Kin Adopting Kin: In the Best Interest of the Children?
Department
Social Work and Human Services
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2010
Abstract
Foster children in the public child welfare system are increasingly likely to find lasting homes through kinship adoption by their relatives. The aim of the present study is to examine how the kinship adoptive experience differs from other adoptive types. Using tobit regression analyses, we examine data from 2382 adopted children (kin placements = 397 and non-kin placements = 1985). We report that kin adoptive parents more negatively assessed adoption's impact on their family and the family's current functioning. However, the family bond with the adoptee also appears to influence positively a kin family's willingness to adopt the same child again, to be generally satisfied with the overall adoption, and to report a positive relationship with the adopted child. Kinship adoptions appear more readily to produce positive outcomes and permanent placements.
Journal Title
Children and Youth Services Review
Journal ISSN
0190-7409
Volume
32
Issue
12
First Page
1631
Last Page
1639
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.childyouth.2010.06.013