Includes checklists for life books, forms for child placement history, genograms, eco-maps, and family network diagrams.

Communicating Through Play: Techniques for Assessing and Preparing Children for Adoption
National Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption (1998)
View Abstract
Designed to help adoption workers develop a larger repertoire of techniques for assessing and preparing children for adoption and use assessment findings to better assist the adoptive parents. Appendices include a child evaluation form, life book guidelines, and instructions for a behavior pattern chart.

Helping Your Foster Child Transition to Your Adopted Child: A Factsheet for Families
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2005)
Describes specific things families can say and do to help foster children transition and highlights the need to consider each child's needs as they are related to the child's age, health, personality, temperament, and cultural and racial experiences. (PDF - 201 KB)

Linking and Introductions: Helping Children Join Adoptive Families
British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (2001)
View Abstract
Outlines the important stages in adoption preparation, including needs and strengths assessment, minimizing risk, the presentation of the child's background to the prospective adoptive parents, and introductions. Includes sample checklists and report formats.

(Back to Top)

Parent readiness for adoption

Assessing Emotional Readiness for Adoption Using the Transtheoretical Model
Prochaska, Paiva, Padula, Prochaska, & Montgomery
Children and Youth Services Review, 27(2), 2005
View Abstract
Applies the Transtheoretical Model to conceptualizing and assessing emotional readiness to be an adoptive parent. Describes definitions, criteria, and the development and validation of measures.

Factors Contributing to Parents' Preparation for Special-Needs Adoption
Egbert, & LaMont
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 21(6), 2004
View Abstract
Describes twelve factors that contribute to parents' preparation for special-needs adoption.

Foster Parents Considering Adoption: A Factsheet for Families
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2005)
Provides information on the differences between foster care and adoption and explores some things foster parents should consider when making the decision about whether to adopt a child in their care. (PDF - 206 KB)

(Back to Top)

	Related Information Gateway Topics Adoption: Preparing and supporting children and youth Adoption: Preparing foster/adoptive parents

Updated on March 1, 2010