Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
Noting the significantly higher risk of medical and psychological issues for children adopted from the child welfare system and abroad, this paper – which represents the first phase of the institute’s Adoptive Parent Preparation Project – outlines the basic principles, key issues and methods forming best-practice standards regarding the preparation and education of adoptive parents. It finds that adoption agencies vary greatly in how much information they give adoptive parents, and that post-adoption support often comes from community programs that are inadequately prepared to address post-adoption issues. The institute calls for the ongoing education and training of adoption professionals and community-based mental health professionals. Free, 18 pages. (212)-925-4089, http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2008_02_Parent_Preparation.pdf.
