A framework for moving children from long-term foster care to adoption

In New South Wales, Australia, children permanently removed from their parents’ care because of child abuse and neglect can, in certain circumstances, consent to their own open adoption or have the Court dispense with their... [ view full abstract ]

In New South Wales, Australia, children permanently removed from their parents’ care because of child abuse and neglect can, in certain circumstances, consent to their own open adoption or have the Court dispense with their birth parents’ consent. Care legislation encourages decisions about restoration or kin care placements prior to consideration of adoption or guardianship to the Minister. All adoptions are ‘open’.
The objective of the Australian Open Adoption Outcomes research is to evaluate the adoptions undertaken by Barnardos Australia under this legislation. The research examines the timeliness of permanent placement, the nature of those families coming forward to adopt, the families losing their children and the characteristics of children adopted from care. This original long-term study examines the entire cohort of adoptees for twenty six years (including detail on those who have died or are unable to be found). The current thrust of the research is to understand the life outcomes of adoptees.
The method has been an examination of Court files for 210 children and analysis of specific time periods in relation to social work practice. Analysis of findings of questionnaires and standardised testing on life outcomes is currently underway. A qualitative study has been undertaken by University of Wollongong of sense of identity amongst younger adoptees and further qualitative research is being designed.
Between 1987 and 2013, Barnardos Australia has assessed the possibility of open adoption for 500 children in foster care who can never safely return home to family of origin. Over half of these children have subsequently been adopted and half have stayed in long-term foster care. The study, to date, has shown success in finding adoptive families who have continued to treat these young people as part of their family into mid-adulthood. Open adoption has been shown to be suitable for children of a range of ages and behaviours, and sibling groups.
Placement with a permanent adoptive family varies with the age of the child and, for all age groups, can be achieved well before finalisation of the adoption order. Open adoption takes on average 4.4 years to finalisation; with children under two taking only 4.5 months to move permanently into their new family and children 5-9 years, 8 months. There have been a few breakdowns of placements during the pre-adoption placement; nevertheless these children have gone on to be adopted by subsequent families. Placements have occurred in a most timely manner when children were referred internally.
The paper will report on the characteristics of children, adoptive and birth families and the types of consents used to achieve the adoption. The children overwhelmingly suffered neglect or emotional abuse. Many birth families were heavily dependent on legal and illicit substances with a high proportion of psychiatric disability, but interestingly came from a wide range of ages - including some parents in their forties. One third had had other children previously removed from their care due to child abuse and neglect.
In NSW, Australia, all adoptions are open and family contact continues for adopted children throughout their childhood. Initial results will be presented on the overall value of these relationships to children.
This research shows that the NSW model allows timely moves of children into legal permanency through open adoption. The ‘sequential approach’ of separating care decisions from long-term care and adoption has proved successful in moving older children, those with challenging behaviour and larger sibling groups. The conclusions that can be drawn from this research have implications for 30,000 Australian children who have been in care for more than two years, 44% of whom entered care under five years of age.