Adoption Roundtable – Details, episodes & analysis

Dr. Elisha Marr & Dr. Emily Helder discuss research regarding religiosity and adoption. Dr. Marr outlines the findings from existing nationally representative datasets regarding the link between religious affiliation and likelihood of pursuing adoption, linking this with macro level trends such as the Evangelical orphan care movement. Dr. Helder then discusses research on religious motivation and religious meaning making among adoptive parents. Dr. Marr and Dr. Helder then identify challenges in discerning patterns in the research due to variability in research approach and also outline gaps in the existing research on this topic. They end by thinking through the implications for adoption agencies and adoption professionals. For a transcript and more information visit emilyhelder.com

Dr. Marta Reinoso outlines trends in international adoption in Spain and globally. She then moves on to discuss the role of attachment and bonding within the family system following international adoption, emphasizing the need for adoptees to develop both their individuality and belonging within the family. With greater emphasis in the field of adoption on contact and openness, Dr. Reinoso touches on this in the context of international adoptions and addresses search and reunion efforts among international adoptees. She also describes the importance of adoptive parents supporting the racial and ethnic identity development for their adopted children. Dr. Reinoso ends by highlighting the importance of communication about adoption within the family and the benefits of research centering the perspective of adoptees. For the Spanish with English subtitles version of this interview, visit: https://bit.ly/2FIoi0a. For a transcript and more information visit: emilyhelder.com.

Dr. Peter Selman, an expert in adoption policy and demographic trends in adoption, discusses the structural factors that lead to changing trends in international adoption. He then focuses on international adoptions that occur in the context of natural disasters or political crises, identifying the role of the media in framing these crises and the child welfare implications of such framing. Dr. Selman also discusses the concept of "adoption as rescue," identifying the origins as well as implications of this motivation for international adoption. He concludes by discussing safeguards that are designed to prevent unethical adoption practices that may emerge during periods of crisis and also outlines the role of Western nations in preventing the proliferation of institutional care in non-Western nations and supporting global child welfare practices that seek the best interests of children. For more information and a transcript visit emilyhelder.com

Dr. Anne Atkinson, president and founder of PolicyWorks, Ltd. & Debbie Riley, LCMFT, CEO of the Center for Adoption Support and Education, discuss the importance of providing adoption competent mental health care to all members of the adoption triad. They begin by explaining what is meant by adoption competency and outline two post-graduate programs that have been developed, the Training in Adoption Competency curriculum and the web-based National Training Initiative. They describe the research that has been done to rigorously evaluate the trainings in terms of their impact on mental health practitioners knowledge and practice as well as outcomes for adoptive families. They end by summarizing important policy initiatives that can continue to grow an adoption competent mental health workforce. For more information on this episode and a transcript visit emilyhelder.com

Dr. Elizabeth Raleigh discusses the work that she and Dr. Rose Kreider have been doing in developing a demographic understanding of White and Black adoptive parents of Black children using US Census data. She highlights the lack of nationally representative research of Black adoptive families and the implications of this significant research gap. Dr. Raleigh then outlines the findings, both those expected and surprising, from using the US Census data to compare Black and White adoptive families of Black children, linking these findings with the broader discussion of race in America. Last, she describes a research agenda moving forward that would focus on broader and deeper understanding of Black Adoptive families. For more information and a transcript visit emilyhelder.com

Dr. Mary Hansen, professor of Economics at American University, describes her research and policy work in the area of child welfare. She outlines the important ethical tensions inherent in adoption and ways that an economic lens is helpful in understanding and seeking to balance these tradeoffs. She reviews various changes in adoption law and policy and their impact on international and domestic adoption. She then discusses efforts to improve child welfare policy to remove barriers to permanency for children in foster care and promote positive outcomes through standardizing home study processes across states. For a transcript and more information visit emilyhelder.com.

Dr. Hanna Raaska, Chief Physician at the Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Unit at Helsinki University Hospital in Finland and member of the Finnish Adoption Study Group, discusses her research regarding behavioral and emotional outcomes among internationally adopted children and the ways that adoptive families can promote resilience and positive outcomes. For a transcript and more information visit: https://emilyhelder.com

Dr. Darcey Merritt & Rachel Ludeke, LMSW discuss their research regarding post-adoption services, identifying ways that service needs may vary based on adoption type (private infant, domestic foster care, international). They outline barriers that exist for accessing various post-adoption services and also ways that these services could be improved. They highlight the importance of ensuring that the preferences and experiences of adopted and foster youth take center stage in the creation and implementation of services. Throughout the interview, they examine the many ways that race and class intersect within adoption, and child welfare more generally. For a transcript and more information visit emilyhelder.com

Dr. Maria Kroupina, a pediatric psychologist at the Adoption Medicine Clinic at the University of Minnesota and the director of the Birth to Three Program and the Early Child Mental Health Program, discusses her role in promoting positive mental health outcomes for adoptees. She describes the history of the Adoption Medicine Clinic and the research and clinical work conducted by their team. She outlines her own role in supporting parents to provide a buffering relationship for their children as they encounter and cope with stressors. In discussing the interdisciplinary work at the clinic, she highlights the role of attachment and specific intervention approaches used by their team to support children following early experiences of abuse and neglect. For more information and a transcript visit emilyhelder.com

Dr. Elsbeth Neil discusses the losses that children often experience in the context of adoption and the ways that continued contact with birth family & foster carers as well as policies around residential moves can mitigate or assist in coping with loss. Dr. Neil presents a number of helpful suggestions for adoptees and parents seeking to navigate open adoption. For a transcript and more information visit emilyhelder.com