Title: THE ADOPTION OPTION Exploring Adoption as a permanent placement in the substitute care context.
1THE ADOPTION OPTION Exploring Adoption
as a permanent placement in the substitute
care context.
- Frances Evans, Wesley Dalmar Research Unit
- frances.evans_at_wesleymission.org.au
2LOOKING AFTER KIDS IN NSW FIRST This review
will put the needs of children young people in
OOHC firstfocus DoCS efforts on adoption and
permanency planning in this state
DoCS Media Release 4th July 2006
3- WHERE DOES THIS EVIDENCE COME FROM?
- International Research
- Australian Research
- Consultation
Listening Collaborating
Measuring
4WHAT IS ADOPTION?
- What is adoption in an OOHC context?
- Ethical
- Open
- Culturally appropriate
- Supported
- One aspect of a seamless spectrum
5Why should we use it? The Evidence Base
-
- Security Stability
- Legal
-
- Emotional Social
- Flexibility
- Breakdown Disruption
6- Outcomes
- Health and Well being
- Parenting Factors
- Non Welfare Based Model of Care
- Childrens Views
7Who should we use it for?Research on Placement
Decision Making
- The Child
- Age
- Behavioural Physical
- Needs
- Birth Family
- Cultural Heritage
- The Childs Voice
8- The Placement
- Restoration Contact
- Family Characteristics
- Types of Placement
9How should we use it? Promising Practice in
Service Models
- Concurrent Planning
- Casework
- Birth Family Restoration
- Decision Making
- Resource Foster Families
10- Family Group Conferencing
- Permanency Conference
- Conflict Resolution
- Participation
- Casework Models Tools
- Adoptions Training
- Legal Caseworkers
- Birth Family Workers
11- Post Adoption Support
- Practice Elements
- System Elements
- Types of services
- Guardianship
- Legally permanent
- Flexibility
- A middle ground?
12WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
- Listening
- Collaborating
- Measuring
Further Discussion Policy Development Training P
rograms Evaluation Further Research
13FURTHER RESEARCHChurchill Fellowship 2006
A critical evaluation of adoption and other
legally permanent placement options for
children in care.
- Government departments, NGOs, university research
centres and peak bodies in NZ, USA, Canada UK
in relation to - Adoption, Guardianship other legally permanent
placements - Legislation and policy models
- Casework and permanency planning practices
- Recruitment, assessment and training of families
- Legal processes
- Post Adoption support services
- particular attention will be paid to the unique
needs of - - Children with additional needs
- Indigenous and CALD children
- Older children and sibling groups
14 ReferencesACWA, 2005, Discussion Paper
Consideration of Adoption for Selected Groups of
Children in Long Term Out of Home Care,
AustraliaAustralian Institute of Health and
Welfare Child Protection Australia 2004
Available online www.aihw.gov.auAustralian
Institute of Health and Welfare Adoption
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19Web Based ResourcesThese sites have a wide
variety of information from research
publications and data to placement decision
making tools and program evaluations. Not to
mention links to other useful resources!USA
Child Welfare Information Gatewaywww.childwelfare
.gov Chapin Hall Center for Children
University of Chicagowww.chapinhall.orgResearch
In Practice www.rip.org.uk Casey Family
Services www.casey.orgBritish Association for
Adoption Foster Carewww.baaf.org.uk